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PR Pathway for Temporary Foreign Workers in Essential Occupations (Streams now closed)

Last updated: 5 November 2021
Stay in Canada and apply for permanent residence immigration

These streams are now closed. 

On May 6, Canada launched two immigration streams for essential workers. 

As of November 5 the streams are no longer in operation.

Canada offers over 100 different immigration pathways. Click on the button below to discover your options.

Complete our FREE assessment to find out if you are eligible to immigrate to Canada 

The content below is archived:

Overview

This limited-time pathway to permanent residency is for essential workers of all skill levels. Temporary residents who work in one of the listed occupations and who are applying from within Canada may have a chance to become one of the 20,000 healthcare workers, or 30,000 essential workers to get permanent residence through this new policy. Click here if you want to apply under the French-speaking essential worker stream.

This pathway is open between May 6, 2021, and November 5, 2021, or until the intake caps are reached.

Eligibility Criteria

Criteria for principal applicants:

  • Have one year of full-time work experience, or the equivalent part time experience (1,560 hours) in Canada in an eligible occupation in the three years preceding the application date. There are two streams:
    • Stream A: For temporary residents with work experience in one of the health-related occupations listed in Annex A. Cannot be combined with Annex B occupations. See below for complete list.
    • Stream B: For temporary residents with work experience in one of the other essential occupations listed in Annex B. Can be combination of Annex A and B occupations. See below for complete list.
  • Be employed in Canada in any occupation at the time of application;
  • Cannot be self-employed unless working as a medical doctor in a fee-for-service with a health authority;
  • CLB of at least 4 in English or French in all language abilities;
  • Be living in Canada on valid temporary status, or be eligible for restoration of status;
  • Intend to reside in a province or territory other than Quebec;
  • Have submitted an application using the appropriate forms provided by IRCC;
  • Apply online; and
  • Meet admissibility requirements.

Criteria for family members of principal applicants living in Canada:

  • Reside in Canada;
  • Be included as an accompanying family member in an application for permanent residence under this policy;
  • Meet the definition of a “family member”
    • The spouse or common-law partner of the principal applicant;
    • A dependent child of the principal applicant or the principal applicant’s spouse or common law partner;
    • A dependent child of a dependent child.
  • Meet admissibility requirements; and
  • Be approved by a delegated IRCC officer.

Criteria for family members of principal applicants living outside Canada:

  • Be included as an accompanying family member in an application for permanent residence under this policy;
  • Meet the definition of a “family member”;
    • The spouse or common-law partner of the principal applicant;
    • A dependent child of the principal applicant or the principal applicant’s spouse or common law partner;
    • A dependent child of a dependent child
  • Meet admissibility requirements; and
  • Be approved by a delegated IRCC officer.

    These occupations are predominantly in healthcare, but do not include veterinary positions. Occupations are organized by NOC code.

    Eligible Occupations:

    3011 Nursing co-ordinators and supervisors
    3012 Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses
    3111 Specialist physicians
    3112 General practitioners and family physicians
    3113 Dentists
    3121 Optometrists
    3122 Chiropractors
    3124 Allied primary health practitioners
    3125 Other professional occupations in health diagnosing and treating
    3131 Pharmacists
    3132 Dietitians and nutritionists
    3141 Audiologists and speech-language pathologists
    3142 Physiotherapists
    3143 Occupational therapists
    3144 Other professional occupations in therapy and assessment
    3211 Medical laboratory technologists
    3212 Medical laboratory technicians and pathologists' assistants
    3214 Respiratory therapists, clinical perfusionists and cardiopulmonary technologists
    3215 Medical radiation technologists
    3216 Medical sonographers
    3217 Cardiology technologists and electrophysiological diagnostic technologists, n.e.c.
    3219 Other medical technologists and technicians (except dental health)
    3221 Denturists
    3222 Dental hygienists and dental therapists
    3223 Dental technologists, technicians and laboratory assistants
    3231 Opticians
    3232 Practitioners of natural healing
    3233 Licensed practical nurses
    3234 Paramedical occupations
    3236 Massage therapists
    3237 Other technical occupations in therapy and assessment
    3411 Dental assistants
    3413 Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates
    3414 Other assisting occupations in support of health services
    4151 Psychologists
    4152 Social workers
    4153 Family, marriage and other related counsellors
    4165 Health policy researchers, consultants and program officers
    4212 Social and community service workers
    4412 Home support workers, housekeepers and related occupations

    The other essential occupations are organized in three units, and listed by NOC code under their broad occupational category.

