Essential Workers & Students

Based on public policy considerations, delegated officers may grant permanent resident status to foreign nationals who meet the following conditions.

The foreign national must:

1. Have completed, prior to the date on which the application for permanent residence is received and no earlier than January 2017, a program of study at one of the following “Designated Learning Institutions” in Canada as defined in section 211.1 of the Regulations:
   • a public post-secondary institution, such as a college, trade/technical school, university or in Quebec CEGEP
   • a private post-secondary school in Quebec that operates under the same rules and regulations as public institutions in Quebec
   • a private or public post-secondary institution in Quebec offering qualifying programs of 900 hours or longer leading to a diploma of vocational studies (DVS) or an attestation of vocational specialization (AVS)
   • a Canadian private institution authorized by provincial statute to confer degrees under provincial law but only if the program of study completed was a degree as authorized by the province, which may not include all programs of study offered by the private institution.
2. Have been granted one of the following credentials, following the completion of a program study from an eligible institution as defined in a):
   • a degree (Associate, Bachelor’s, Master’s, or Doctorate) which must be a degree issued on completion of a program of at least 8 months in duration;
   • a degree, diploma, certificate, or attestation issued on completion of a program of any duration leading to an occupation in a skilled trade (listed in Annex A); or
   • one or more diploma/certificate/attestation where the following conditions are met:
     • For diplomas/certificates/attestations, each program of study must be at least 8 months in duration and the combined length of the credential(s) must be equivalent to a two-year credential (at least 16 months in duration).
     • For the DVS and AVS, each program of study must be at least 900 hours in duration and the combined program of study must be at least 1,800 hours in duration.
       • When combining one AVS with one DVS, the length of the AVS may be less than 900 hours if the combined length is at least 1,800 hours.
     • For greater clarity, each combined credential must meet the eligible program requirements as defined in a), including the completion no earlier than January 2017.
3. Have been authorized pursuant to the Act and Regulations to study throughout their education in Canada;
4. Be employed in Canada with a valid permit or authorization to work pursuant to the Act and Regulations at the time the application for permanent residence is received and must not be self-employed, unless working as a medical doctor in a fee-for-service arrangement with a health authority. The employment must meet the definition of work under subsection 73(2) of the Regulations;
5. Have attained a level of proficiency of at least benchmark 5 in either official language for each of the four language skill areas, as set out in the Canadian Language Benchmarks or the Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens. This must be demonstrated by the results of an evaluation by an organization or institution designated by the Minister for the purpose of evaluating language proficiency under subsection 74(3) of the Regulations; and the evaluation must be less than two (2) years old when the permanent residence application is received;
6. Reside in Canada with valid temporary resident status (or be eligible to restore their status) and be physically present in Canada at the time the application for permanent residence is received and when the application is approved;
7. Intend to reside in a province or territory other than Quebec;
8. Have submitted an application for permanent residence using the forms provided by the Department for this public policy and which must include at the time of application all proof necessary to satisfy an officer that the applicant meets the conditions (eligibility requirements) of this public policy, except for evidence required to demonstrate physical presence in Canada at the time of application approval;
9. Have submitted their application for permanent residence under this public policy using electronic means (apply online). Foreign nationals who, because of a disability are unable to meet the requirement to make an application, submit any document or provide a signature or information using electronic means may submit this application by any other means that is made available or specified by the Minister for that purpose; and
10. The foreign national is not inadmissible under the Act and Regulations

Source: Government of Canada

The foreign national must:

1. Have completed, prior to the date on which the application for permanent residence is received and no earlier than January 2017, a program of study at one of the following “Designated Learning Institutions” in Canada as defined in section 211.1 of the Regulations:
   • a public post-secondary institution, such as a college, trade/technical school, university or in Quebec CEGEP
   • a private post-secondary school in Quebec that operates under the same rules and regulations as public institutions in Quebec
   • a private or public post-secondary institution in Quebec offering qualifying programs of 900 hours or longer leading to a diploma of vocational studies (DVS) or an attestation of vocational specialization (AVS)
   • a Canadian private institution authorized by provincial statute to confer degrees under provincial law but only if the program of study completed was a degree as authorized by the province, which may not include all programs of study offered by the private institution.
2. Have been granted one of the following credentials, following the completion of program of study as from an eligible institution as defined in a):
   • a degree (Associate, Bachelor’s, Master’s, or Doctorate) which must be a degree issued on completion of a program of at least 8 months in duration;
   • a degree, diploma, certificate, or attestation issued on completion of a program of any duration leading to an occupation in a skilled trade (listed in Annex A); or
   • one or more diploma/certificate/attestation where the following conditions are met:
     • For diplomas/certificates/attestations, each program of study must be at least 8 months in duration and the combined length of the credential(s) must be equivalent to a two-year credential (at least 16 months in duration).
     • For the DVS and AVS, each program of study must be at least 900 hours in duration and the combined program of study must be at least 1,800 hours in duration.
       • When combining one AVS with one DVS, the length of the AVS may be less than 900 hours if the combined length is at least 1,800 hours.
     • For greater clarity, each combined credential must meet the eligible program requirements as defined in a), including the completion no earlier than January 2017.
3. Have been authorized pursuant to the Act and Regulations to study throughout their education in Canada;
4. Be employed in Canada with a valid permit or authorization to work pursuant to the Act and Regulations at the time the application for permanent residence is received and must not be self-employed, unless working as a medical doctor in a fee-for-service arrangement with a health authority. This employment must meet the definition of work under subsection 73(2)of the Regulations;
5. Have attained a level of proficiency of at least benchmark 5 in French for each of the four language skill areas, as set out in the Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens. This must be demonstrated by the results of an evaluation by an organization or institution designated by the Minister for the purpose of evaluating language proficiency under subsection 74(3) of the Regulations and the evaluation must be less than two (2) years old when the permanent residence application is received;
6. Reside in Canada with valid temporary resident status (or be eligible to restore their status) and be physically present in Canada at the time the application for permanent residence is received and when the application is approved;
7. Intend to reside in a province or territory other than Quebec;
8. Have submitted an application for permanent residence using the forms provided by the Department for this public policy and which must include at the time of application all proof necessary to satisfy an officer that the applicant meets the conditions (eligibility requirements) of this public policy, except for evidence required to demonstrate physical presence in Canada at the time of application approval;
9. Have submitted their application for permanent residence under this public policy using electronic means (apply online). Foreign nationals who, because of a disability are unable to meet the requirement to make an application, submit any document or provide a signature or information using electronic means may submit this application by any other means that is made available or specified by the Minister for that purpose; and
10. The foreign national is not inadmissible under the Act and Regulations.

Source: Government of Canada