New applications ended after August 31
IRCC announced on August 28, 2026 that its two temporary permanent residence pathways for eligible Hong Kong residents stop accepting new applications after August 31, 2026. IRCC will continue to process applications it received on or before that date. The notice does not extend the deadline.
A deadline does not replace the eligibility rules
An application had to meet the requirements of the pathway chosen and be submitted through the required online process. Meeting the deadline did not make an incomplete or ineligible application acceptable.
Applicants who filed should keep the confirmation that the Permanent Residence Portal accepted the submission.
The separate open work permit policy continues
IRCC says the open work permit policy for people who applied under one of the Hong Kong pathways remains in place until May 2029. It took effect on May 27, 2024 and lets pathway applicants apply for an open work permit so they can keep living and working in Canada while their permanent residence application is processed. It does not reopen the permanent residence intake. For the detailed conditions, read the policy itself on IRCC's website.
Figures reported by IRCC
As of June 30, 2026, IRCC had received about 30,315 applications covering 48,560 people under the public policy. More than 8,600 applications, covering 13,485 people, had been approved, and about 13,370 people had become permanent residents.
These figures describe processing as of June 30. They are not a new cap and do not forecast how long a pending application will take.