Canada: Relaxed Education Requirements for Certain Permanent Residence Applicants from Hong Kong SAR

The government of Canada announced that as of August 15, 2023, eligible Hong Kong SAR residents who are in Canada and will apply for permanent residence under the Canadian work experience stream (Stream B) will no longer be subject to an education requirement and thus do not have to submit proof of education. Currently, applicants under Stream B must have completed a post-secondary diploma or degree (from Canada or abroad) in the five years prior to their permanent residence application in addition to having worked full-time in Canada for at least 12 months in the three years prior to filing the application. As a reminder, Canada offers two pathways to permanent residence for eligible Hong Kong SAR applicants and their families; the first is for Hong Kong SAR residents who graduated from a post-secondary institution in Canada and the second (Stream B) is for those with at least one year of work experience in Canada. The programs are in effect until August 31, 2026. This change follows the recent extension of the open work permit program for eligible Hong Kong SAR residents until February 7, 2025.