Canada Immigration

Canada Hong Kong Pathway | HK Immigration to Canada | TWA

The “Canada Hong Kong Pathway” is an express immigration channel launched by the Canadian government for Hong Kong residents, and it is also the new policy for Hong Kong people to immigrate to Canada with the lowest threshold in history.

There are many ways for Hong Kong people to immigrate to Canada, including the federal Express Entry (EE) system, the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), and other federal skilled immigration or business immigration. But now, the “Canada Hong Kong Pathway” allows eligible Hong Kong residents to take this express Canada immigration method. Hongkongers can only take 1 year to apply for immigration to Canada.

The Canada Hong Kong Pathway has 3 main programs:

Open Work Permit Canada
Canada Stream A (In-Canada Graduates)
Canada Stream B (Canadian Work Experience)

In this article on Hong Kong immigration to Canada, TWA will introduce various programs of the “Canada Hong Kong Pathway” in detail, explain the application requirements of these immigration methods, and how TWA can help Hong Kong residents obtain Canadian permanent residence.

Canada Hong Kong Pathway: OWP Canada

The Canada Open Work Permit (OWP) is the earliest program launched in the “Canada Hong Kong Pathway”. Although this is not a way to directly apply for Canadian permanent residence, it still provides Hong Kong residents with a way to enter, work and stay in Canada. There are opportunities to connect these skilled workers to other immigration pathways.

The application requirements for OWP in Canada are not difficult. In addition, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced on February 6, 2023 that it will expand and extend the Hong Kong open work permit pathway. More eligible Hong Kong residents can apply to Canada OWP.

Now, the application deadline for the Canada Open Work Permit program has been extended to February 7, 2025. Hong Kong residents who have graduated from post-secondary institutions in Canada or overseas within the past 10 years are eligible for an open work permit to work in Canada. The OWP Canada program can be valid for up to 3 years.

Canada OWP Application Requirements

The following are the eligibility criteria for applying for a Canada Open Work Permit:

Hold a valid HKSAR or BNO passport
- Your open work permit is valid for up to 3 years, or until your passport expires, whichever is earlier
  - For example, if your passport is valid for 6 months, you will be granted a 6-month open work visa
  - To maximize the validity of your open work permit, please ensure your passport is valid for at least 3 years from the date of approval
  - Tell IRCC how long you want your work permit to be valid
Must have graduated within the past 10 years and meet either of the following criteria:
- A degree (Associate, Bachelor, Master, or Doctorate) issued by a Canadian Designated Learning Institution (DLI) or overseas educational institution
- A 2-year diploma issued by a Canadian Designated Learning Institution (DLI) or overseas educational institution
- A graduate/post-graduate credential
  - At least 1-year program
  - Issued by a Designated Learning Institution (DLI) in Canada, or an educational institution abroad
  - A prerequisite for admission to the program is the completion of a higher education degree or diploma, which you must have obtained no more than 5 years before starting the graduate/post-graduate program

If the applicant obtained a degree outside of Canada, there is no need to submit the Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) with the application, but the visa officer may ask you to submit it later.

If the applicant obtained a post-secondary diploma outside of Canada, you must submit a Credentials Certification (ECA) with your application, proving that your education is equivalent to a Canadian diploma qualification. This ECA must be issued by an organization designated by IRCC Canada, which includes:

Then, the applicant can follow the instructions on the IRCC official website and follow the steps to submit an application for an open work permit. The necessary documents listed on the website are:

Proof of payment (that is, the open work permit application fee and fingerprint fee referred to in Step 2 on the official website)
Proof of education
Passport copy
Work history
Digital photo
Family Information

After submitting the OWP application, the applicant can wait for notification from IRCC, which may ask you to complete the following items:

Biometrics
Medical Exam
Certificates of No Criminal Conviction

OWP Canada: FAQs

What medical test for immigration to Canada?

Generally speaking, the items of Canadian immigration medical examination mainly include basic physical examination (height, weight, vision, hearing, etc.), lung and chest X-ray, blood test, and urine test. Please keep in mind that the physical examination for Canada immigration must be carried out in medical institutions or by experienced doctors in Canada and abroad designated by IRCC.

