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Step-By-Step Guide: Pathway to Canadian PR for Hong Kong Nationals

Published on: January 29th, 2025

By: Mariam Baher

If you are a Hong Kong national, you can become a Canadian permanent resident! Over the past year, Canada has seen a significant influx of Hong Kong residents, thanks to the Government of Canada’s initiative to establish dedicated immigration streams specifically for Hong Kong residents fleeing China’s anti-democratic policies. If you find yourself in this situation, we can help!

In June 2021, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) launched two new immigration pathways tailored to Hong Kong residents who have either studied or worked in Canada. These pathways will be accepting applications until the deadline on August 31, 2026.

CONTACT US TO ASSESS YOUR ELIGIBILITY

Immigration Pathways for Hong Kong Residents:

Stream A: In-Canada Graduates

The In-Canada pathway (Stream A) is a Canadian pathway to permanent residency and is designed for Hong Kong residents who have graduated from a Designated Learning Institution (DLI) in Canada.

Stream B: Canadian Work Experience

The Canadian Work Experience pathway (Stream B) is for Hong Kong residents with post-secondary education and at least one year of work experience in Canada.

Step 1: Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria for Stream A: In-Canada Graduates:

According to the government of Canada website, to be eligible for permanent residency as a Hong Kong Resident under the In-Canada Graduates Stream, applicants must:

• Have a valid passport from either the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China OR from the UK (for British Nationals who were born in or became a citizen/registered in Hong Kong).
• Be present in Canada during both the time of application and when you receive permanent residency.
• Have valid temporary resident status at the time of application.
• Intend on living in a Canadian province or territory, excluding Quebec.
• Score at least a level 5 in all four language skills (reading, writing, listening, speaking) on an approved language test. The language test can be done in either English: Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) or French: Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens (NCLC)
• Have graduated from a DLI in Canada within the last three years at time of application with either a diploma from a 2+ years program, a degree such as an associate, bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree, OR a graduate/post-graduate diploma/certificate from a 1+ year program.
• It is important to note that 50% of your program (or more) was completed in Canada, (in-person or remote).

* Applicants applying with graduate/post-graduate diploma/certificate from a 1+ year program must also have a post-secondary diploma/degree (either from Canada or a different country). The post-secondary degree must have been granted within a 5-year period from the date you started your graduate/post-graduate studies.

 

Eligibility Criteria for Stream B: Canadian Work Experience:

For Hong Kong residents who qualify under the Canadian Work Experience stream, applicants must:

• Have a valid passport from either the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China OR from the UK (for British Nationals who were born in or became a citizen/registered in Hong Kong).
• Be present in Canada during both the time of application and when you receive permanent residency.
• Have valid temporary resident status at the time of application.
• Intend on living in a Canadian province or territory, excluding Quebec.
• Meet the same language standards as in Stream A (listed above).
• Have 12+ months of full-time work experience in Canada (30 hours per week) OR an equivalent amount of part-time hours (min. 1,560 hours), all while maintaining legal work status.

Step 2: Required Documents

The documents needed to demonstrate your eligibility for either Stream A or Stream B are relatively the same. However, applicants for Stream B do not need to submit post-secondary education documents; instead, they must provide proof of their work experience. Stream A applicants are required to submit their post-secondary education documents but do not need to provide work experience.

 

Language Test Results:

Must prove that you scored at least a level 5 score in an approved English OR French language test.

According to the government of Canada, the approved English tests you can take are:

1. CELPIP: Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP-General)
2. IELTS: International English Language Testing System (IELTS General Training)
3. PTE: Pearson Test of English (PTE Core)

The approved French language tests include:

1. TEF Canada: Test d’évaluation de français
2. TCF Canada: Test de connaissance du français

*Note: Test results must be less than 2 years old at time of application.

 

Documentation Proving You Will Live in Any Canadian Province Other Than Quebec:

Some documents that support this step may include a statutory declaration, employment offers, lease agreements, familial ties, and more.

*A statutory declaration is a formal document used to state intentions in immigration applications and is signed in the presence of a qualified witness, such as a notary public or a lawyer, to confirm validity.

*If you live in Quebec, you can still qualify under stream A or Stream B, however, you must demonstrate that you plan on settling in another province. A lawyer with experience in immigration law can help strengthen your case and present it in the most favorable light, increasing your chances of approval and ensuring that you don’t overlook important details that could delay or jeopardize your application.

 

Post-Secondary Education Requirements (ONLY Stream A)

1. A copy of your diploma or degree
2. Final transcripts from a Canadian DLI

The following two requirements are only for applicants applying with graduate/post-graduate diploma/certificate from a 1+ year program NOT for those who have diploma from a 2+ years program or a degree):

1. Proof of post-secondary qualification as a prerequisite for a graduate or post-graduate diploma/certificate
2. Transcripts that prove you attained your post-secondary diploma 5 years before the start of your graduate/post-graduate program.

Work Experience Documents (ONLY Stream B)

Documentation for each job listed in your application. Some supporting documents include:

• Letter from employer which clearly indicates your job title, work dates, hours worked, and salary,
• T4 tax slips
• Pay stubs
• Bank deposits

*For a full list of valid supporting documents for both Stream A and Stream B, visit the Canadian government website here or contact us today to assess your eligibility and which documents you must include depending the stream you are applying under.

Step 3: Application & Fees

Before submitting your application, it is crucial to double check that all required documents and supporting documents are provided, are valid, and are filled out accurately/truthfully to avoid refusals and delays.

After the completion of our application and when you receive an acknowledgement of receipt (AOR), a medical examination will be required for the principal applicant and all other family members listed in your application. Additionally, you may be required to pay a biometrics fee.

Step 4: Open Work Permit (OWP) Option

As of May 27, 2024, certain individuals may be able to apply for a 3-year OWP while waiting for their PR application to be processed if:

1. You applied for permanent residence under Stream A or Stream B of the permanent residence pathways for Hong Kong residents; OR
2. You held a work or study permit within 3 years at the time you submitted your permanent residence application.

Step 5: Application Approval or Refusal

Congratulations! Once your application is approved, you will receive a Confirmation of Permanent Residence document and possible permanent resident visas for family members who are outside Canada. You must also pay the right of permanent residence fee which is CAN$575 (this number is subject to change so please check the government of Canada website for the most up-to-date permanent residence fee).

In the case that your application is refused, you will receive a letter from the Government of Canada explaining the reasons for the refusal of your application. Often times this may be because your application is missing the required documents, you have not paid all the required fees, or another extenuating circumstance.

Contact Us

If you are a Hong Kong resident interested in submitting your application for Canadian permanent residency, contact us at Canadim to assess your eligibility under the appropriate stream. We will inform you of all your requirements and ensure you don’t miss any documents in the process. Contact us below and one of our experienced team members will get in touch with you shortly.

CONTACT US TO ASSESS YOUR ELIGIBILITY