Essential workers and international graduates who have applied for permanent residence under the 6 new temporary pathways launched in May 2021 can now apply for an open work permit while they wait for their applications to be processed. Immigration Minister Marco Mendicino announced the new open work permit option will open July 26 so that qualified applicants who have an expiring temporary work permit do not have to worry about their temporary status expiring during the process and having to leave Canada. Open work permits issued under the policy will remain valid until December 31, 2022.
“Our new path to permanent residence for 90,000 essential workers and international graduates is a major step forward—the size, speed and scope of which is unprecedented. This new open work permit ensures that those who have been playing critical roles throughout the pandemic can continue their extraordinary service.”
- The Honourable Marco E. L. Mendicino
Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship
TR to PR Pathway
The 6 temporary resident to permanent resident pathways (TR to PR) opened May 6, 2021, with a goal of accelerating permanent residency for 90,000 essential healthcare workers, temporary essential workers in other fields, international graduates and francophones and bilingual workers already in Canada:
- Workers in-Canada: Stream A (healthcare): 20,000 applicants
- Workers in-Canada: Stream B (essential non-healthcare): 30,000 applicants
- International Graduates: 40,000 applicants
- French-speaking Workers in-Canada: Stream A (healthcare)
- French-speaking Workers in-Canada: Stream B (essential, non-healthcare)
- French-speaking International Graduates
Qualifications for New TR to PR Open Work Permit
The IRCC press release announced that to qualify for this one-time open work permit, the applicants must show that they:
- have successfully submitted an application under one of the new permanent residence pathway’s streams
- held a valid work permit, or were authorized to work without a work permit, at the time their permanent residence application was submitted
- hold a valid work permit that is set to expire within the next 4 months
- have temporary resident status, maintained status or are eligible to restore their status at the time their open work permit application is submitted
- are in Canada at the time their open work permit application is submitted
- were employed in any occupation at the time their permanent residence application was submitted
- meet the language requirements of the stream under which they applied at the time their permanent residence application was submitted
Act Now To Become a Canada Permanent Resident
If you are already in Canada and are an essential worker during the COVID pandemic or recent graduate, or if you are bilingual in French and English, you may qualify for Canada's new permanent residency program. Ackah Business Immigration Law guides you through the immigration journey to permanent residence in Canada. To find out if you qualify and to help process your application, contact Ackah Law today at (403) 452‑9515 or email us at contact@ackahlaw.com.
