Canada Gives Permanent Residency to 120,000+ Temporary Residents in 2022

According to new data from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), a total of 124,950 individuals who were temporary residents in Canada were granted permanent residency status in 2022. The data includes those who held a study permit, a work permit under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP), or a work permit under the International Mobility Program (IMP) before transitioning to permanent residency.

The numbers suggest that those who have been temporary residents under these programs may have an advantage when applying for permanent residency. This is because they have established roots in their communities and may have integrated into the labor force more easily.

The data also suggests that spending time in Canada before applying for permanent residency can be beneficial. Temporary residents have an opportunity to deepen their knowledge of English or French, which may put them in a better position to earn more than those who don’t speak these languages before or after landing in Canada.

International Mobility Program

The International Mobility Program (IMP) covers various types of work permits in Canada that do not require a Labor Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). According to recent data, 97,665 individuals who held work permits under the IMP became permanent residents in 2022.

Among IMP participants who transitioned to permanent residency, the largest group were Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) holders. A total of 52,725 PGWP holders were granted permanent residency in Canada last year.

The PGWP is a program under the IMP that enables international students who have graduated from a designated learning institution in Canada to live and work anywhere in the country for up to three years (depending on the length of their program of study). This program offers a pathway to permanent residency for eligible individuals who wish to stay and work in Canada.

Temporary Foreign Worker Program

In 2022, 7,555 individuals who held work permits under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) were granted permanent residency status in Canada. The TFWP requires employers to obtain a Labor Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) from Employment and Social Development Canada before hiring foreign workers.

An LMIA is a document that evaluates the potential impact of hiring foreign workers on Canada’s labor market. It is intended to ensure that hiring foreign workers does not have a negative impact on Canadian workers and the economy.

Those who transitioned from the TFWP to permanent residency are among the smaller group of individuals who were granted permanent residency in 2022, but the program remains an important option for employers seeking to hire foreign workers on a temporary basis.

Study Permit Holders

In 2022, 19,730 individuals who last held a study permit were granted permanent residency in Canada. With over 800,000 international students currently studying in Canada, this pathway to permanent residency is an important one.

Typically, those seeking permanent residency after studying in Canada first obtain a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) to gain Canadian work experience. However, it is still possible to transition directly from a study permit to permanent residency for candidates who meet the eligibility criteria of an economic class pathway. This pathway may also be available to those who are sponsored under a family class program or who gain permanent residency through a humanitarian program.

Overall, the study permit pathway remains a viable option for those seeking to become permanent residents in Canada, especially those who have established strong ties to the country through their studies and other experiences.

Economic immigration programs can help with transition from TR to PR

Economic immigration programs in Canada can offer valuable pathways to permanent residency for temporary residents. Candidates who have Canadian work or study experience may be eligible for additional points in the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) of the Express Entry application management system, which manages three federal economic immigration programs: the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the Federal Skilled Trades Program, and the Canadian Experience Class.

In addition to the federal economic immigration programs, there are also regional economic immigration programs, such as the Atlantic Immigration Program and the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot, which aim to address specific regional labor market needs and encourage the settlement of newcomers in less populated regions of Canada.

There are also programs that target specific labor shortages, such as the caregiver pathways, which provide a pathway to permanent residency for caregivers who have provided care to Canadians and their families in Canada.

Overall, economic immigration programs can be an effective way for temporary residents to transition to permanent residency in Canada, especially for those who have established Canadian work or study experience or who meet the eligibility requirements of targeted immigration programs.