When should I do the immigration medical exam?

Applicants can choose to complete the physical examination before applying for OWP Canada, that is, the Upfront medical examination; or after submitting the OWP application, you will be notified by IRCC to do the medical exam.

Can I work for any Canadian employer with an OWP?

Basically yes, OWP is an open work permit with no specified employer requirements. However, when you enter Canada, the OWP issued by the visa officer to you may indicate some work restrictions, such as the job type you cannot do, the place of work, etc.

When is the deadline to enter Canada with an OWP?

After your OWP is successfully approved, you will receive an Approval Letter from IRCC at the GCKey Portal. You can enter Canada within 3 years after receiving the Approval Letter.

How long does it take to process the open work permit application?

According to the IRCC Canada website, the current processing time for Hong Kong OWP applications is about 18 weeks.

After obtaining the Canadian OWP, Hong Kong residents can work for any employer in Canada through an open work permit. After saving enough working hours, you can submit an application for permanent residence through a suitable immigration project. Stream B mentioned below is one of the projects suitable for Hong Kong people to immigrate to Canada.

Canada Hong Kong Pathway: Stream A

The Canada Stream A immigration program is suitable for Hong Kong graduates (In-Canada Graduates) who have completed higher education in Canada to apply and become Canadian permanent residents. The difference between this stream and OWP is that Stream A is an immigration pathway leading to Canadian permanent residence. Hong Kong residents who meet the requirements of Stream A can submit Canada PR applications.

The application deadline for Stream A is August 31, 2026. If you want to apply to become a Canada PR through Stream A, you must pay attention to the timeline of the application to see if you have enough time to study and submit the application in Canada.

Stream A Application Conditions

The application requirements for Canada Stream A immigration pathway are as follows:

Hold a valid HKSAR or BNO passport
You must be in Canada when you apply for and obtain permanent residence
Hold valid temporary resident status in Canada
Intend to live outside of Quebec
Language proficiency at CLB level 5 or above
Graduated from a Canadian Designated Learning Institution (DLI) within the past 3 years and meet the following criteria
- At least 50% of coursework completed in Canada (either physical or online)
- Obtain any of the following academic certificates:
  - Degree (Associate, Bachelor, Master, Doctorate)
  - Diploma (minimum 2-year program length, either private or public, not graduate/post-graduate)
  - Graduate/post-graduate Diploma or Certificate (minimum 1-year program length)

Canada Stream A: FAQs

How can I check if the institution is a Designated Educational Institution (DLI)?

Applicants can check whether the institution is a DLI on the official website of the Designated Learning Institutions List in Canada. It is simple to check, as long as you enter the name of the school, you can get the information about the school.

Which, DLI public or DLI private, college is better for Stream A?

Both public and private DLI schools are eligible for Canada Stream A application. You can learn about their respective advantages before applying to a DLI school.

Public DLI schools have more course options and can apply for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) for up to 3 years after graduation.

It is easier to apply for a private DLI school than a public school. The course begins time is more flexible, and the tuition fees are lower than that of public schools. Some private DLI schools will provide Co-op experience so that students can experience the real workplace in Canada.

Are schools that do not offer a PGWP ineligible for Stream A?

Absolutely not. As long as the applicant is studying at a DLI higher education institution, he or she is eligible for one of the requirements for applying for Stream A PR in Canada.

Do I need to take the IELTS test before I can enroll in the course?

Not necessarily, each school has different entry language standards. Some schools accept the results of English proficiency tests such as IELTS and TOEFL, and some schools allow applicants to complete the English placement test of the school. One of TWA’s DLI partner institutions provides an English placement test as the English proficiency test.

Is there any age limit for enrolling in courses and applying for a study permit?

There is no age limit for enrolling in Canadian schools and programs. TWA has successfully applied for Study Permit for a number of elderly Hong Kong students who are now enrolled in one of the DLI partner institutions.

