- Canada supports the right to peaceful protest, freedom of expression and freedom of assembly. Taking part in peaceful protests is not considered an offence in Canada. Arrests and convictions outside Canada for actions not considered an offence in Canada are not grounds for inadmissibility.
To protect those who may face unfair treatment under the national security law, and to attract skilled Hong Kongers to help Canadian economy, Canada announced some new measures to support Hong Kong residents to facilitate their process to come, stay and immigrate to Canada.
“With young Hong Kongers casting their eyes abroad, we want them to choose Canada. Our Hong Kong immigration pathway is a historic initiative, intended to attract talented applicants who will drive our economy forward. Skilled Hong Kongers will have a unique opportunity to both develop their careers and help accelerate our recovery. This landmark initiative will strengthen our economy and deepen the strong ties between Canada and the people of Hong Kong.”
—The Honourable Marco E. L. Mendicino, P.C., M.P., Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship
New measures to support Hong Kong residents
Canadians citizen and Canadian permanent residents in Hong Kong whose documents they require will be expedited so that they can come back to Canada anytime.
New temporary and permanent pathways for Hong Kong youth
Temporary visa measures:
- Canada will expedite the processing of permits for young people from Hong Kong who are eligible and want to come to Canada to work or study.
- In addition to the existing work and study options for Hong Kong youth, a new work permit initiative specific to Hong Kong youth will provide open work permits of up to 3 years in duration, with eligibility criteria centred on post-secondary education in Canada or abroad completed in the last 5 years.
Permanent resident measures:
- For those who come here to either study or work, 2 new pathways to permanent residence are being created, which will be available in 2021:
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- Stream A – Applicants must have completed one of the following educational credentials at a post-secondary designated learning institution in Canada in the last 3 years, and they must have done at least 50% of their program of study (in person or online) while in Canada:
- degree (bachelor’s degree, master’s degree or doctorate)
- diploma from a program that is at least 2 years in length
- graduate or post-graduate credential (for a diploma or certificate) from a program that is at least 1 year in length; in addition, the program must require a post-secondary degree or diploma, which must have been earned no more than 5 years before starting the graduate or post-graduate program
- Stream B – Applicants must have at least 1 year of full-time work experience (or the part-time equivalent, that is, at least 1,560 hours in total) in Canada in the last 3 years; they must also have completed one of the following at a post-secondary learning institution in or outside Canada in the last 5 years:
- degree (bachelor’s degree, master’s degree or doctorate)
- diploma from a program that is at least 2 years in length
- graduate or post-graduate credential (for a diploma or certificate) from a program that is at least 1 year in length; in addition, the program must require a post-secondary degree or diploma, which must have been earned no more than 5 years before starting the graduate or post-graduate program
- Stream A – Applicants must have completed one of the following educational credentials at a post-secondary designated learning institution in Canada in the last 3 years, and they must have done at least 50% of their program of study (in person or online) while in Canada:
Additional measures being implemented
- Canada is waiving application processing fees for Hong Kong residents in Canada on a temporary basis who apply to renew their status to extend their stay.
- IRCC is increasing promotional and recruitment efforts to attract Hong Kong youth to study in Canada and in other program areas, including International Experience Canada.
For individuals at risk of persecution who are in Canada or in a third country
- Foreign nationals in Canada, including Hong Kong residents, continue to have access to our asylum system. All eligible asylum claims are decided based on the individual merits and evidence presented to the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (IRB), an independent administrative tribunal. The IRB is constantly evaluating conditions in asylum-seeker-producing countries and is updating research material to include the latest developments in Hong Kong and ensure that decision makers have access to the most recent information.
- Due to the worsening conditions in Hong Kong that could put some individuals at risk, IRCC has implemented an exemption to the 12-month bar on a pre-removal risk assessment (PRRA) for Hong Kong residents. A PRRA examines the risk an individual may face if they are returned to their home country. Normally, individuals who receive a negative decision on their refugee claim from the IRB or the Federal Court, or on their previous PRRA application, are not eligible to apply for a PRRA for at least 12 months from the date of their decision. With this exemption, some individuals who were previously ineligible may now be eligible for another assessment before being removed from Canada.
- Hong Kong residents at risk of persecution who have fled to another country may also be eligible under Canada’s existing resettlement programs, including the Private Sponsorship of Refugees Program and the Government-Assisted Refugees Program.