by Catharina Tuit
Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant

April 22, 2021

Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada recently announced new temporary programs for Essential Workers and International Graduates in Canada that lead directly to permanent residency.

The temporary programs come into force on May 6, 2021, and more details are yet to come. They will run ultimately until November 5, 2021, but the intake will stop sooner when the maximum intake is reached. The expectation is that the intake will be stopped in hours/days/weeks. There are no caps for French-speaking candidates.  

In this very first newsletter, you will find the details of these new temporary programs. More details on the requirements and how to apply are expected to follow soon. If you want to keep informed on these and other immigration changes in the future, I invite you to subscribe to my newsletter. 

FAQ's are at the bottom of this newsletter.

TEMPORARY ESSENTIAL WORKER PROGRAM

As an essential worker in Canada, you must meet the following conditions:

1.      At least one (1) year of full-time work experience, or the equivalent in part-time experience (1,560 hours), in Canada, in an eligible occupation listed in Annex A or Annex B in the three (3) years preceding the date when the application for permanent residence is received. The one year of work experience must be obtained in one or more of the eligible occupations as follows:

a.      Stream A- Eligible Health-related Occupations: the one year of work experience must have been acquired in one or more occupations listed in Annex A. Experience cannot be combined with Annex B occupations.

b.      Stream B – Other Eligible Essential Occupations: the one year of work experience must have been acquired in one or more occupations listed in Annex B,

c.      or a combination of occupations in Annexes A and B.

2.      Be employed in any occupation in Canada at the time of applying.

3.      Unless you are working as a medical doctor in a fee-for-service arrangement with a health authority, you cannot be self-employed, nor can the work experience be gained while self-employed.

4.      Have a valid language test and meet the level of at least benchmark 4.

5.      Have and keep valid status (or be eligible to restore) during the processing of your application.

6.      Be physically present in Canada when the application for permanent residence is received and when the application is approved.

7.      Intend to reside in a province or territory other than Quebec.

Annex A Eligible Health-related 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

Annex B – Other Eligible Essential Occupations List:

·        0821 Managers in agriculture

·        0822 Managers in horticulture

·        1511 Mail, postal and related workers

·        1512 Letter carriers

·        1513 Couriers, messengers and door-to-door distributors

·        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

·        6421 Retail salespersons

·        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

·        6611 Cashiers

·        6621 Service station attendants

·        6622 Store shelf stockers, clerks and order fillers

·        6623 Other sales related occupations

·        6731 Light duty cleaners

·        6732 Specialized cleaners

·        6733 Janitors, caretakers and building superintendents

·        7201 Contractors and supervisors, 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

·        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

·        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 track 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

·        7611 Construction trades helpers and labourers

·        7612 Other trades helpers and labourers

·        7621 Public works and maintenance labourers

·        7622 Railway and motor transport labourers

·        8252 Agricultural service contractors, farm supervisors and specialized livestock workers

·        8255 Contractors and supervisors, landscaping, grounds maintenance and horticulture services

·        8431 General farm workers

·        8432 Nursery and greenhouse workers

·        8441 Fishing vessel deckhands

·        8442 Trappers and hunters

·        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

·        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

·        9617 Labourers in food and beverage processing

·        9618 Labourers in fish and seafood processing

TEMPORARY INTERNATIONAL GRADUATE PROGRAM
As an international graduate in Canada, you must meet the following conditions:

1.      Have completed (no earlier than January 2017) a program of study at a Designated Learning Institutions in Canada.  

2.      Have been granted one of the following credentials, following the completion of a program study

o   a degree (Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, or Doctorate) which must be a degree issued on completion of a program of at least eight months in duration.

o   a degree, diploma, certificate, or attestation issued on completion of a program of any duration leading to an occupation in a skilled trade (listed in Annex A); or

o   one or more diploma/certificate/attestation where the following conditions are met:

·       For diplomas/certificates/attestations, each program of study must be at least eight months in duration, and the combined length of the credential(s) must be equivalent to a two-year credential (at least 16 months in duration).

·       For the DVS and AVS, each program of study must be at least 900 hours in duration, and the combined program of study must be at least 1,800 hours in duration.

·       When combining one AVS with one DVS, the length of the AVS may be less than 900 hours if the combined length is at least 1,800 hours.

·       For greater clarity, each combined credential must meet the eligible program requirements as defined in a), including the completion no earlier than January 2017.

3.      Be employed in any occupation in Canada at the time of applying.

4.      Unless you are working as a medical doctor in a fee-for-service arrangement with a health authority, you cannot be self-employed.

5.      Have a valid language test and meet the level of at least benchmark 5.

6.      Have and keep valid status (or be eligible to restore) during the processing of the application.

7.      Be physically present in Canada when the application for permanent residence is received and when the application is approved.

