Maple News reports that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has introduced a temporary public policy allowing permanent residence (PR) applicants from Hong Kong to remain in Canada and continue working while awaiting a decision on their immigration status.
This new measure, taking effect on May 27, 2024, targets residents of Hong Kong who applied for PR under the special 2021 immigration pathways—Stream A for in-Canada graduates and Stream B for applicants with Canadian work experience. To be eligible for the new policy, applicants must also have held a valid work or study permit in the three years prior to submitting their PR application.
Under the new initiative, eligible applicants can apply for an open work permit (OWP), granting them the flexibility to work for any Canadian employer while their permanent residence file is under review. The policy aims to bridge the gap during processing times and reinforce Canada’s long-standing commitment to Hong Kong residents.
This policy will remain in place for five years, offering long-term flexibility to thousands of potential immigrants. It builds on the original 2021 public policy introduced in response to political unrest in Hong Kong following the implementation of China’s national security law in mid-2020.
According to IRCC, it remains the applicants’ responsibility—or that of their legal guardians—to maintain valid temporary status in Canada. Those who apply for an extension before their current permit expires retain their legal status under a provision known as “maintained status.”
Individuals who have lost their status within the past 90 days before applying may still be eligible to simultaneously apply for the new open work permit and restore their status. However, applicants who have been out of status for more than 90 days are excluded from this policy.
As of 2021, more than 200,000 Canadian residents reported being born in Hong Kong, underscoring deep historic ties between the two regions. With this new policy, Canada continues to position itself as a country of refuge and opportunity for those facing uncertainty in their home territory.
Maple News will continue to monitor the impact of this policy and provide updates on PR processing timelines and open work permit applications.