Maple News reports that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has officially extended the Federal Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot (EMPP) through December 31, 2025. The program, originally set to close mid-year, will continue to offer skilled refugees and displaced individuals a pathway to Canadian permanent residence under the economic immigration stream.
The Federal EMPP is designed to address Canada’s labour market gaps by connecting employers with skilled refugees seeking a new start. It exemplifies a unique model that merges humanitarian goals with economic migration, offering protection and opportunity to people displaced by conflict or persecution.
As part of the extension, IRCC has introduced new intake caps for 2025. The Job Offer Stream (Stream A) will accept up to 950 completed applications from principal applicants, while the No Job Offer Stream (Stream B) is capped at 150 applications. Once these limits are reached, any additional applications will be returned without processing.
To qualify for the EMPP, applicants must be refugees or displaced persons able to establish themselves economically in Canada and willing to settle outside the province of Quebec. Applications must be submitted online and must align with the guidelines set out in IRCC’s application guide for the EMPP.
Financial requirements depend on whether the applicant has a job offer. Those with a valid job offer are exempt from proving settlement funds. Applicants without a job offer must demonstrate they meet 50% of Canada’s Low-Income Cut-Off (LICO), ensuring they have the means to settle independently.
Successful EMPP applicants are granted permanent resident status and receive access to standard settlement services provided to economic immigrants. These include pre-arrival information, in-country support services, medical exams covered under the Interim Federal Health Program, and eligibility for the Immigration Loans Program to help cover travel and permanent residence fees.
However, unlike resettled refugees under the traditional humanitarian pathway, EMPP participants do not receive government-funded income support because they are admitted under an economic category.
IRCC’s extension of the EMPP reinforces Canada’s commitment to inclusive economic growth and its global reputation as a leader in innovative refugee resettlement models. It opens doors for skilled refugees while supporting employers in need of talent, thereby strengthening Canadian communities, labour markets, and humanitarian efforts alike.