Accelerated PR

Essential Workers & Students

Canada is offering a new expedited immigration program for those who have the skills and experience to help Canada accelerate its economic recovery.

Are you eligible?

Complete the form below to find out if you are eligible for Canada’s new immigration pathways.

Quick Facts

Opening Date

May 6, 2021

Total Available Spots

90,000

Application Deadline

Nov 2021

Who can apply

Click on an icon to learn more

About the new immigration programs for Essential Workers and Students in Canada

The government of Canada has created new pathways to permanent residence for temporary workers and recent graduates who already live in Canada. 

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will be admitting up to 90,000 applicants for permanent residence under the following streams:

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

The foreign national must:

  1. Have accumulated at least one (1) year of full-time work experience, or the equivalent in part-time experience (1,560 hours), in Canada, in an eligible occupation listed in Annex A or Annex B in the three (3) years preceding the date when the application for permanent residence is received. The one year of work experience must be obtained in one or more of the eligible occupations as follows:
    • Stream A: the one year of work experience must have been acquired in one or more occupations listed in Annex A. Experience cannot be combined with Annex B occupations.
    • Stream B: the one year of work experience must have been acquired in one or more occupations listed in Annex B, or a combination of occupations in Annexes A and B.
  2. Be employed in Canada in any occupation at the time that the application for permanent residence is received;
  3. The employment described in both a) and b) must meet the definition of work under subsection 73(2) of the Regulations, must have been authorized pursuant to the Act and Regulations and must not have been self-employed, unless working as a medical doctor in a fee-for-service arrangement with a health authority;
  4. Have attained a level of proficiency of at least benchmark 4 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;
  5. 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;
  6. Intend to reside in a province or territory other than Quebec;
  7. 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;
  8. 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
  9. The foreign national is not inadmissible under the Act and Regulations.

Source: Government of Canada

The foreign national must:

  1. Have completed at least one (1) year of full-time work experience, or the equivalent in part-time experience (1,560 hours), in Canada, in an eligible occupation listed in Annex A or Annex B in the three (3) years preceding the date when the application for permanent residence is received. The one year of work experience must be obtained in one or more of the eligible occupations as follows:
    • Stream A: the one year of work experience must have been acquired in one or more occupations listed in Annex A. Experience cannot be combined with Annex B occupations.
    • Stream B: the one year of work experience must have been acquired in one or more occupations listed in Annex B, or in a combination of occupations in Annex A and B.
  2. Be employed in Canada in any occupation at the time that the application for permanent residence is received;
  3. The employment described in both a) and b) must meet the definition of work under subsection 73(2) of the Regulations, must have been authorized pursuant to the Act and Regulations and must not have been self-employment, unless working as a medical doctor in a fee-for-service arrangement with a health authority;
  4. Have attained a level of proficiency of at least benchmark 4 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;
  5. 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;
  6. Intend to reside in a province or territory other than Quebec;
  7. 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;
  8. 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
  9. The foreign national is not inadmissible under the Act and Regulations.

Source: Government of Canada

Contact Kadri Law in order to fast-track your application today.

Do you live in Canada and are looking to be one of the 90,000 candidates to apply for permanent residence in Canada under these new pathways?

Get a head start by submitting the form above or calling +1 (519) 258-8188

Kadri Law is here to help you simplify the process and maximize your chance at a successful application. 

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