April 14, 2021—Ottawa—Today, the Honourable Marco E. L. Mendicino, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, announced an innovative pathway to permanent residence for over 90,000 essential workers and international graduates who are actively contributing to Canada’s economy.
These special public policies will grant permanent status to temporary workers and international graduates who are already in Canada and who possess the skills and experience we need to fight the pandemic and accelerate our economic recovery.
The focus of this new pathway will be on temporary workers employed in our hospitals and long-term care homes and on the frontlines of other essential sectors, as well as international graduates who are driving the economy of tomorrow.
To be eligible, workers must have at least 1 year of Canadian work experience in a health-care profession or another pre-approved essential occupation. International graduates must have completed an eligible Canadian post-secondary program within the last 4 years, and no earlier than January 2017.
Effective 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. Communities across Canada benefit from French-speaking and bilingual newcomers, and this pathway will contribute to the vitality of these Francophone minority communities.
A detailed explanation of all eligibility requirements is available within the public policies.
As we continue the fight against the pandemic, immigration will remain critical to our economic recovery by addressing labour shortages and adding growth to our workforce.
With an accelerated pathway to permanent residency, these special public policies will encourage essential temporary workers and international graduates to put down roots in Canada and help us retain the talented workers we need, particularly in our health-care system.
Today’s announcement will help us achieve our 2021 Immigration Levels Plan, which will see Canada welcome 401,000 new permanent residents. The skilled newcomers and international graduates welcomed under our plan will help create jobs and drive long-term growth in Canada.
Eligible occupations in Healthcare:
Essential occupationsWorkers will need to have at least one year of Canadian work experience in an eligible occupation, be currently employed in Canada, and intend to reside outside the province of Quebec. As well, workers must demonstrate English- or French-language proficiency equal to or higher than Canadian Language Benchmark of Level 4 (CLB 4), a lower threshold than most other economic Canadian immigration programs. Notably, French-language speakers will be eligible to apply through their own distinct pathways — identical in every way, but exempt from the quotas.
International graduates from Canadian post-secondary schools will be able to apply through a new pathway that will accept 40,000 applicants. To be eligible, international students must have graduated from a Canadian university or college within the four years prior to applying (not having graduated before January, 2017). Applicants must be currently employed in Canada and intend to reside outside the province of Quebec.
International students will need to demonstrate English- or French-language proficiency equal to or higher than Canadian Language Benchmark of Level 5 (CLB 5). Notably, French-language speakers will be eligible to apply through their own distinct pathway — identical in every way, but exempt from the quota.
Source: IRCC, Moving 2 Canada.
