Canada will ease its pathway to permanent residency for Hongkongers by removing all educational requirements for those who have worked in the country for a year following an outcry by some applicants that the previous youth-focused policy was unfair to immigrants who had long since left university.
Ottawa on 11 July said Hongkongers could apply for permanent residency after working in the country for at least a year and no longer needed postsecondary education to be eligible. Experience under Canada’s working holiday scheme will also count.
Previously only residents who had obtained degrees in the past five years were eligible to apply.
The new arrangement comes into effect on August 15.
Removing this requirement means more Hongkongers who have worked in Canada will be eligible for permanent residency, easing the transition to permanent status for those who are already working in Canada under the open work permit programme, but Hongkongers still needed to have graduated in the past 10 years to apply for an open work permit, which allows the holder to move to Canada without needing to secure a job first.
What this means for the UK sector
Canada, Britain and Australia created special immigration pathways toward permanent residency for Hongkongers following Beijing’s imposition of the national security law in 2020, with Canada having the lowest barrier to entry, targeting younger people, recent graduates and those who have studied in the country. This new development will make Canada an even more attractive destination for young parents who are in their mid-30s. The extension of open work permits and the removal of the education requirement will open doors for more Hong Kongers with Canadian work experience to become eligible for permanent residency in Canada. The demand for Canadian school places from Hong Kong new immigrants is therefore expected to grow, leading to a smaller pool of students bound for the UK and other major English-speaking countries
With shrinking primary and secondary student demographics and more incentives offered by other key study destinations, there is no doubt UK schools and universities will be facing tougher competition in the market in the 2- 3 years at least. UK institutions need to be more agile, have a sound student recruitment strategy and proactively engage with prospective students and stakeholders through regular updates and direct promotional activities before the peak season starts.