Canada is opening up immigration pathways to essential workers, international students, and French speakers who are living in the country.
Starting May 6, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will open the door to 90,000 essential workers and international student graduates on temporary status in Canada. There will also be three programs that will accept an unlimited number of eligible French speakers
The new programs apply to eligible temporary residents who want to immigrate to any Canadian province or territory other than Quebec. This is because the new programs were introduced by the Canadian federal government, which does not have the power to make immigration policy in Quebec.
The new programs will only be open for a limited amount of time until November 5 or until the intake caps are reached. There are 40 eligible healthcare occupations, plus an additional 95 eligible occupations other essential workers across a range of industries such as construction, agriculture, and sales.
Applicants may also include their eligible family members on their applications, regardless of whether they are in Canada or not. Everyone named on the application must be admissible to Canada, meaning they have to meet general criminality and medical criteria.
Here are some of the general eligibility criteria for each of the six new programs:
- International student graduates
- Essential workers in healthcare
- Essential workers in other occupations
- French-speaking international student graduates
- French-speaking essential workers in healthcare
- French-speaking essential workers in other occupations
- List of eligible healthcare occupations
- List of eligible essential occupations