Canada opens new economic immigration programs for refugees

On June 12, Canada launched the two new streams under the Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot (EMPP).  These new streams do not require candidates to have Canadian work experience in order to apply.

Eligibility to apply for the EMPP under the new economic streams is based on a candidate’s work experience, education and official language skills.

Read more: How to Immigrate to Canada as a Refugee or Asylum Seeker

Job offer stream

Through the new EMPP Federal Skills Job Offer Stream, Canadian employers can hire qualified candidates for a number of of in-demand jobs, including nurse aides, personal support workers, long-term care aides, software engineers, web designers, mechanical and electrical engineers and technicians, logistics and warehouse workers, tourism and hospitality workers, and truck and delivery service drivers. Eligible jobs can fall under any Training Education Experience Responsibilities (TEER) category from 0 to 5.

To apply for the EMPP through the job offer stream, candidates must meet minimum requirements for language, past work experience and education. They do not need to show proof of an education credential assessment or proof of settlement funds.

NGO partners are available to help Canadian employers find and hire qualified candidates, support them through the immigration process, and welcome newcomers to their new communities and workplaces. Some NGO partners may charge a fee for their services.

No job offer stream

The EMPP Federal Skills Without a Job Offer Stream is for candidates who have skills in a field that is in high demand, and the government is confident that they will find work after they arrive in Canada. To apply for the EMPP through the EMPP Federal Skills Without a Job Offer Stream, candidates must meet higher requirements for language, past work experience and education because they will need to find work after they arrive in Canada. They also need to show proof of an education credential assessment and have a certain amount of funds available to show that they are able to establish themselves in Canada.

Facilitation measure for the EMPP include waiving some fees, making it easier to validate work experience, and letting candidates use loans to fund travel costs, settlement needs, start-up costs and fees that can’t be waived.

Canada is expanding and scaling up the EMPP in an effort to embrace its role as Chair of the Global Taskforce on Labour Mobility by modelling labour mobility programs for like-minded countries, and to make Canada’s immigration system more responsive to the needs of its economic and humanitarian commitments.

“Helping employers access a new global talent pool is another way we are using our immigration system to address ongoing labour shortages,” Immigration Minister Sean Fraser said in a media release. “Finding these skilled workers among people who happen to be displaced abroad and lack a durable solution is a made­-in-­Canada solution that we are promoting globally. Canada will continue to develop and scale up these types of innovative measures that allow us to welcome more vulnerable people, while helping businesses find the skilled workforce they need to grow.”

Canada is a global leader in refugee resettlement. Last year, Canada welcomed more than 46,500 refugees from over 80 countries.