The Beginner’s Guide to Hong Kong Immigration to Canada

Approximately 205,000 Hong Kong Canadians live in Canada, with the majority of them immigrating in the late 1980s and early 1990s prior to the change in sovereignty of Hong Kong. Because of this, there are many Hong Kong Canadians who hold dual citizenship, and Canada is an attractive place for people from Hong Kong to immigrate. But how do you immigrate from Hong Kong to Canada?

How to Immigrate To Canada from Hong Kong?

Beginning in November of 2020, new measures were put in place by the Canadian government to encourage students and youth from Hong Kong to immigrate to Canada through both work permits and student visas, serving as pathways to permanent residency. This was part of the 2021-2023 Immigration Levels Plan which was designed for recent international student graduates and skilled workers to immigrate from Hong Kong to Canada more easily.

Working in Canada

If you have a job offer in Canada as a skilled worker, immigrating and applying for permanent residency can be a great option for immigrating from Hong Kong to Canada, under the Hong Kong Youth Program Stream B. Once someone from Hong Kong has worked in Canada for a year, they can apply for permanent residency under the Hong Kong special pathway Stream B, and don’t need to go through Express Entry, which has many more requirements. (Express Entry has three immigration programs, the first of which needs at least 1 year of Canadian work experience, the second needs certain education and skilled work experience, and the third requires being a skilled tradesman with a valid job offer or certificate of qualification.) Investors and entrepreneurs may also seek visas. If you wish to immigrate to Canada in one of these ways, speaking with an authorized immigration consultant will be the best way to help you decide which program is right for you.

Foreign Student Study Permits

More than 150,000 international students study in Canada every year, allowed to immigrate from Hong Kong to Canada for the temporary period of their schooling. This can serve as a pathway to permanent residency. In fact, there are many programs benefiting international students designed to help them gain permanent residency after graduation.

Family Sponsorship

If you have family members in Canada who are either citizens or permanent residents, you can apply to immigrate to Canada from Hong Kong. This family member can be a parent, grandparent, child, or spouse. Family sponsorship is one of the best ways to immigrate to Canada from Hong Kong, and speaking to an immigration official will help you know if you’re eligible.

Problems with Immigrating from Hong Kong to Canada

The Chinese Government announced a new policy regarding those who live in Hong Kong holding dual citizenship. Under the new policy, all Hong Kong citizens would have to choose which of their citizenships they would like to keep and they would have to abandon the other.  This has caused obvious problems for those Hong Kong Canadians who were forced to choose Hong Kong citizenship and now do not have access to the Canadian consul services. 

Immigrate easily today!

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