Canada announces new pathway to permanent status for 90,000 essential workers and international graduates
The Federal Government introduced a new pathway to permanent residency for up to 90,000 foreign nationals working in Canada in essential jobs such as personal support and health services, and international graduates already in Canada, Immigration Minister Marco Mendicino announced Wednesday.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada provided a list of occupations that are deemed essential. It includes people in a wide range of skilled trades, such as electricians and metal workers, along with farm workers, cashiers, home child care providers and French immersion teachers, among others.
To be eligible, workers must have at least one year of Canadian work experience in one of 40 different health care jobs or 95 other pre-approved essential jobs. Graduates must have completed an eligible Canadian post-secondary program over the last four years.
Warning: The information provided below has no legal value. This information was taken from the Immigration website on April 15, 2021 and is subject to change without notice.
This 90,000 permanent residencies are separated in two different programs:
1. Temporary Residents with recent work experience in Canada (50,000 applications):
Work experience needs to be equivalent to 12 months full-time work experience in Canada in the last 3 years and will be divided in two different streams:
- Stream A (20,000 applications): Work experience in many health care occupations
- Stream B (30,000 applications): Work experience in many fields like cashiers, construction, security, farm workers, cleaners, etc.
To be eligible, besides the 1-year work experience they also need:
- English proficiency: CLB 4
- Reside in Canada with valid temporary resident status (or be eligible to restore their status) and be physically present in Canada at the time the application for permanent residence is received and when the application is approved
- Be employed in Canada in any occupation at the time that the application for permanent residence is received
For full information on this program and the full list of occupations that will be part of this program, please access:
2. Temporary Residents who graduated from a Canadian post-secondary institution and were granted in the last 3 years (40,000):
- A degree (Associate, Bachelor’s, Master’s, or Doctorate) which must be a degree issued on completion of a program of at least 8 months in duration;
- A degree, diploma, certificate, or attestation issued on completion of a program of any duration leading to an occupation in a skilled trade
- One or more diploma/certificate/attestation where the following conditions are met: For diplomas/certificates/attestations, each program of study must be at least 8 months in duration and the combined length of the credential(s) must be equivalent to a two-year credential (at least 16 months in duration).
Besides the post-secondary certificate(s):
- English proficiency: CLB 5
- Be employed in Canada with a valid permit or authorization to work pursuant to the Act and Regulations at the time the application for permanent residence is received and must not be self-employed
- Reside in Canada with valid temporary resident status (or be eligible to restore their status) and be physically present in Canada at the time the application for permanent residence is received and when the application is approved
For full information on this program and the full list of skilled trades that will be part of this program, please access:
Both public policies come into effect on May 6, 2021 and will end on November 5, 2021 or once 90,000 applications have been received, whichever comes first.