Maple News reports that Canada is rolling out six new immigration pathways aimed at helping essential workers, international graduates, and French-speaking applicants secure permanent residency. These limited-time streams, which open next week, are part of a broader strategy by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to meet ambitious immigration targets for 2021.
Announced on April 14, the new streams include three capped programs for essential workers and international graduates, and three uncapped programs for French-speaking candidates. In total, up to 90,000 newcomers will be granted permanent residency under the capped pathways. Meanwhile, there’s no limit on the number of applications accepted from French-speaking applicants.
Here’s how the streams are structured:
– Stream A – Health care workers in Canada: 20,000 applications.
– Stream B – Other essential workers in Canada: 30,000 applications.
– International graduates from Canadian institutions: 40,000 applications.
– French-speaking health care workers: no limit.
– French-speaking essential workers: no limit.
– French-speaking international graduates: no limit.
These new pathways are a direct response to the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. With borders closed to non-essential travel since March 2020, many approved permanent residents currently living abroad have yet to enter Canada. To mitigate this disruption and fuel Canada’s post-pandemic recovery, IRCC has shifted focus to those already living and working in the country.
To be eligible, essential workers must have at least one year of full-time experience in an eligible occupation within the last three years—or the equivalent in part-time work. They must currently be employed in Canada, meet a minimum Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) of 4 in either English or French, and reside legally in the country. Candidates must also intend to live outside Quebec and must not be inadmissible for criminal or medical reasons.
International graduates must have completed an eligible program at a Designated Learning Institution (DLI) in Canada no earlier than January 2017. Acceptable credentials include university degrees, college diplomas, trade or technical school certifications, or Quebec CEGEP qualifications. Applicants must also currently be residing in Canada with valid temporary status.
Canada has set an immigration goal of welcoming 401,000 new permanent residents in 2021—the highest target in the country’s history. These new streams are designed to help achieve that goal by transitioning those already in Canada from temporary to permanent status, leveraging their contributions in essential sectors and supporting Canada’s long-term economic growth.