TwikUp Brief
Canada's Hong Kong permanent residence pathways stop accepting new applications on August 31, 2026.
IRCC had received approximately 30,315 applications representing 48,560 people as of June 30, 2026.
More than 13,370 people had obtained permanent residence through the pathways as of June 30, 2026.
The Hong Kong permanent residence program includes two streams.
Stream A is for in-Canada graduates, while Stream B is for applicants with Canadian work experience.
Applicants must meet the specific eligibility requirements for the stream under which they apply.
The official IRCC application information confirms that the temporary pathways are open until August 31, 2026.
The closure applies to new applications.
IRCC has confirmed that applications received by the deadline will continue to be processed.
This means the end of new applications does not mean the end of processing for applications that have already been submitted.
The temporary pathways have attracted substantial demand.
As of June 30, 2026, IRCC had received approximately 30,315 applications representing 48,560 people.
The figures represent people covered by applications under the public policy.
The number shows the scale of use of the Hong Kong-specific permanent residence pathways since their introduction.
IRCC also reported that approximately 13,370 people had obtained permanent resident status in Canada through the pathways as of June 30, 2026.
In addition, more than 8,600 applications representing 13,485 people had been approved by that date.
The processing of applications already submitted will continue after the August 31 deadline.
The August 31 deadline is important for people who were planning to use one of the Hong Kong-specific permanent residence pathways.
After the deadline, new applications under these temporary pathways will no longer be accepted.
People who have not yet submitted an application therefore need to meet the applicable requirements and submit their application before the pathway closes if they intend to use it.
IRCC has also provided a temporary measure allowing applicants to the Hong Kong pathways to apply for an open work permit while their permanent residence application is being processed.
The work permit measure is separate from the permanent residence pathway itself.
According to IRCC, this temporary work permit measure remains available until May 2029.
Canada introduced the Hong Kong permanent residence pathways in 2021 as part of measures supporting eligible Hong Kong residents.
The pathways provided eligible people in Canada with routes to permanent residence based on recent Canadian education or work experience.
The temporary nature of the program means that the government has established a specific closing date for new applications.
People who have already submitted applications will continue to have their applications processed if they were received on or before the deadline.
For people who have not yet applied, August 31 is the final date for submitting a new application under these Hong Kong-specific pathways.
The closure marks the end of a temporary immigration measure that has provided an additional permanent residence route for eligible Hong Kong residents in Canada.
While new applications will no longer be accepted after August 31, applications submitted by the deadline will continue to be processed.
IRCC's published figures show that tens of thousands of people have used the pathways, with approximately 13,370 people already having obtained permanent residence as of June 30.
Canada's Hong Kong permanent residence pathways are closing to new applications on August 31, 2026.
IRCC will continue processing applications submitted by the deadline. As of June 30, approximately 30,315 applications representing 48,560 people had been received, while approximately 13,370 people had obtained permanent residence through the pathways.
Canada's temporary Hong Kong permanent residence pathways stop accepting new applications on August 31, 2026. Applications submitted on or before the deadline will continue to be processed by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.
Verified reading
Open the original material in a new tab.
The temporary Hong Kong permanent residence pathways will stop accepting new applications on August 31, 2026.
Yes. IRCC has confirmed that applications received on or before August 31, 2026, will continue to be processed.
As of June 30, 2026, IRCC had received approximately 30,315 applications representing 48,560 people.
More than 13,370 people had obtained permanent resident status through the pathways as of June 30, 2026.
There are two streams: Stream A for eligible in-Canada graduates and Stream B for eligible applicants with Canadian work experience.
