Permanent residence pathways for Hong Kong residents
Permanent residence pathways for Hong Kong residents
Hong Kong Lifeboat Scheme
The temporary public policy for Hong Kong residents in Canada provides a way for eligible applicants and their families to obtain permanent residence.
You may be eligible to participate in 2 projects. You can apply for permanent residence in one of the following 2 categories:
Stream A: Graduates in Canada
Stream B: Canadian work experience
The policy is valid from June 1, 2021 to August 31, 2026.
Qualification
Hold a valid passport issued by one of the following:
Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China
British National (Overseas) — for individuals born, naturalized, or registered in Hong Kong as British citizens
Be physically present in Canada when applying for and receiving permanent residence
Hold valid temporary resident status in Canada
Intend to live in a province or territory in Canada other than Quebec
Take an approved language test and score Level 5 in all four skills (reading, writing, listening, and speaking) in either English or French, using one of the following:
Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB)
Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens (NCLC)
Graduate from a designated learning institution in Canada within the 3 years before applying, with one of the following:
A diploma for a program of at least 2 years (not a graduate or post-graduate program)
A degree (associate, bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral)
A graduate or post-graduate diploma or certificate for a program of at least 1 year
At least 50% of the program must have been completed in Canada (either in person or online)
If you hold a graduate or post-graduate diploma or certificate, you must also have completed a prior diploma or degree (from Canada or abroad) that was required for admission into the graduate program. This prerequisite must have been completed within 5 years before starting the graduate or post-graduate program.
Hold a valid passport issued by one of the following:
Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China
British National (Overseas) — for individuals born, naturalized, or registered in Hong Kong as British citizens
Be physically present in Canada when applying for and receiving permanent residence
Have valid temporary resident status in Canada
Intend to live in a province or territory in Canada other than Quebec
Take an approved language test and achieve a score of at least Level 5 in all four skills (reading, writing, listening, and speaking) in either English or French under one of the following:
Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB)
Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens (NCLC)
Have completed at least 12 months of full-time work in Canada within the 3 years before applying (or the equivalent in part-time hours)
Full-time work means at least 30 hours per week
Part-time hours can be combined but must not exceed 30 hours per week
A minimum total of 1,560 hours is required
Eligible work must be authorized (e.g., with a valid work permit or under an exemption)
The following do not count as eligible work experience:
Time spent working as a full-time student
Self-employment
Work outside Canada
Periods of leave (e.g., medical, parental)
Extended absences from Canada
Unemployment
About the Open Work Permit
If you’ve applied for permanent residence through one of the Hong Kong pathways, you may also be eligible for a 3-year open work permit, allowing you to work in Canada while your application is being processed.
Key Features
Valid for up to 3 years
Allows you to work for any employer in Canada (except in the adult industry)
Eligibility:
You’ve applied for permanent residence under one of the two Hong Kong pathways
You held a work or study permit in the 3 years prior to applying for PR
You are eligible to apply for a work permit
You are currently in Canada
You only need to apply for this open work permit if your current temporary status will expire before your PR application is processed.
Deadline: You must apply before May 2029.
If your temporary status has already expired, you may still be eligible if:
You are in Canada
Your temporary status expired within the last 90 days
In this case, you must apply to restore your temporary resident status and pay the restoration fee when applying for the open work permit.
Note: You are not eligible for this work permit under the public policy if your PR application has been refused, withdrawn, or returned.
Work Permits for Family Members
If your PR application includes your spouse, common-law partner, or dependent children aged 18 or older, they may also apply for an open work permit at the same time as you.
If You Plan to Study in Canada
You or your family members may need to apply for a study permit.
As a principal applicant under one of the Hong Kong PR pathways, you may be eligible to study without a permit.
If a family member plans to study for more than 6 months, they will likely need a study permit.
Minor children: Dependent minors may also need a study permit. The age of majority varies by province or territory.
