Pathways of Canadian Permanent Residency for Hong Kong residents

For citizens of Hong Kong and their families, the government has established two more routes to permanent residence in Canada and Canada PR. These are the newest programmes the Canadian government is launching to entice Hong Kong citizens to immigrate to Canada and support its economy, society, and culture.

Prior to this, in February 2021, an open work permit was launched, which streamlines the application process for Hong Kong citizens seeking to study and work in Canada.

There was no restriction on a territory, minimum net worth, or particular job as it was an open work visa. You are eligible to apply if you are at least 18 years old, have a passport issued by Hong Kong or the British National Overseas (BNO) system, and have completed your post-secondary studies in Canada no more than five years ago.

The two new avenues, like the Open Work Permit, are aimed at Hong Kong residents in Canada who hold legal temporary resident status and wish to become citizens of Canada PR.

Recent graduates should apply to stream A, while those with work experience should apply to stream B. The duration of both initiatives is from 1 June 2021 to 31 August 2026. Both of the streams allow applicants to get Canadian permanent residency, but they differ in terms of the qualifications for education and employment.

Stream A

You must meet the following requirements to be eligible for this stream: 

• Possess a current Hong Kong or BNO passport issued by the United Kingdom or the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
• Be physically present in Canada at the time of application and upon receiving Canadian permanent residency status.
•  Possess a legal status as a temporary resident of Canada.
•  Indicate a desire to reside in a province or territory of Canada other than Quebec.
•  Achieve a least of Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) Level 5 or Niveaux de compétence Linguistique canadiens (NCLC) Level 5 in reading, writing, speaking, and listening in either English or French.
•  Have completed a postsecondary programme in a Canadian institution of higher learning when at least half of the coursework was done there. The diploma, degree, graduate or post-graduate diploma or certificate must be completed within the 3 years of applying.

Stream B 

You must meet the following requirements to be eligible for this stream: 

• Possess a current Hong Kong or BNO passport issued by the United Kingdom or the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
• Be physically present in Canada at the time of application and upon receiving Canadian permanent resident status.
• Possess a legal status as a temporary resident of Canada.
• Indicate a desire to reside in a province or territory of Canada other than Quebec.
• Attained a least of Level 5 in reading, writing, hearing, and speaking in either French or English, as measured by the Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) or the Niveaux de compétence Linguistique canadiens (NCLC).
• Been awarded a diploma or degree for a course of study that lasted at least two years within five years of applying.

If you possess a foreign educational credential that is equivalent to a Canadian post-secondary diploma for programmes lasting more than two years, a Canadian post-secondary degree, or a Canadian graduate or post-graduate diploma or certificate for programmes lasting at least one year, you may also be eligible to apply.

You should compile all the required documentation before submitting an application for Canadian permanent residency. Any gaps in your application could cause it to be delayed. Your document checklist contains a complete list of the documents you must provide.

1. Test of language

You must submit a copy of your language test results demonstrating that you achieved a level 5 in each of the four skills (reading, writing, listening, and speaking) in one of the following situations:

• Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 
• Canadian Language Competency Levels (NCLC)

Make sure to schedule a language exam as soon as possible if you haven't previously done so. The test booking process and receiving your results take time.

2. Desire to reside outside of Quebec in another province or region

If you presently reside in Quebec, you must provide evidence that you intend to move to another province or territory.

You can offer one or more of the following to demonstrate this:

• A statutory declaration outlining where and why you intend to reside;
•  Documentation demonstrating any ties you may have to the province or territory (outside of Quebec) where you intend to reside, such as lease agreements or mortgages; 
•  Proof of employment; 
•  Job offers; 
•  Job applications; 
•  Scheduled job interviews; 
•  Proof you have family living in the area
•  Lease agreements or mortgages

3. Continuing education

If you submit an application for stream A (Canadian graduates), you must provide the following information:

• Your official transcripts.
• They must provide proof that you completed an approved educational programme in Canada within the last three years.
•  If you have a graduate or post-graduate credential or certificate, you must also submit both of the following:
•  Evidence that you have to have a post-secondary diploma or degree as a requirement for this programme, such as a
•  A replica of the school's website with a list of all the requirements
• A statement from the school outlining the requirements you had to meet
• A copy of your post-secondary diploma or degree, as well as your final transcripts, demonstrating that you graduated no more than five years prior to the commencement of the graduate or post graduate program.

If you choose stream B (Canadian work experience)

You must offer the following two things:

• A copy of your degree or diploma
• Your official transcripts.
• They need to provide proof that you graduated within the last five years.
•  If you have a graduate or post-graduate credential or certificate, you must also submit both of the following:
•  Evidence that you have to have a post-secondary diploma or degree as a requirement for this programme, such as a
• A replica of the school's website with a list of all the requirements
• A note from the institution
• A copy of your post-secondary diploma or degree and final transcripts proving that you completed your education no more than five years prior to the start of your graduate or post-graduate programme.
•  If you graduated from a post-secondary school outside Canada, you must get an educational credential assessment (ECA). This assessment will show that your studies are equal to a Canadian post-secondary diploma or degree.
• When you submit an ECA application

How do we handle applications?

We will evaluate your application to ensure that it is comprehensive, that you meet all eligibility conditions, that you have paid your fees, and that you have included all necessary documentation.

If there are any criminal or security issues, or if we need to conduct additional background checks, your application may be delayed.

•  Your family situation is unclear (this may include a divorce, an unfinished adoption, or unresolved child custody difficulties); 
•  The processing office must get in touch with other IRCC offices inside or outside of Canada to corroborate the information you provided.

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