Hong Kong Residents Get New Canada Work Permit, Permanent Residence Options

A new open work permit and two pathways to permanent residence aimed specifically at Hong Kong residents have been announced by Canada.

The move comes in response to China’s imposition of a controversial national security law earlier in 2020, giving it broad new powers in Hong Kong.

Canada is also enhancing existing programs to help people from Hong Kong already here to stay, and those who want to make plans to come when COVID-19 restrictions are lifted.

Immigration Minister Marco Mendicino said Canada continues to support the people of Hong Kong and to stand up for democracy and human rights.

“The people-to-people ties between Canada and Hong Kong are strong and deep, and these new measures celebrate those long-standing relationships,” he said.

“Newcomers from Hong Kong, including students, have made outstanding contributions to Canada, and the changes we’re announcing today will strengthen our relationship with the people of Hong Kong and bring us closer together.”

Open Work Permit

The new open work permit, valid for up to 3 years, is aimed at students who have completed post-secondary education in Canada or abroad in the last 5 years. Spouses or common law partners and dependent children will also be eligible for a study or work permit. The initiative is expected to launch ‘soon’, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) said.

Pathways to Permanent Residence

For Hong Kong residents who come to Canada to study or work, 2 new pathways to permanent residence are being created, available in 2021.

Spouses, partners, and dependent children are included for both pathways.

The first will target former Hong Kong residents with a minimum of 1 year of work experience in Canada and meet minimum language and education criteria.
The second will be for graduates of a post-secondary institution in Canada, allowing them to apply directly for permanent residence.

Expedited Processing

Canada will expedite the processing of work and study permits for eligible young people from Hong Kong.

Processing Fees Waived

Canada will also waive processing fees for Hong Kong residents in Canada on a temporary basis applying to extend their stay.

Colin Singer

Colin Singer is an international acclaimed Canadian immigration lawyer and founder of immigration.ca featured on Wikipedia. Colin Singer is also founding director of the Canadian Citizenship & Immigration Resource Center (CCIRC) Inc. He served as an Associate Editor of ‘Immigration Law Reporter’, the pre-eminent immigration law publication in Canada. He previously served as an executive member of the Canadian Bar Association’s Quebec and National Immigration Law Sections and is currently a member of the Canadian Chapter of the American Immigration Lawyers Association. Colin has twice appeared as an expert witness before Canada’s House of Commons Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration. He is frequently recognized as a recommended authority at national conferences sponsored by government and non-government organizations on matters affecting Canada’s immigration and human resource industries. Since 2009, Colin has been a Governor of the Quebec Bar Foundation a non-profit organization committed to the advancement of the profession, and became a lifetime member in 2018.