According to recently released statistics from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), 124,950 temporary residents became permanent residents in 2022.
The statistics reflect persons who previously had a study permit, a work permit under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP), or a work permit under the International Mobility Program who have now moved into a permanent residence (IMP). These initiatives might give prospective permanent residents a benefit should they choose to submit an application.
According to Statistics Canada data, transient residents are better able to integrate into the labour force since they have made roots in their localities.
In the past year, 97,665 individuals left the IMP and subsequently became permanent residents. Many work licenses covered by the IMP are exempt from labour market impact assessments (LMIA).
The IMP covers Post-Graduation Work Permits (PGWPs). According to the data, 52,725 PGWP holders obtained permanent residency status, making up the biggest proportion of IMP participants who did so.
If an international student has finished their program at a designated educational institution, the PGWP enables them to live and work anywhere in Canada for up to three years (depending on the length of their term of study).
7,555 individuals changed from the Temporary Foreign Worker Program to Permanent Residence (TFWP). Employers of foreign nationals covered by the TFWP are required to obtain an LMIA from Employment and Social Development Canada. A LMIA is a legal declaration that bringing in foreign labour will either have a positive or no effect on Canada’s labour force.
The 2022 data also reveals that 19,730 brand-new permanent residents had a study permit at one point.
There are currently approximately 800,000 foreign students studying in Canada. Those who want to move to Canada usually start with a PGWP to get job experience there. Nonetheless, for applicants who match the requirements of an economic class track, it is still possible to move directly from a study permit to PR.
Economic Immigration Programs May Make It Easier to Transition From TR to PR
It should be noted that a variety of economic immigration schemes offer benefits to applicants who have worked or studied in Canada. For instance, having worked or studied in Canada will earn an applicant inside the Express Entry application management system an extra point in the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS).
Regional economic immigration programs, such as the Atlantic Immigration Program or the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot Program, as well as initiatives that focus on certain labour shortages, such carer paths, are some of the most well-known routes to permanent residence.
According to Statistics Canada, fewer temporary residents will change their status to permanent residents in 2022 than they will in 2021. 10,985 arrived from the Temporary Foreign Workers Program, while 157,695 from the IMP who had been in Canada under the IMP became permanent residents in the past year alone. 22,680 of the new permanent residents had study permits.
Border closures and travel restrictions during the COVID-19 epidemic made it more challenging for newcomers to enter as permanent residents from outside the country. Then, IRCC concentrated on possible PRs who were already residing in Canada. In February 2021, the IRCC conducted the largest-ever Express Entry lottery, selecting 27,332 applicants from the CEC-only category.
In January 2021, IRCC suspended Express Entry draws for applicants to the Federal Skilled Worker Program and Federal Skilled Trades Program. It is significant to note that, notwithstanding this, the department will continue to hold drawings for candidates in the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) and Canadian Experience Class (CEC) through September 2021. Candidates for the CEC must have at least one year of work experience in Canada and must have spent at least one year of the previous three here.
The Canadian government has also added a second route that enables temporary residents to become permanent residents. This program has six streams for candidates with experience in high-demand occupations such as healthcare, as well as a pathway for international students.