Immigrate to Canada from Hong Kong

Those who intend to immigrate to Canada from Hong Kong have plenty of options in terms of temporary or permanent residence visas. The particularity that should be noted in this case is that citizens of this special region of China can move to Canada based on their local or British passports.

Below, our lawyers in Canada invite you to discover the main options for people from Hong Kong who want to relocate to this country. We can assist in applying for Canadian residency and even citizenship.

Special considerations for Hong Kong residents moving to Canada

Individuals relocating from Hong Kong to Canada have 3 different options available, namely:

• the first one, citizens of Hong Kong who have finished their post-secondary education within the last 10 years—previously, this period was 5 years —are granted open work permits;
• the other two offer Hong Kong citizens who have already studied or worked in Canada a route to permanent resident status.

No matter the way one chooses to immigrate to Canada from Hong Kong, the applicant’s passport must be granted by one of the following:

• the People’s Republic of China’s Hong Kong Special Administrative Region;
• the United Kingdom to a British National Overseas, as a someone born, naturalized, or registered in Hong Kong.

Feel free to address our Canada immigration law firm for detailed information on these specific programs.

Residency options for Hong Kong citizens in Canada

Hong Kong citizens who are temporarily residing in Canada may be eligible for permanent residence under a special policy which covers 2 streams and is in effect until August 31st, 2026. They are called Stream A and Stream B. Please note that usual programs, such as the Express Entry Scheme can also be used to relocate to Canada from Hong Kong.

Stream A program for moving to Canada from Hong Kong

Stream A is a policy available for foreign students who have completed their education in Canada (in-country graduates). In order to qualify for it, one has to fulfill the following requirements:

• own a valid passport issued to a British or Chinese national;
• possess a valid visa for Canada as a temporary resident.

The main requirement to meet in terms of qualifications is to have graduated from a post-secondary designated learning institution (DLI) in Canada within 3 years before to submitting the permanent residency application and have all of the following:

• a degree, a minimum of a one-year graduate or post-graduate diploma or certificate, or a minimum of a 2-year diploma (not graduate or post-graduate);
• 50% or more of the program must be finished in Canada (online or in person);
• a minimum of a score of 5 on an authorized language exam across all 4 skills.

When applying for and are granted permanent residency in Canada, you must be present in person.

You can also rely on our immigration lawyer in Canada for guidance in immigrating from the USA to Canada.

Stream B immigration program from Hong Kong to Canada

For Canada immigration under the Stream B, one has to fulfill the following requirements:

• possess a valid visa for Canada as a temporary resident;
• intend to reside in any province or territory in Canada, with the exception of Quebec;
• have worked a minimum of 12 months full-time, or the equivalent number of part-time hours, in Canada during the 3 years before applying. Some of the largest Chinese communities in Canada are located in Ontario, Manitoba, and British Columbia.

We remind you that other programs are also in place if you want to immigrate from Hong Kong, and among them is the Atlantic Immigration Pilot.

If you need assistance in immigrating to Canada from Hong Kong, do not hesitate to contact our local law firm. We can also assist you if you want to apply for Canadian citizenship.