Expansion of Education Requirements for Hong Kong Open Work Permit Pathway

Policy effect

IRCC expanded eligibility for the three-year open work permit for Hong Kong residents to include individuals who completed a graduate or post-graduate credential of at least 1 year in length in the preceding 5 years, provided they also held a prerequisite post-secondary degree completed no more than 5 years prior to starting the graduate program.

Conditions and exceptions

Validated condition or limit: IRCC expanded eligibility for the three-year open work permit for Hong Kong residents to include individuals who completed a graduate or post-graduate credential of at least 1 year in length in the preceding 5 years, provided they also held a prerequisite post-secondary degree completed no more than 5 years prior to starting the graduate program.

Official source excerpt

Quoted verbatim from the official source below. Ellipses indicate omitted text.

… other like-minded allies, and its robust support for, and defence of, democratic values. Therefore, I hereby establish, pursuant to my authority under section 25.2 of the *Immigration and Refugee Protection Act* (the Act), that there are sufficient public policy considerations that justify the granting of exemptions from the requirements of the *Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations* (the Regulations) listed below to foreign nationals who meet the conditions (eligibility requirements) set out below. Accordingly, this public policy will allow for the issuance of open work permits to eligible … means that is made available or specified by the Minister for that purpose if the foreign national because of disability is unable to meet the requirement to make the application, submit any document or provide signature or information using electronic means; and 4. in the five years preceding the submission of the work permit application in (ii), has graduated with: 1. a graduate or post-graduate diploma, certificate or credential from a post-secondary designated learning institution as defined in section 211.1 of the *Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations* for completion of a program … program that: 1. is at least one year in length, and 2. requires the completion of a post-secondary degree or diploma, as a pre-requisite for acceptance in the program, or 2. a foreign diploma, certificate or credential from a program that requires completion of a post-secondary degree or diploma as a pre-requisite for acceptance in the program, along with an equivalency assessment as defined in subsection 73(1) of the *Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations* that indicates that the foreign diploma, certificate or credential is equivalent to a Canadian graduate or post-graduate diploma, certificate or credential for a program that is at least one year in length, and 5. obtained a post-secondary degree or diploma no more than five years before the commencement of the graduate or post-graduate program referred to in (iv.); 3. The foreign national: 1. is a family member - per the definition in subsection 1(3) of the *Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations* - of a foreign national who has applied and has been found to meet the conditions listed in 1 or 2; 2. has submitted a work permit application under section 200 of the *Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations*, where … https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/corporate.html) 4. [Mandate](https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/corporate/mandate.html) 5. [Policies, Ministerial Instructions, and agreements](https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/corporate/mandate/policies-operational-instructions-agreements.html) 6. [Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada - Public policies](https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/corporate/mandate/policies-operational-instructions-agreements/public-policies.html) # Updated: Temporary public policy to … exempt certain Hong Kong residents from work permit requirements ## Background: Following China’s adoption of a controversial national security law in Hong Kong that came into force on June 30, 2020, Canada committed to taking action and standing up for the people of Hong Kong. Aligned with a whole-of-government approach, this measure aims to attract educated Hong Kong youth to Canada, where it is expected that their human capital and international experience will contribute to Canada’s economic, social, and cultural fabric. At the same time, Canada’s response demonstrates its solidarity with … that indicates that the foreign diploma, certificate or credential is equivalent to a Canadian post-secondary diploma for a program that is at least two years in length; 2. The foreign national: 1. is described at paragraphs 190(2)(d) or (e) of the *Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations*; 2. has submitted a work permit application under section 200 of the *Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations*, where the duration of the work permit requested is for a maximum of three years; 3. has submitted their work permit application using electronic means (applied online), or by any other … other legislative obligations and admissibility and selection criteria not exempted under this, or another, public policy. ## Effective date and expiration This public policy revokes and replaces the Temporary Public Policy to Exempt Certain Hong Kong Residents from Work Permit Requirements signed on February 1, 2021. It takes effect upon signature and expires on February 7, 2023. This public policy applies to applications received under the February 1, 2021 public policy for which a decision has not been made, and applications received on or after the day it comes into effect. Marco E. L. Mendicino, P.C., M.P. Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Dated at Ottawa, this 17th day of May, 2021 ## Page details 2021-06-08 ## About this site ### Immigration and citizenship - [Help Centre](https://ircc.canada.ca/english/helpcentre/index-featured-can.asp) - [Contact us](https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/corporate/contact-ircc.html) - [Check your application status](https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/application/check-status.html) ### Government of Canada - [All contacts](https://www.canada.ca/en/contact.html) - [Departments and agencies …

Review method

Two separate automated exact-claim source reviews

Other Canada changes operative in 2021

• 2021-01-05Parents and Grandparents Program 2020 Income Requirement Relief
• 2021-01-27Temporary public policy for former students in Canada with expired or expiring post-graduation work permits
• 2021-02-01Ministerial Instructions on Mandatory Online Applications
• 2021-02-22Enhanced COVID-19 Border Compliance and Quarantine Mandates
• 2021-04-01Temporary public policy to exempt certain visitors in Canada from immigration requirements during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic
• 2021-06-17Rules Amending the Federal Courts Citizenship, Immigration and Refugee Protection Rules (SOR/2021-149)
• 2021-06-21Expansion of Travel Exemptions for Approved Permanent Residents
• 2021-06-28Special PR Policy for Over-Cap International Graduate Applicants (TR to PR Pathway)
• 2021-06-28Temporary public policy exempting some foreign nationals in Canada from requiring an immigration medical exam
• 2021-06-29Express Entry Invitation to Apply (ITA) Submission Period Restored to 60 Days
• 2021-07-09Expansion of the Student Direct Stream (SDS) to Seven New Countries
• 2021-07-16Launch of a Dedicated Refugee Stream for Human Rights Defenders
• 2021-07-20Announcement and Criteria for 2021 Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) Intake
• 2021-07-30Updated Temporary Public Policy for Out-of-Status Construction Workers in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA)
• 2021-08-12Regulations Amending the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (Seizure Provisions) — SOR/2021-202
• 2021-08-13Establishment of the Special Afghan Resettlement Programs
• 2021-08-31Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP) Eligibility Expansion to Quebec Economic Streams
• 2021-08-31Expiration of Broad COVID-19 Restoration Public Policy
• 2021-09-01Mandatory Electronic Filing for Temporary Resident Applications
• 2021-09-07Border Reopening and Quarantine Exemption for All Fully Vaccinated International Travelers
• 2021-09-09Re-issuance of Exemption Policy for Excluded Family Members (IRPR 117(9)(d) and 125(1)(d))
• 2021-09-19Temporary Public Policy for Resettlement of NATO's Afghan Locally Engaged Staff
• 2021-09-30Resettlement Pathway for Afghan Human Rights Defenders
• 2021-10-06Extension of In-Person Exemption for Inland Refugee Claimants
• 2021-10-18Changes to the pre-removal risk assessment for Afghanistan
• 2021-10-25Afghan Families Resettlement Program Status Update
• 2021-11-05Closure of Temporary Resident to Permanent Resident (TR to PR) Pathway
• 2021-11-30Mandatory ArriveCAN Vaccine Disclosure for Essential Services
• 2021-12-09New Permanent Residence Pathway for Extended Family of Afghan Interpreters
• 2021-12-16Fee Exemptions and Status Extensions for Foreign Nationals Directly Affected by British Columbia Floods