Health-care workers Permanent Residence Pathway

This program no longer accepting applications. The deadline to apply was August 31, 2021

This pathway is created under IRCC’s public policy during the COVID-19 pandemic. It offers refugee claimants who worked in the health-care sector the option to apply for permanent residence if they

• have worked a minimum number of hours in Canada’s health-care sector during the COVID-19 pandemic
• provided direct patient care as part of their job
• meet all other eligibility criteria

You can apply if you meet the eligibility requirements and you’re

• a pending or failed refugee claimant who made a refugee claim in Canada prior to March 13, 2020, and you still live in Canada
• the spouse or common-law partner of an eligible refugee claimant if
  • the refugee claimant contracted COVID-19 and passed away from it
  • you have been in Canada since before August 14, 2020

Type of jobs (work experience)Footnote*

Your work experience must meet all of the following requirements.

• Your experience is in one or more of these jobs:
  • Nursing co-ordinators and supervisors (NOC 3011)
  • Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses (NOC 3012)
  • Licensed practical nurses (NOC 3233)
  • Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates (NOC 3413)
  • Allied primary health practitioners (NOC 3124)
  • Home support workers (NOC 4412) - some occupations only

• Your job matches the National Occupation Classification (NOC) description

• You provided direct patient care in these jobs
• You did most of the main duties listed in the NOC descriptions for these jobs

Amount of time in a qualifying jobFootnote*

While working at a qualifying job, you must meet 2 requirements:

1. Between March 13 and August 14, 2020, you worked for at least 120 hours.
2. Before August 31, 2021, you have a total work experience of either
   • full-time work: 30 hours a week for 6 months
   • part-time work: 750 part-time hours

If IRCC confirms that you’re eligible and that you have the work experience:

• any removal order you’re under will be stayed until they make a final decision on your application

You’re not eligible under this process if your refugee claim was

• determined to be ineligible to be referred to the Immigration and Refugee Board
• withdrawn or abandoned
• determined to be manifestly unfounded or with no credible basis
• determined to be excluded under Article 1F of the Refugee Convention
• cessated or vacated

If your refugee claim was refused, you can still apply for this process if you meet the eligibility criteria.

Contact Springwind Immigration and book for consultation to see if you meet the eligibility criteria. This policy is time sensitive, you need to act fast.