New applications end after August 31
IRCC confirmed on August 28 that its two temporary permanent residence pathways for eligible Hong Kong residents will stop accepting new applications after August 31, 2026. The pathways cover eligible in-Canada graduates under Stream A and applicants with qualifying Canadian work experience under Stream B.
IRCC says applications received on or before August 31 will continue to be processed. The notice does not extend the deadline or create a separate late-filing process.
A deadline does not replace the eligibility rules
An application still has to meet the requirements of the selected stream and follow the required online submission process. Reaching the deadline alone does not make an incomplete or ineligible application acceptable.
Applicants should keep proof that the Permanent Residence Portal accepted the submission. Anyone who has not yet filed should allow time to verify forms, signatures, fees and supporting documents rather than relying on a last-minute upload.
Existing applicants can still use the separate work-permit measure
IRCC says the open work-permit public policy for people who already applied under one of the Hong Kong permanent residence pathways remains available until May 2029. It does not reopen the permanent residence intake.
Under the current instructions, an applicant must be in Canada, have already submitted a Hong Kong pathway permanent residence application, have held a work or study permit within the three years before that permanent residence application and otherwise be eligible to apply for a work permit. A permit may be issued for up to three years.
Program volumes reported by IRCC
As of June 30, 2026, IRCC had received about 30,315 applications representing 48,560 people under the public policy. More than 8,600 applications, representing 13,485 people, had been approved, and about 13,370 people had obtained permanent resident status.
These figures describe processing as of June 30; they are not a new intake cap or a forecast of how long a pending application will take.
This article is not legal advice. Immigration rules and program instructions can change, and the result depends on the facts of each case.