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Canada to Close Permanent Residence Pathways for Hong Kong Nationals to New Applications

🇨🇦 CanadaPermanent Residence1 recorded versionLast change 30 Aug 2026
ConfidenceVery high · 100%

Current rules

Canada will stop accepting new applications under the two dedicated Hong Kong permanent-residence pathways after 31 August 2026. Stream A — In-Canada Graduates Stream A provides a permanent-residence pathway for eligible Hong Kong nationals who have completed qualifying education in Canada. The pathway was designed to allow eligible graduates who were already in Canada to transition to permanent residence based on their Canadian educational experience. Stream B — In-Canada Work Experience Stream B provides a permanent-residence pathway for eligible Hong Kong nationals who have obtained qualifying work experience in Canada. The pathway was designed to facilitate permanent residence for Hong Kong nationals who had established Canadian work experience and met the applicable requirements. Closure date 31 August 2026 is the final day for new applications. IRCC's programme page states that the pathways are open until that date. Applications submitted before the deadline remain subject to processing by IRCC. The closure therefore changes the future availability of the pathways, rather than retrospectively invalidating applications already submitted.

Overview

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced that the temporary permanent residence pathways for Hong Kong nationals will close to new applications on 31 August 2026. These pathways, introduced in 2021, provided eligible Hong Kong residents in Canada with a route to permanent residency based on their Canadian education or work experience. Applications submitted before the deadline will continue to be processed.

Who is affected by the latest change

  • Hong Kong nationals in Canada who intended to apply through one of the two dedicated Hong Kong permanent-residence pathways
  • Eligible Hong Kong graduates seeking permanent residence through Stream A
  • Eligible Hong Kong nationals with qualifying Canadian work experience seeking permanent residence through Stream B
  • Hong Kong nationals who have not yet submitted an application but were planning to use one of the pathways
  • Applicants who need to submit their applications before the 31 August 2026 deadline

What changed in the latest version

Before

The two permanent residence pathways for Hong Kong nationals were launched in 2021. These were special measures that offered eligible Hong Kong nationals in Canada extra ways to gain permanent residence. These pathways were specifically for people with recent Canadian education or work experience. They created dedicated routes that were different from many of Canada's standard economic immigration programmes. The programme continued to accept applications through the 2026 intake period.

After

Canada will stop accepting new applications under the two dedicated Hong Kong permanent-residence pathways after 31 August 2026. Stream A — In-Canada Graduates Stream A provides a permanent-residence pathway for eligible Hong Kong nationals who have completed qualifying education in Canada. The pathway was designed to allow eligible graduates who were already in Canada to transition to permanent residence based on their Canadian educational experience. Stream B — In-Canada Work Experience Stream B provides a permanent-residence pathway for eligible Hong Kong nationals who have obtained qualifying work experience in Canada. The pathway was designed to facilitate permanent residence for Hong Kong nationals who had established Canadian work experience and met the applicable requirements. Closure date 31 August 2026 is the final day for new applications. IRCC's programme page states that the pathways are open until that date. Applications submitted before the deadline remain subject to processing by IRCC. The closure therefore changes the future availability of the pathways, rather than retrospectively invalidating applications already submitted.

This change means that eligible Hong Kong nationals in Canada who have not yet applied for permanent residence through these specific pathways must submit their applications by 31 August 2026. If you miss this deadline, you will lose the chance to use these temporary provisions for permanent residency. People who have already applied will still have their applications processed. The availability of open work permits until May 2029 provides some stability for those waiting for a decision on their permanent residence application, allowing them to stay and work in Canada.

Explained simply

Imagine Canada had a special express lane at the border for people from Hong Kong who wanted to live there permanently, especially if they had studied or worked in Canada recently. This special express lane was opened a few years ago because Canada wanted to support Hong Kong. Now, Canada is saying that this express lane will close to new people after 31 August 2026. If you've already sent in your application before that date, it will still go through the lane. But after that date, no new applications will be allowed into this particular lane. So, if you were planning to use it, you need to get your application in quickly!

Frequently asked

Version history

  1. v1Effective 31 Aug 2026EffectiveHigh impact
    Canada to Close Permanent Residence Pathways for Hong Kong Nationals to New Applications

    Canada's temporary permanent residence pathways for eligible Hong Kong nationals will close to new applications on 31 August 2026. These pathways, introduced in 2021, allowed Hong Kong nationals in Canada with recent Canadian education or work experience to apply for permanent residency. New applications will not be accepted from 1 September 2026, though those submitted by the deadline will continue to be processed. Additionally, a public policy allowing applicants to these pathways to apply for open work permits, which took effect on 27 May 2024, will remain in place until May 2029.

Other routes in this country

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