Hong Kong immigration to Canada is booming

In comparison to pre-pandemic levels, new data from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) shows a 50% increase in Hong Kong permanent residency landings and a four-fold increase in study and work permit applications.

In 2021, approximately 2,300 Hong Kong citizens were granted permanent residency, up nearly 50% of the pre-pandemic total of just over 1,500 permanent residents in 2019.

Meanwhile, around 6,000 study permits were issued in 2021, compared to approximately 1,100 in 2019. These students may be eligible to apply for immigration under Stream A once they have completed their education in Canada.

In 2021, over 20,000 persons sought work permits, study permits, and extensions, up from over 4,700 in 2019.

These results strongly suggest that, for the first time since 1999, the number of Hong Kong permanent residents arriving in Canada could top 3,000 by the end of 2022.