8.      Intend to reside in a province or territory other than Quebec.

ANNEX A - Eligible Trades list – International Graduates

• 6321 Chefs
• 6322 Cooks
• 6331 Butchers, meat cutters and fishmongers - retail and wholesale
• 6332 Bakers
• 7201 Contractors and supervisors, 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
• 7301 Contractors and supervisors, mechanic trades
• 7302 Contractors and supervisors, heavy equipment operator crews
• 7303 Supervisors, printing and related occupations
• 7304 Supervisors, railway transport operations
• 7305 Supervisors, motor transport and other ground transit operators
• 7311 Construction millwrights and industrial mechanics
• 7312 Heavy-duty equipment mechanics
• 7313 Heating, refrigeration and air conditioning mechanics
• 7314 Railway carmen/women
• 7315 Aircraft mechanics and aircraft inspectors
• 7316 Machine fitters
• 7318 Elevator constructors and mechanics
• 7321 Automotive service technicians, truck and bus mechanics and mechanical repairers
• 7322 Motor vehicle body repairers
• 7331 Oil and solid fuel heating mechanics
• 7332 Appliance servicers and repairers
• 7333 Electrical mechanics
• 7334 Motorcycle, all-terrain vehicle and other related mechanics
• 7335 Other small engine and small equipment repairers
• 7361 Railway and yard locomotive engineers
• 7362 Railway conductors and brakemen/women
• 7371 Crane operators
• 7372 Drillers and blasters - surface mining, quarrying and construction
• 7373 Water well drillers
• 7381 Printing press operators
• 7384 Other trades and related occupations, n.e.c.
• 8211 Supervisors, logging and forestry
• 8221 Supervisors, mining and quarrying
• 8222 Contractors and supervisors, oil and gas drilling and services
• 8231 Underground production and development miners
• 8232 Oil and gas well drillers, servicers, testers and related workers
• 8241 Logging machinery operators
• 8252 Agricultural service contractors, farm supervisors and specialized livestock workers
• 8255 Contractors and supervisors, landscaping, grounds maintenance and horticulture services
• 8261 Fishing masters and officers
• 8262 Fishermen/women
• 9211Supervisors, mineral and metal processing
• 9212 Supervisors, petroleum, gas and chemical processing and utilities
• 9213 Supervisors, food and beverage processing
• 9214 Supervisors, plastic and rubber products manufacturing
• 9215 Supervisors, forest products processing
• 9217 Supervisors, textile, fabric, fur and leather products processing and manufacturing
• 9221 Supervisors, motor vehicle assembling
• 9222 Supervisors, electronics manufacturing
• 9223 Supervisors, electrical products manufacturing
• 9224 Supervisors, furniture and fixtures manufacturing
• 9226 Supervisors, other mechanical and metal products manufacturing
• 9227 Supervisors, other products manufacturing and assembly
• 9231 Central control and process operators, mineral and metal processing
• 9232 Central control and process operators, petroleum, gas and chemical processing
• 9235 Pulping, papermaking and coating control operators
• 9241 Power engineers and power systems operators
• 9243 Water and waste treatment plant operators

FAQ's

I am currently not working; can I apply under these programs?
No,  at the time of applying, you must be employed in Canada.  

I am currently working in another occupation than on one of the annexes. Am I still eligible?
Yes, your current occupation can be any occupation.

Must I be employed full-time?
No, there is no requirement to be employed full-time at the time you apply.

I am working on a study permit. Does that count as being employed?
Yes!

My work permit will be expiring after I have applied. Will my application be refused when I must stop working?
No, but you must keep valid status in Canada or be restorable.

I am outside Canada. Can I still apply?
No, you must be physically in Canada when you make the application.

Can I travel after I have made the application?
You probably can. But at the time the decision is made you must be physically present in Canada.

Will it matter that I worked or studied in Quebec?
No, as long as it is your intention to work and reside outside Quebec.

What are the intake caps for these programs?
The maximum intake for Essential worker Stream A is 20,000, Essential Worker Stream B 30,000, and International Graduates 40,000. For French-speaking (at least CLB 4) applicants, there is no cap.

I already applied to a different program. Should I cancel that application and apply under this program?
Do not cancel until you are sure you are accepted into the new program.  In general, you can apply to multiple streams and programs. Make sure that you pay the application fees for this program. 

Does it matter under the Essential Worker program that I worked in different occupations and not continuously?
No, it does not matter. You must have worked at least one year full-time or the part-time equivalent in the past three years in one or more occupations. For instance, if you worked three months full-time in an annex A occupation, then were laid off for three months, and then worked nine months full-time in an occupation in annex B in 2020, you still would qualify.

I completed a certificate program of eight months. Am I eligible to apply under this program?
It depends. In general, a certificate program or a combination of two or more programs should at least be equivalent to a 2-year credential. Only degree programs (Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, or Doctorate) of eight months duration will qualify. However, programs that lead to a trade occupation (see annex A) can be eight months or even shorter in duration and still qualify. 

Do I need a language test?
Yes, you need to have a language test from a designated organization, and the test result must be less than two years old when the application is received.

Do I need to provide police certificates at the time of application?
Yes, or proof that you made serious efforts to get one. 

What documentation is required? 
IRCC will publish a guide and checklist for the programs but you can use the Canadian Experience Class guide for guidance.

Do I need to do an upfront medical? 
Yes, but it might be possible that the proof of a prior (old) one will be accepted.