When studying in Canada, can children enjoy free education in Canada?

Yes. Children of study permit holders can enjoy free education in Canada. They can enroll in Canadian public secondary or primary schools for free. If you wish to enroll in a private secondary or primary school, you must pay the tuition fees yourself.

Canada Hong Kong Pathway: Stream B

The Canada Stream B immigration program is suitable for Hong Kong graduates with Canadian work experience to apply to become Canadian permanent residents. The difference between this stream and OWP is that Stream B is an immigration pathway leading to Canadian permanent residence. Hong Kong residents who meet the requirements of Stream B can submit Canadian PR applications.

The application deadline for Stream B Canada immigration is August 31, 2026. If you want to apply to become a Canadian PR through Stream B, you can first apply for the “Canada OWP” program under the “Canada Hong Kong Pathway”. After obtaining an open work permit, Hong Kong residents can work and save working hours in Canada. After saving enough working hours, you can apply for Canada permanent residence through Stream B. It can be seen that the OWP program has a very close relationship with the Stream B PR application pathway.

Stream B application requirements

The application requirements for the Stream B Canada immigration pathway are as follows:

Hold a valid HKSAR or BNO passport
You must be in Canada when you apply for and obtain permanent residence
Hold valid temporary resident status in Canada
Intend to live outside of Quebec
Language proficiency at CLB level 5 or above
Have worked in Canada full-time for at least 12 months in the past 3 years before applying, or equivalent part-time hours (1,560 hours). Proof of work experience needs to be submitted.
Graduated within the past 5 years with proof of one of the following qualifications:
- Diploma (non-graduates/post-graduates), or degree (Associate, Bachelor, Master, Doctorate) from a program of at least 2 years issued by a Canadian Designated Educational Institution (DLI)
- Graduate/Post-Graduate Diploma or Certificate from a minimum 1-year program issued by a Canadian Designated Educational Institution (DLI)
- A foreign educational qualification equivalent to any of the following requires the submission of ECA proof of academic qualifications:
  - Canadian Degree (Associate, Bachelor, Master, Doctorate)
  - Canadian Diploma (minimum 2-year program length, non-Graduate/Post-Graduate)
  - Canadian Graduate/Post-Graduate Diploma or Certificate (minimum 1-year program length)

Canada Stream B: FAQs

When is the deadline to enter Canada?

Since the application deadline for Stream B is August 31, 2026, theoretically the deadline to enter Canada is August 2025. However, applicants must ensure that they have a full-time job as soon as they land in order to submit the application before the deadline. TWA recommends applicants reserve enough time to enter the country to find a job. They may also need to have enough time if they will change jobs.

I successfully applied for OWP, does that mean I can apply for Stream B?

Uncertain. According to the new policy announced by the Canadian government on February 6, 2023, the application for open work permits is relaxed to Hong Kong people who have graduated from higher education institutions in the past 10 years, but the application conditions for Stream B have not been relaxed. Therefore, whether you can apply for Canadian PR through Stream B depends on whether the year of graduation when submitting the Stream B application meets the application requirements.

Can I change jobs midway?

Yes. The work hour requirement for Stream B is 12 months of full-time employment, or 1,560 hours of part-time employment, with the option to change jobs in between. Remember to keep all work records to prove the hours you worked.

Can I count hours when I am doing a Hong Kong job (Remote Work) in Canada?

No, you can’t. You must be working in Canada to apply for Stream B.

Canada Hong Kong Pathway: Summary

The Canada Hong Kong Pathway for Hong Kong people mainly has 3 programs: Open Work Permit (OWP), Stream A Study Immigration, and Stream B Work Immigration. Hong Kong people who intend to immigrate to Canada can obtain Canada permanent residency through Stream A and Stream B.

TWA is a team of Canadian licensed immigration counsels, who help thousands of foreign citizens to successfully immigrate to Canada, obtain permanent residency, and even become Canadian citizens. Contact us to learn more about Canada’s HK immigration programs and we can help you choose the most suitable immigration method.

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