Standard Pathways

The first major milestone in immigrating to Canada is becoming a permanent resident. The standard immigration process:

1) Express Entry

2) Provincial nominees

3) Family Sponsorship

4) Start-up Visa

5) Self-employed

6) Atlantic Immigration Program

7) Quebec-selected skilled workers

8) Caregivers

9) Agri-Food Pilot

10) Temporary resident to permanent resident pathway

HK Pathways – Stream A

In 2021, the Government of Canada has introduced two pathways specifically for Hong Kong residents:

Stream A: In-Canada graduates – this program is designed for Hong Kong residents who have studied and graduated from a post-secondary institution in Canada, the eligibility is as follows:

Hold a valid passport issued by one of the following:

• Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China
• United Kingdom to a British National (Overseas) as a person born, naturalized, or registered in Hong Kong
• Be physically present in Canada when you apply and when you get permanent residence
• Have valid temporary resident status in Canada
• Intend to live in Canada, in any province or territory other than the province of Quebec
• Have graduated from a post-secondary designated learning institution in Canada in the 3 years before you apply with one of the following: 1) a diploma (not graduate or post-graduate) for a program of at least 2 years 2) a degree (associate, bachelor’s, masters or doctoral) 3) a graduate or post-graduate diploma or certificate for a program of at least 1 year and 4) With at least 50% of your program completed in Canada (either in person or online)

If you have a graduate or post-graduate diploma or certificate

• You must also have completed a post-secondary diploma or degree (from Canada or from abroad), as a prerequisite to this graduate or post-graduate program.
• You must have completed this prerequisite diploma or degree in the 5 years before you started your graduate or post-graduate program.

Reference: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/hong-kong-residents-permanent-residence/eligibility.html

HK Pathways – Stream B

Stream B: Canadian work experience – This program is designed for Hong Kong residents who have graduated from a qualified (see below details) post-secondary institution in Canada, along with Canadian working experience, qualification details are as follows:

• hold a valid passport issued by one of the following: 1) Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China 2) United Kingdom to a British National (Overseas) as a person born, naturalized, or registered in Hong Kong

• be physically present in Canada when you apply and when you get permanent residence

• have valid temporary resident status in Canada

• intend to live in Canada, in any province or territory other than the province of Quebec

• have graduated in the 5 years before you apply with one of the following:

• 1) a diploma (not graduate or post-graduate) for a program of at least 2 years, or a degree (for example, an associate degree, a bachelor’s degree, a master’s degree or a doctorate) from a post-secondary designated learning institution in Canada

2) a graduate or post-graduate diploma or certificate for a program of at least 1 year from a post-secondary designated learning institution in Canada

3) a foreign educational credential equivalent to one of the following:

a) a Canadian post-secondary diploma (not graduate or post-graduate) for a program of at least 2 years

b) a Canadian post-secondary degree

c) a Canadian graduate or post-graduate diploma or certificate for a program of at least 1 year

• have worked in Canada for at least 12 months full-time, or an equal amount of part-time hours in the 3 years before you apply.

If you have a graduate or post-graduate diploma or certificate

You must also have completed a post-secondary diploma or degree (from Canada or from abroad), as a prerequisite to this graduate or post-graduate program.

You must have completed this prerequisite diploma or degree in the 5 years before you started your graduate or post-graduate program.

How to meet the hours of work requirement

To be eligible for this stream, you must have worked in Canada for at least 12 months full-time, or an equal amount of part-time hours (at least 1,560 hours in total) in the 3 years before you apply.

You must have been allowed to work legally in Canada for these hours to count. This means you either had a valid work permit, or you were exempt from needing a work permit.

You can’t include any hours of work that you spent

• as a full-time student
• self-employed
• working outside of Canada
• on leave from your job (medical, parental or similar)
• on an extended absence outside of Canada
• unemployed

Reference: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/hong-kong-residents-permanent-residence/eligibility.html