More Hongkongers eligible for Canada’s special work permit as fast track route to residency after country relaxes immigration rules
- Immigration consultant says application inquiries from Hongkongers have jumped following announcement by Canadian government
- Permit scheme now covers graduates over past 10 years, rather than five
More Hongkongers will be able to apply for Canada’s special work permit as a fast track route to residency after the country relaxed its immigration rules and extended the scheme for two more years.
Under the new policy announced on Monday, graduates from eligible postsecondary educational institutions in the past 10 years can apply for a three-year open work permit, which will allow holders to later seek permanent residency in Canada. The previous threshold was five years.
But the eased requirements do not affect the criteria for the permanent residency scheme, which stipulates Hong Kong applicants must be graduates or have worked in Canada a year after attaining postsecondary qualifications within the past five years.
Willis Fu Yiu-wai, immigration director of Hong Kong-based consultants Goldmax Associates, said the number of inquiries from residents and current clients had jumped a day after the Canadian government’s decision.
“We have new residents asking about the new arrangement. People who were not eligible for open working permits before have a chance now, as long as they graduated within the past 10 years,” he said.
“This group of people is likely in their early 30s and entered the workforce a few years ago. It seems like the Canadian government is also snatching talent.
“We are still watching for any other changes to those rules. Some current clients who signed contracts with us are worried the new arrangement will affect their pathways to permanent residency.”