IRCC provided PR status to 124,950 Temporary Residents in 2022. The figure indicates a massive shift in the study and work permit holders who received Canadian Permanent Residents in 2022. These candidates are part of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program within the International Mobility Program. These programs will enable the appropriate candidates with the opportunity to apply for PR.
Furthermore, Statistics Canada indicates that TRs have integrated well within the communities and have the potential to improve the existing labor shortage.
Moreover, these temporary residents have already acquired considerable knowledge of French and English languages. Hence, they have the potential to earn better than those who arrive in Canada but have no language skills in official Canadian languages.
IRCC provided PR status to candidates under the International Mobility Program
In 2022, the IMP helped around 97,665 individuals obtain Permanent Residence in Canada. Also, this provides different work permit types that won’t need an LMIA. Post-Graduation Work Permits are also a part of the International Mobility Program. Per the latest data, around 52,725 PGWP holders shifted to Permanent Residence. Moreover, this figure implies the largest contribution made by IMP participants who acquired their PR status.
PGWP enables new international graduates in Canada to live and work here for up to a maximum of three years. However, their stay will entirely rely on their program length and whether they graduated from a Designated Learning Institute in Canada.
Temporary Foreign Worker Program
The Temporary Foreign Worker Program permitted 7,555 individuals for Permanent Residence status. The TFWP demands that foreign nationals attain an LMIA from ESDC. A Labour Market Impact Assessment demonstrates whether a foreign worker will positively impact the Canadian labor market or whether their contribution will remain neutral.
IRCC provided PR status to Study Permit holders
The number of study permit holders who turned out to be permanent residents in Canada accounts for 19,730. Currently, Canada consists of more than 800,000 international students. Aspiring Permanent Residents in Canada first acquire PGWP to receive considerable Canadian work experience. However, several candidates seeking to shift to PR immediately from being a study permit holder can do so through their eligibility for an immigration pathway under an economic class.
This also applies to candidates with Family Class Sponsorship or who obtain Permanent Residence through a Humanitarian program.
TR to PR using the economic immigration programs
Several economic immigration programs enable candidates to gain work experience in Canada. For instance, an Express Entry candidate will receive extra points under the Comprehensive Ranking System if they possess a prior Canadian education or work experience.
The predominant pathways entitled to Permanent Residence include provincial economic immigration programs. These are usually the Atlantic Immigration Program or the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot. Other programs emphasizing labor shortages include the Caregiver pathways.
Reduced number of TRs obtaining Permanent Residence in 2022
Even though the number appears massive regarding the TR to PR transition in 2022, it is less than the number in 2021. In 2021, the number of TRs who received a PR status accounted for 191,360 individuals. For instance, the IMP candidates who received PR were 157,695, while the TFWP candidates accounted for 10,985 obtained PR.
Covid-19 led to several travel limitations and even border closures. Hence, it became all the more challenging for new immigrants to enter Canada as Permanent Residence. Consequently, IRCC shifted its attention toward those residing in Canada who could gain PR. Also, IRCC took the initiative with the most significant draw held in February 2021. This was a massive Express Entry draw with around 27,332 candidates and was CEC-specific.
This also happened because of the pause in Express Entry draws for candidates under the Federal Skilled Worker Program and Federal Skilled Trade Program. However, CEC draws continued to take place until September 2021. Similarly, even Provincial Nominee Program draws continued. Under the Canadian Experience Class, only a year of Canadian work experience requirement prevails. Additionally, they must show a living experience for a minimum of one year out of the last three years.
Moreover, the Canadian government also brought forth a new pathway enabling TR to PR transition. The program comprised at least six streams for those having in-demand experience, for instance, in healthcare occupations. Besides this, there was a pathway for international students.
Three programs were exclusively for those with language proficiency in Canada’s two official languages: French and English. The rest of the three programs targeted candidates with higher proficiency in the French language (temporary residency). The program displayed momentum from May to November 2021.