    1. Major unit groups

    Sales and support occupations

    6611 Cashiers
    6621 Home support workers, housekeepers and related occupations
    6622 Store shelf stockers, clerks and order fillers
    6623 Other sales related occupations
    6621 Home support workers, housekeepers and related occupations

    Industrial, electrical and construction trades

    7201 Contractors and supervisor, machining, metal forming, shaping and erecting trades and related occupations
    7202 Contractors and supervisors, electrical trades and telecommunications occupations
    7203 Contractors and supervisors, pipefitting trades
    7204 Contractors and supervisors, carpentry trades
    7205 Contractors and supervisors, other construction trades, installers, repairers and servicers
    7231 Machinists and machining and tooling inspectors
    7232 Tool and die makers
    7233 Sheet metal workers
    7234 Boilermakers
    7235 Structural metal and platework fabricators and fitters
    7236 Ironworkers
    7237 Welders and related machine operators
    7241 Electricians (except industrial and power system)
    7242 Industrial electricians
    7243 Power system electricians
    7244 Electrical power line and cable workers
    7245 Telecommunications line and cable workers
    7246 Telecommunications installation and repair workers
    7247 Cable television service and maintenance technicians
    7251 Plumbers
    7252 Steamfitters, pipefitters and sprinkler system installers
    7253 Gas fitters
    7271 Carpenters
    7272 Cabinetmakers
    7281 Bricklayers
    7282 Concrete finishers
    7283 Tilesetters
    7284 Plasterers, drywall installers and finishers and lathers
    7291 Roofers and shinglers
    7292 Glaziers
    7293 Insulators
    7294 Painters and decorators (except interior decorators)
    7295 Floor covering installers

    Other installers, repairers and servicers and material handlers

    7441 Residential and commercial installers and servicers
    7442 Waterworks and gas maintenance workers
    7444 Pest controllers and fumigators
    7445 Other repairers and servicers
    7451 Longshore workers
    7452 Material handlers

    Transport and heavy equipment operation and related maintenance occupations

    7511 Transport truck drivers
    7512 Bus drivers, subway operators and other transit operators
    7513 Taxi and limousine drivers and chauffeurs
    7514 Delivery and courier service drivers
    7521 Heavy equipment operators (except crane)
    7522 Public works maintenance equipment operators and related workers
    7531 Railway yard and truck maintenance workers
    7532 Water transport deck and engine room crew
    7533 Boat and cable ferry operators and related occupations
    7534 Air transport ramp attendants
    7535 Other automotive mechanical installers and servicers

    Trades helpers, construction labourers and related occupations

    7611 Construction trades helpers and labourers
    7612 Other trades helpers and labourers
    7621 Public works and maintenance labourers
    7622 Railway and motor transport labourers

    Harvesting, landscaping and natural resources labourers

    8611 harvesting labourers
    8612 Landscaping and grounds maintenance labourers
    8613 Aquaculture and marine harvest labourers
    8614 Mine labourers
    8615 Oil and gas drilling, servicing and related labourers
    8616 Logging and forestry labourers

    2. Minor unit groups

    Mail and message distribution occupations

    1511 Mail, postal and related workers
    1512 Letter carriers
    1513 Couriers, messengers and door-to-door distributors

    Retail salesperson

    6421 Retail salespersons

    Cleaners

    6731 Light duty cleaners
    6732 Specialized cleaners
    6733 Janitors, caretakers and building superintendents

    Agriculture and horticulture workers

    8431 General farm workers
    8432 Nursery and greenhouse workers

    Other workers in fishing and trapping and hunting occupations

    8441 Fishing vessel deckhands
    8442 Trappers and hunters

    Machine operators and related workers in food, beverage and associated products processing

    9461 Process control and machine operators, food and beverage processing
    9462 Industrial butchers and meat cutters, poultry preparers and related workers
    9463 Fish and seafood plant workers
    9465 Testers and graders, food and beverage processing

    3. Specific 4-digit unit groups

    0821 Managers in agriculture
    0822 Managers in horticulture
    4031 French and French immersion secondary school teachers (language of instruction must be French)
    4032 French and French immersion elementary school and kindergarten teachers (language of instruction must be French)
    4411 Home child care providers
    4413 Elementary and secondary school teacher assistants
    6331 Retail butchers
    6523 Airline ticket and service agents
    6524 Ground and water transport ticket agents, cargo service representatives and related clerks
    6541 Security guards and related security service occupations
    6551 Customer services representatives – financial institutions
    6552 Other customer and information services representatives
    8252 Agricultural service contractors, farm supervisors and specialized livestock workers
    8255 Contractors and supervisors, landscaping, grounds maintenance and horticulture services
    9617 Labourers in food and beverage processing
    9618 Labourers in fish and seafood processing

    Get a free eligibility assessment

    Do you live in Canada and want to be among the candidates who apply for permanent residence under this pathway?

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