Public Policy to Allow Permanent Residence for Essential Workers and Recent Graduates

Temporary Resident to Permanent Resident Pathway

On April 12, IRCC made a huge announcement that 90,000 essential workers and recent graduates of Canadian post-secondary schools will be allowed to apply for permanent residence through a one-time application program via a public policy called the Temporary Resident to Permanent Resident Pathway.

The covid-19 pandemic has led to a shortfall of Canadian immigration targets as, despite a draw for over 27,000 applicants eligible for Canadian Experience Class in February 2021, applicants for PR from outside Canada have not been invited to apply for several months. IRCC has not done a draw for Federal Skilled Worker candidates in the Express Entry pool since December 23, 2020.

Who Can Apply?

This new one-time application program for essential workers applies to workers with a minimum of 1 year of work experience in Canada across all NOC codes, including both unskilled (NOC D) and semi-skilled (NOC C) as well as the usual skilled NOC positions.

Workers who never have the option to apply for federal immigration programs will be able to submit an application for PR such as:

• cashiers
• shelf stockers
• order fillers
• salespeople
• service station attendants

Other important types of essential workers who will be eligible to apply include

• truck drivers
• heavy equipment operators
• construction and trades labourers
• landscaping labourers
• nannies and home child care providers
• some factory workers
• security guards
• butchers
• some airline workers

The essential worker PR program also covers healthcare workers such as

• doctors
• dentists and dental assistants
• degistered and Psychiatric Nurses
• pharmacists
• dieticians and Nutritionists
• massage therapists
• social workers
• counselors

This list is not exhaustive. Click here for the full list of eligible healthcare occupations and NOC codes, and click here for the full list of non-healthcare essential occupations and NOC codes .

Family Members of Essential Workers and Recent Graduates

Applicants for PR under the essential worker and recent graduate program will also be able to include their family members on their application for PR including spouses or common-law partners and dependent children who are living either inside or outside Canada.

Program Start Date and End Date

Applications for the essential worker and recent graduate PR program may be submitted beginning May 6, 2021. The final date that applications will be accepted is November 5, 2021.

Number of Applications to be Accepted (Cap) – English Language Applicants

Healthcare Workers (Stream A): A maximum of 20,000 applications will be accepted

Other Essential Workers (Stream B): A maximum of 30,000 applications will be accepted

Recent Graduates: A maximum of 40,000 applications will be accepted

It appears that applications will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis rather than a lottery. However, this has not yet been confirmed by IRCC.

French language applicants are not subject to any cap.

Requirements

Contact us if you are an essential worker or recent graduate.