Canadian Hong Kong Lifeboat Immigration Program

Canada and Hong Kong have deep-rooted ties. The Canadian government attaches great importance to the extraordinary contributions that Hong Kong residents have made to Canada over the past 150 years. Therefore, the Hong Kong Citizens Program is specially launched for Hong Kong residents to provide more opportunities for Hong Kong young people. The Permanent Residence Pathways for Hong Kong Residents is a special pathway for Hong Kong residents who have work experience in Canada or who have recently graduated. Eligible applicants must hold valid temporary resident status in Canada and be resident in Canada at the time of filing and obtaining permanent residency. Applicants must meet either Stream A or Stream B, as well as other regular Canadian immigration application requirements.

The Canadian Hong Kong Lifeboat Immigration Program was officially launched by the Canadian federal government on June 8, 2021, aiming to attract elites from Hong Kong to immigrate to Canada. Under the implementation of the New Deal, Hong Kong people have two new ways to obtain permanent resident status.

The Policy will end on August 31, 2026

Wide choice of courses and low entry requirements

To apply for Canadian study immigration, the first key is to obtain the admission notice of the course on the Canadian DLI school list, and then you can apply for a Canadian student visa immediately. Most courses are listed on the Canadian DLI school list, and the choice of courses is huge. The 2-year diploma program only requires high school graduation to enroll; the 1-year university certificate program requires at least a 2-year diploma and English requirements to apply. If you have no confidence in studying in Canada, you are suitable for a 2-year diploma program, with low entry requirements, is it the easiest.

The application threshold is low, suitable for most Hong Kong people, and the asset requirements are extremely low Whether applying for admission to Canadian institutions, applying for a Canadian student visa, or applying for permanent residence in Canada, the threshold is very low. The requirements for applying for Canadian PR permanent residence are very simple through Canada's newly launched Canadian Lifeboat Program.

One Person Applies, the Whole Family Immigrates

Applicants can apply for permanent residence in Canada directly after completing the course and successfully graduating. A permanent resident application for the applicant's spouse and children aged 21 or younger may be submitted with the application. In other words, if you are married and have children, you can apply for one person to study immigration in Canada, and the whole family can immigrate. It is the lowest cost immigration program in Hong Kong.
Under the new policy of the Canadian Lifeboat Plan for Hong Kong residents, applicants can choose a feasible plan from the following 2 categories according to their own conditions.

Eligibility﹕

Holders of HKSAR passport or BNO
Obtained IELTS in the past two years

Reading 4
Listening 5
Writing 5
Speaking 5

Being physically present in Canada at the time of submitting the application for permanent residence and obtaining permanent residence status
Hold a temporary resident visa in Canada
Applicants must indicate the preference to live in any city or province in Canada (except Quebec)

Stream A. In-Canada Graduates

Requirements：

Have graduated from a post-secondary designated learning institution in Canada in the 3 years before you apply, and with one of the following:

Degree (bachelor’s, master’s or doctorate)
Diploma (for a program of at least 2 years)
Graduate or post-graduate diploma or certificate

Program has to be at least 1 year
Program must have prerequisite of diploma or degree
Applicants must have completed the prerequisite diploma or degree in the 5 years before you started your graduate or post-graduate program

With at least 50% of your program completed in Canada (either in person or online)

Stream B. Canadian Work Experience

Requirements：

Have worked in Canada for at least 12 months full time, or an equal amount of part-time hours in the 3 years before you apply
Post-secondary education in Canada or anywhere else within 5 years:

Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Ph.D. degrees from a designated learning institution in Canada
Overseas diploma, certificate or certification and recognised as equivalent to a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctorate degree from designated learning institutions in Canada
A minimum of 2 years diploma from a designated learning institution in Canada
Overseas diplomas, certificates or certifications that are recognised as equivalent to a minimum of 2 years of Canadian designated learning institution diplomas
Undergraduate or postgraduate diploma, certificate or certification from a designated learning institution in Canada

At least 1 year and requires a higher education degree or diploma as entry requirements
The higher education degree or diploma must be obtained no more than 5 years before the start of the undergraduate or postgraduate diploma, certificate or certification

Overseas diplomas, certificates or certifications that are recognised as equivalent to the undergraduate or postgraduate diplomas, certificates or certifications of a designated higher education college in Canada for a period of at least 1 year

The overseas diploma, certificate or certification requires a higher education degree or diploma as an admission requirement
The higher education degree or diploma must be obtained no more than 5 years before the start of the foreign diploma, certificate or certification