Canada announces permanent residency pathway for temporary workers and international graduates

Canada is already well known for being a fantastic place to live, whether you were born and raised there or moving there to work and help in the economy. However, just like many things in life, we should always find ways to move forward and take the next step.

This is why we are excited to learn that Canada has created a pathway designed to allow for temporary essential workers and international graduates to live in Canada, so long as they contribute to the economy.

It is thought that this pathway will be open to as many as 90,000 people and will grant permanent status to them. They do need to be already living in Canada. They show that they can offer the skills and experience necessary to fight the Covid-19 pandemic and continue to be essential to allow the Canadian people and economy to recover.

Who are these workers/graduates?

The main focus of this particular policy and pathway is on those temporary workers who were employed both in long-term care homes and hospitals too. It also covers those who work in other sectors that will have been essential during the pandemic.

It also looks at graduates who will likely be responsible for driving forward the future economy in Canada.

Three streams are open as of the 6th May 2021. There are 20,000 applications for health care workers—30,000 applications across the other essential sectors and 40,000 applications for international students.

What is the eligibility?

In order to be eligible for this pathway, you need to have been working in Canada for more than one year in the health care profession or another occupation that has been pre-identified as being essential. Fill assessment form to check your eligibility

If you are an international graduate, you will need to have completed a Canadian post-secondary program within the last four years (and no earlier than in January 2017).

The application streams will be open either until their limits are reached or on the 5th November 2021, whichever comes first.

At the same time, three additional streams have been opened for those who are French-speaking or who are bilingual, and these streams have no cap on applications that can be made. This is because many communities across Canada will benefit from speaking both French or are bilingual.

Eligible Health-Related Occupations

Eligible health care occupations include all broad occupational category 3 occupations (Health occupations) from the National Occupational Classification (NOC) with the exception of Veterinarians (NOC 3114) and Animal health technologists and veterinary technicians (NOC 3213). Five occupations from broad occupational category 4 (Occupations in education, law and social, community and government services) are also eligible occupations.

Eligible Occupations:

NOC Occupation

3011 Nursing co-ordinators and supervisors

3012 Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses

3111 Specialist physicians

3112 General practitioners and family physicians

3113 Dentists

3121 Optometrists

3122 Chiropractors

3124 Allied primary health practitioners

3125 Other professional occupations in health diagnosing and treating

3131 Pharmacists

3132 Dietitians and nutritionists

3141 Audiologists and speech-language pathologists

3142 Physiotherapists

3143 Occupational therapists

3144 Other professional occupations in therapy and assessment

3211 Medical laboratory technologists

3212 Medical laboratory technicians and pathologists’ assistants

3214 Respiratory therapists, clinical perfusionists and cardiopulmonary technologists

3215 Medical radiation technologists

3216 Medical sonographers

3217 Cardiology technologists and electrophysiological diagnostic technologists, n.e.c.

3219 Other medical technologists and technicians (except dental health)

3221 Denturists

3222 Dental hygienists and dental therapists

3223 Dental technologists, technicians and laboratory assistants

3231 Opticians

3232 Practitioners of natural healing

3233 Licensed practical nurses

3234 Paramedical occupations

3236 Massage therapists

3237 Other technical occupations in therapy and assessment

3411 Dental assistants

3413 Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates

3414 Other assisting occupations in support of health services

4151 Psychologists

4152 Social workers

4153 Family, marriage and other related counsellors

4165 Health policy researchers, consultants and program officers

4212 Social and community service workers

4412 Home support workers, housekeepers and related occupations