The pandemic has shone a bright light on the incredible contributions of newcomers. These new policies will help those with temporary status to plan their future in Canada, play a key role in our economic recovery, and help us build back better…
On April 14, 2021, Immigration Minister Marco Mendicino announced his department is creating a new pathway for permanent residency for 90,000 essential workers and international graduates who are currently in Canada.
Although the specifics of the new policy are yet to be released, Mendicino says the new policy will grant permanent status to temporary workers and graduates who possess the skills and experience the country needs to fight the pandemic and achieve an economic recovery.
Who Will Be Eligible?
According to the press release, health care and other eligible essential workers who have at least one year of Canadian work experience will be able to apply, as well as international graduates who have completed an eligible Canadian post-secondary program within the last four years.
This new program is due to open in May 6, and will accept up to 50,000 applications from health care and other essential workers and 40,000 applications from international students who graduated from a Canadian institution.
This new policy will help the government meet its 2021 goal to accept 401,000 new permanent residents in spite of the COVID-19 travel restrictions limiting the number of newcomers landing in the country.
Our message to them is simple: Your status may be temporary, but your contributions are lasting — and we want you to stay.
Immigration Minister Marco Mendicino
Lauren Boorman
