Canada Ends Open Work Permits for Hong Kong Graduates

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Key Takeaways

Canada will close the open work permit pathway for Hong Kong graduates on February 7, 2025.
Hong Kong graduates eligible for Streams A or B should act quickly, with Stream B now requiring one year of recent Canadian work experience.
A temporary open work permit policy starting May 7, 2024, supports those awaiting permanent residency under Streams A or B.

Canada’s recent announcement to end the open work permit pathway for Hong Kong graduates is a major change in its immigration policy. This program, which provided many opportunities for Hong Kong residents, will officially close on February 7, 2025. Introduced in 2021, the open work permit gave eligible Hong Kong graduates the chance to work in Canada for up to three years. The initiative was part of Canada’s response to the political situation in Hong Kong, offering many residents a fresh start and work experience in Canada.

The open work permit program has been highly utilized since it started, attracting more than 49,000 applications and leading to over 40,000 permits issued. Processing applications for the program typically took an average of 13 months, showing high demand. Despite its success, Canadian authorities, including Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), have always stated that the program was a temporary measure. This reasoning aligns with the government’s decision to end the program without extending the timeline further.

Canada Ends Open Work Permits for Hong Kong Graduates

Alternatives for Hong Kong Graduates

The closure does not completely shut doors for Hong Kong residents wishing to move to Canada. According to IRCC, other types of work visas remain available, though the simplicity and openness of the open work permit program will be missed by many. This change highlights Canada’s evolving immigration outlook, especially as the government fine-tunes its goals for welcoming new immigrants.

Remarkably, Canada still offers targeted programs for Hong Kong residents. In 2021, Canada launched two specific permanent residency options—Stream A and Stream B—for Hong Kong citizens. Stream A is tailored for individuals graduating in Canada, while Stream B focuses on those with Canadian work experience. Both streams were created with the aim of continuing to attract skilled immigrants from Hong Kong, even after the open work permit program’s end.

Stream B recently saw a positive adjustment in its eligibility rules. As of August 15, 2023, applicants no longer need to meet educational requirements strictly tied to this stream. This change makes the program accessible to more Hong Kongers with essential skills, regardless of their formal educational backgrounds. However, specific requirements, such as the need for one year of work experience in Canada, remain in place. This work must have been completed full-time (or 1,560 part-time hours) in the last three years. Applicants also need to have a degree, diploma, or graduate credential from the past five years.

Broader Immigration Changes in Canada

The closure of the open work permit for Hong Kong residents is part of a wider shift in Canada’s immigration policies. This year, Canada announced a significant reduction in its immigration targets for the years between 2025 and 2027. Over this period, Canada plans to welcome fewer permanent residents compared to earlier targets—395,000 in 2025, 380,000 in 2026, and 365,000 in 2027. This marks a 21% drop from the previous goal of admitting 500,000 permanent residents annually by 2025.

This decision stems from growing stress on Canadian housing, infrastructure, and social service systems. The government hopes these scaled-back targets will give cities and provinces some time to address shortages in housing and public services. While lower immigration numbers could impact Canada’s workforce and economy, the focus for now appears to be on maintaining a balance between population growth and available resources.

Temporary Measures to Help Ongoing Applicants

To address concerns raised by Hong Kong applicants awaiting permanent residency, Canada introduced a temporary open work permit policy on May 7, 2024. This measure assists individuals who have applied for permanent residency under Stream A or Stream B but whose temporary status may expire before their applications are processed. Under this policy, eligible applicants can apply for an open work permit, ensuring they can continue living and working in Canada while awaiting decisions on their permanent residency. This policy will remain in effect for five years.

Eligibility for this new temporary pathway comes with its own set of requirements. Applicants must have previously applied for permanent residence through Stream A or B. They must also have held a valid work or study permit within three years before their permanent residence application was received. Additionally, this new work permit is only available to individuals whose temporary status expired within 90 days prior to their application.

Such temporary measures are seen as a way to ease the uncertainties for eligible Hong Kong residents affected by delays. However, the closure of the open work permit program still presents challenges for others, particularly those who may not meet the criteria for Streams A and B. For these individuals, the IRCC suggests exploring other economic immigration programs, such as the federal skilled worker program. While these alternative pathways remain open, they often come with longer processing timelines and compete with applicants from worldwide, making them less straightforward compared to the open work permit route.

Concerns Raised Over Changes

The decision to close the open work permit program has sparked concerns, especially for individuals planning to use this pathway to escape the political situation in Hong Kong. The closure also reflects broader changes in Canada’s immigration strategy, such as ending expedited study permit processing under programs like the Student Direct Stream (SDS). This change, effective November 8, 2024, impacts students from 15 countries, including China🇨🇳 and India🇮🇳, forcing all applicants to apply through regular processing streams with potentially longer waiting times.

While Canada is scaling back on some pathways, it’s clear the country remains committed to supporting Hong Kong residents through targeted programs, albeit in reduced forms. VisaVerge.com’s analysis suggests that Canada is navigating a tough balancing act of providing opportunities to skilled immigrants from Hong Kong while managing domestic challenges.

What Should Prospective Applicants Do?

For Hong Kong graduates affected by these changes, exploring all available alternatives is key. As Canada phases out the open work permit, those who are still eligible for Stream A or Stream B are encouraged to apply as soon as possible. The permanent residency pathways remain an important option for those wanting to settle in Canada. Additionally, applicants may consider economic immigration programs like the federal skilled worker program, though they should prepare for the competitive nature of global applications in these streams.

It’s also important for applicants to stay updated about policy changes. The scheduled closure of the open work permit and changes to permanent residency streams show how quickly policies can shift. Keeping track of announcements from trusted sources is essential. You can visit Canada’s official Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada page for updates. As policies change, planning and acting decisively based on new rules will be essential for individuals hoping to move to Canada.

Conclusion

The end of Canada’s open work permit program for Hong Kong graduates represents a major turn in immigration policy, signaling the country’s intent to prioritize sustainable development while still supporting skilled individuals. Though the program’s closure limits some options for Hong Kong residents, Canada continues to offer pathways like Stream B that acknowledge the skills and potential of Hong Kong graduates. Temporary measures, such as the five-year extension for awaiting applicants, reflect efforts to ease challenges for eligible individuals.

This shift in approach also highlights the broader challenges Canada faces as it juggles welcoming immigrants with managing pressures on its housing and social infrastructure. For Hong Kong residents interested in Canada, the message is clear: while opportunities remain, applicants must act swiftly, meet all eligibility criteria, and explore the alternate pathways available. By planning thoroughly and acting promptly, they can continue to find new opportunities in Canada🇨🇦 even amid these changes.

Learn Today

Open Work Permit → A temporary visa allowing foreign nationals to work for any employer in Canada without restrictions.
Permanent Residency → Immigration status permitting individuals to live and work in Canada indefinitely but without full citizenship rights.
Stream A and Stream B → Canadian immigration pathways targeting Hong Kong residents for permanent residency based on education or work experience in Canada.
Federal Skilled Worker Program → A Canadian immigration program evaluating skilled workers for permanent residency based on factors like work experience and education.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) → The Canadian government department responsible for immigration policies, visas, and refugee integration services.

This Article in a Nutshell

Canada’s closure of the open work permit for Hong Kong residents by February 2025 marks a shift in its immigration priorities. While Stream A and B offer alternatives, the program’s simplicity will be missed. As Canada balances sustainable development with skilled immigration, applicants must act swiftly and adapt to changing opportunities.
— By VisaVerge.com