Do I need to have a job to apply for Permanent Residence under the new public policy of May 6, 2021?

Do I need to have a job to apply for permanent residence under the new public policy? Our clients ask us this question every day since the Immigration Department announced its new public policy on April 14, 2021: Temporary Resident to Permanent Resident Pathway. The program is specifically designed for

1. essential workers in healthcare,
2. essential workers in some other occupations,
3. international students,
4. French speaking international students,
5. French speaking essential workers in healthcare, and
6. French speaking essential workers in some other occupations.

It is a one-time, temporary program that will be closed by November 5, 2021, or once the Department has received the maximum number of applications, whichever takes place first. The unique feature of this program is that, unlike all other Federal Immigration programs, it allows applicants to have work experience in all skill levels.  

Question: Do I have to have a job in order to be eligible to apply for permanent residence under this public policy?

Answer: Yes, you do, but the requirements vary depending on the stream:

1. Essential workers in healthcare must have one year of Canadian work experience (within the last three years) in one of the 40 eligible occupations and must be employed at the time of application. The minimum language requirements are:
   1. CELPIP – General: Reading – 4, Writing – 4, Listening – 4, Speaking – 4
   2. IELTS – General: Reading – 3.5, Writing – 4.0, Listening – 4.5, Speaking – 4.0
2. Essential workers in some other occupations must have one year of Canadian work experience (within the last three years) in one of the 95 eligible occupations and must be employed at the time of application. The minimum language requirements are:
   1. CELPIP – General: Reading – 4, Writing – 4, Listening – 4, Speaking – 4
   2. IELTS – General: Reading – 3.5, Writing – 4.0, Listening – 4.5, Speaking – 4.0
3. International students must be working in Canada at the time of application. The minimum language requirements are:
   1. CELPIP – General: Reading – 5, Writing – 5, Listening – 5, Speaking – 5
   2. IELTS – General: Reading – 4.0, Writing – 5.0, Listening – 5.0, Speaking – 5.0
4. French speaking international students must be working in Canada at the time of application. The minimum language requirements under TCF Canada (Test de connaissance du français):
   1. Speaking (expression orale) 6
   2. Listening (compréhension de l’oral) 369 – 397
   3. Reading (compréhension de l’écrit) 375 – 405
   4. Writing (expression écrite) 6
5. French speaking essential workers in healthcare must have one year of Canadian work experience (within the last three years) in one of the 40 eligible occupations and must be employed at the time of application. The minimum language requirements under TCF Canada (Test de connaissance du français):
   1. Speaking (expression orale) 4-5
   2. Listening (compréhension de l’oral) 331-368
   3. Reading (compréhension de l’écrit) 342-374
   4. Writing (expression écrite) 4-5
6. French speaking essential workers in some other occupations must have one year of Canadian work experience (within the last three years) in one of the 95 eligible occupations and must be employed at the time of application. The minimum language requirements under TCF Canada (Test de connaissance du français):
   1. Speaking (expression orale) 4-5
   2. Listening (compréhension de l’oral) 331-368
   3. Reading (compréhension de l’écrit) 342-374
   4. Writing (expression écrite) 4-5

If you wish to know whether you are eligible under one of the above streams, please complete our online assessment questionnaire.