Canada has announced a new pathway to permanent residence for more than 90,000 essential healthcare and frontline workers and international graduates who currently live in Canada and who possess the critical skills and experience needed to address the COVID-19 pandemic and support Canada’s economic recovery.
Who is Eligible?
Applicants must be residing in Canada at the time of the application and approval.
- Workers must have at least 1 year of Canadian work experience in a healthcare profession or other pre-approved essential occupation.
- International graduates must have graduated from a designated learning institution (DLI) within the last 4 years and no earlier than January 2017. Graduates must intend to reside anywhere in Canada, other than Quebec, which has its own immigration system. Graduates must also be employed, but at this time, there does not appear to be requirements for the type or skill level of the job.
Applicants must meet a minimum Canada Language Benchmark (CLB) test score of 5.0 or better.
How Many People Will Qualify?
From May 6, 2021, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will begin accepting applications under the following 3 streams:
- 20,000 applications for temporary workers in health care
- 30,000 applications for temporary workers in other selected essential occupations
- 40,000 applications for international students who graduated from a Canadian institution
The streams will remain open until November 5, 2021, or until they have reached their limit. Up to 90,000 new permanent residents will be admitted under these 3 streams.
To promote Canada’s official languages, 3 additional streams with no intake caps have also been launched for French-speaking or bilingual candidates.
A detailed explanation of all eligibility requirements is available within the public policies.
What is the Application Process?
As of the time of the announcement, there is, unfortunately, not a lot of detail on the application process. We know it will be possible to apply online and that the application must be complete at the time of the filing. It doesn’t appear that employer support, beyond a letter/confirmation of employment, is needed.
| Erickson Immigration Group will continue to send updates as more news is available. If you have questions about anything we’re reporting above or case-specific questions, please contact your employer or EIG attorney. |