Health-care workers permanent residence pathway: How to apply

This application process is for eligible refugee claimants to apply for permanent residence if they provided direct patient health-care during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Before you start, check if you’re eligible.

If you have a pending refugee claim with the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (IRB), we’ll advise them to put it on hold after you apply for this process.

Don’t withdraw your pending refugee claim or appeal with the IRB until we’ve told you to. We’ll send you a separate letter asking you and any family members you included in your application to

• withdraw your pending claim or appeal, or
• stop your application or appeal at the Federal Court / Federal Court of Appeal for a negative decision on your claim

Follow these steps to apply

1. Read the instruction guide
2. Get your checklist and forms
3. Complete your forms and gather documents
4. Pay your application fees
5. Submit your application
6. How to submit proof of your work experience (applicants outside Quebec)
7. How we’ll get your proof of work experience (applicants in Quebec)

Read the instruction guide

The instruction guide helps you to complete the application correctly. It includes information about

• your eligibility
• your fees
• how to complete your forms

Get your checklist and forms

Use the document checklist to make sure you include all the forms and documents you need.

Get the forms you need.

• Generic Application Form for Canada (IMM 0008) (PDF, 663 KB)
• Additional Dependants/Declaration Form (IMM 0008DEP) (PDF, 434 KB), if applicable
• Schedule A: Background/Declaration (IMM 5669) (PDF, 1.52 MB)
• Additional Family Information Form – Permanent Residence (IMM 5406) (PDF, 2.23 MB)
• Schedule 1 - Health-care Workers Permanent Residence Pathway (IMM 1018) (PDF, 3.40 MB)
• Document Checklist – Application Forms for Health-Care Workers Permanent Residence Pathway (COVID-19 pandemic) (IMM 1015) (PDF, 2.69 MB)
• Use of a Representative Form (IMM 5476) (PDF, 137 KB), if applicable
• Authority to Release Personal Information to a Designated Individual (IMM 5475) (PDF, 1.74 MB), if applicable

Transfer your existing humanitarian and compassionate considerations application

You can ask us to review your application under this process instead if

• your application is still pending (we’re still processing it and haven’t made a decision on it)
• you meet the eligibility requirements

We must receive your request on or before August 31, 2021.

Forms and documents to submit to move your application to this process

• Fill out the (Schedule 1 – Health-care Workers Permanent Residence Pathway (COVID-19 pandemic) (IMM 1018) (PDF, 3.40 MB)) form.
• Include a letter asking that your application be moved to this process.
• Provide proof that you meet the work experience requirement.
  • If you live outside Quebec and don’t have your work experience yet, you can send your application now and submit your work experience later.
  • If you live in Quebec, you’ll apply without including your work experience. Find out how we’ll get your proof of work experience after you apply.
• Send the form, the letter and your proof or work experience (if applicable)
  • by fax to 1-604-666-1116

  • by mail

    Humanitarian Migration Office - Vancouver
    #300 - 800 Burrard Street
    Vancouver, BC V6Z 0B6

 Get help to open an application form or to fill one out in the Help Centre.

Complete your forms and gather documents

Use the instruction guide to fill out your application forms.

Follow the document checklist (PDF, 2.69 MB) to make sure you don’t forget anything.

Proof of work experience to live outside Quebec

We’ll accept these documents as proof of your work experience

• reference letters
• proof of being registered in a health-care program
• school and training certificates
• proof of membership in a local union
• payment of union dues
• work contracts
• pay stubs
• income tax notices of assessment

Check the document checklist (PDF, 2.69 MB) on the documents we’ll accept as proof of work experience.

Proof of work experience to live in Quebec

If you plan to live in Quebec, find out how we’ll get your proof of work experience from the Quebec ministry in charge of immigration.

Pay your application fees

You have to pay your fees online. After you pay, print the receipt and include it with your application.

Submit your application

How to submit proof of your work experience (applicants outside Quebec)

If you plan to live outside Quebec, you have until

• August 31, 2021, to
  • get the required work experience
  • submit your application (we must receive it on or before August 31, 2021)
• October 31, 2021, to send us your proof of work experience
  • we must get it on or before this date

To submit your proof of work experience:

1. Write a cover letter with your
   1. name
   2. date of birth
   3. address
   4. Unique Client Identifier (UCI), if available
2. Put it into an envelope with your proof of work experience
3. Label the outside of the envelope “Health-Care Worker - HCW”
4. Send it to us
   1. by fax to 1-604-666-1116

   2. by mail

      Humanitarian Migration Office – Vancouver
      300-800 Burrard Street
      Vancouver, BC V6Z 0B6

We’ll finish processing your application and make a decision after we get your proof of work experience.

How we’ll get your proof of work experience (applicants in Quebec)

If you plan to live in Quebec, you have until August 31, 2021 to

• meet Quebec’s work experience requirements
• submit your application (we must receive it on or before August 31, 2021)

The Quebec ministry in charge of immigration is called the Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration du Québec (MIFI). It has its own process to assess your work experience.

Here’s how we’ll get proof that you meet Quebec’s immigration and work experience requirements from MIFI:

1. After we get your application, we’ll check that you’re eligible under this process
2. If you’re eligible, we’ll
   • refer your application to MIFI
   • invite you to apply for a Certificat de Sélection du Québec (CSQ)
3. After you apply for your CSQ, MIFI will
   • check that you meet Quebec’s immigration and work experience requirements
4. If you meet the requirements, MIFI will
   • issue you a CSQ
   • inform us of their decision
5. After we get MIFI’s decision, we’ll process your application

Another format

If you need the instruction guide for this program in another format, email your request to VancouverBRO@cic.gc.ca.

We’ll only respond to emails that request an alternative guide format.

Deprioritize

This may mean the IRB will treat your claim as a lower priority until we make a decision on your application.

Unique Client Identifier (UCI)

A Client Identification Number (Client ID), also referred to as a Unique Client Identifier Number (UCI), can be found on any official document issued by an Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada office, Case Processing Centre or a Canadian visa office outside Canada.

A Client ID consists of four numbers, a hyphen (-) and four (4) more numbers (example: 0000-0000).

A person who has never dealt with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada before will not have a Client Identification Number.

• Next: After you apply