Last Updated On 11 July 2023, 1:31 PM EDT (Toronto Time)

The education requirement will be removed from the Canadian work experience stream – Stream B of the Hong Kong permanent residence pathways effective August 15, 2023.

Citizens of Hong Kong can apply for permanent residency under two special streams:

This announcement is made today by Paul Chiang, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Housing and Diversity Inclusion on behalf of the Immigration Minister Sean Fraser.

This means that citizens of Hong Kong who have worked in Canada will be able to get permanent residence more easily, since they will no longer be limited by their level of education.

3,122 permanent residents from Hong Kong have moved to Canada through the 2 permanent residence streams as of April 30, 2023. (2,358 for Stream A and 764 for Stream B).

It also makes the application process easier, since candidates will no longer have to show proof that they went to school.

This change goes along with the recent extension and expansion of open work permits for Hong Kong residents.

It also makes it easier for Hong Kong residents to move from temporary to permanent residence.

By taking these steps, Canada will be able to draw people who already have work experience in Canada.

This will give skilled people from Hong Kong more chances to join Canada’s diverse workforce and use their unique skills and experiences.

Hong Kong people already have some ways to get permanent residency, but on June 1, 2021, a public policy was put in place until August 31, 2026 that created two more streams to get permanent residency.

Previously, IRCC released a new open work permit program that lets eligible Hong Kong residents gain useful work experience in Canada and apply for permanent residence on February 8, 2021.

This measure was recently extended and made bigger, and Hong Kong people have until February 7, 2025 to apply.

To get permanent residence, applicants must plan to live in a Canadian province or territory other than Quebec.

This move goes along with Canada’s new Indo-Pacific Strategy. It is a detailed plan for how to get more involved in the Indo-Pacific over the next ten years.

Kamal Deep Singh, RCIC

Kamal Deep Singh, RCIC (Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant) licensed by CICC (formerly known as ICCRC) with member number R708618. He brings extensive knowledge of immigration law and new changes to rapidly evolving IRCC.