2020-03-10 – Canada saw a 50 percent rise in the number of candidates transitioning from temporary to permanent residence between 2016 and 2019.
New figures show nearly 75,000 people became permanent residents in 2019, up from under 50,000 three years before.
It shows that temporary residents – particularly those in Canada through the International Mobility Program (IMP) – are an important source of new immigrants.
Since 2016, Canada has seen consistent annual rises in the number of candidates transitioning from temporary to permanent status.
The numbers for 2019 are 11 and 26 percent up on 2018 and 2017 respectively.
This shows that as the federal government has pursued its policy of managed immigration increases, the number of candidates making the transition from temporary residence has increased accordingly.
Breaking the figures down by temporary residence program shows that the vast majority of candidates making the transition to permanent residence initially came to Canada via the IMP.
Government figures show that 77 percent, or more than 57,000, of the total for 2019 had previous temporary status through the IMP.
The International Mobility Program allows Canadian employers to hire foreign workers on a Canada work permit without the need for a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA).
Increases in numbers transitioning from the IMP have outpaced the overall figure.
The numbers show 65 percent more permanent residents transitioned from the IMP in 2019 than did so in 2016, compared to 49 percent overall.
Given that IMP candidates are exempt from LMIA requirements, it follows that they are also more likely to have the kind of credentials to allow them to qualify for permanent residence.
By contrast, the number of candidates transitioning to permanent residence who came to Canada via the Temporary Foreign Worker Program has fallen since 2016.
The 5,660 candidates in this group in 2019 is 18 percent lower than the 2016 figure of 6,880.
However, the 2019 number was up 22 percent on the previous year, arresting a four-year decline in transition figures for the TFWP category.
Increases in numbers of Study Permit holders, meanwhile, have followed the same pattern as the overall numbers.
More than 11,500 new permanent residents in 2019 held previous Study Permit status, up 40 percent on the 8,270 new permanent residents for 2016 and six percent on the 2018 figure.
This chimes with the federal government’s policy of pursuing international students to stay and build their careers in Canada after graduation. As long as this policy continues, these numbers are set to rise sharply.
The federal government views international students as blue-chip candidates for permanent residence.
They are young, Canadian educated, have the required language ability, often have Canadian work experience and knowledge of Canadian life. This serves to ease their transition and integration into Canadian society.
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A clear pathway to permanent residence has been established for international students.
First, they arrive in Canada on a Study Permit. Then, provided they graduate from an eligible course at an eligible institution, they can qualify for a Post Graduation Work Permit depending on the length of their studies.
Finally, they can use the accrued experience to make the transition to permanent residence, either through the Express Entry system or via a provincial immigration program.
