Benefit from a free family relocation to Canada by way of the Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot (EMPP) initiative. Within six months, direct permanent residency can be obtained without a work offer.
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Important Notes:
- No age limit.
- Eligible for all nationalities.
- No need for a job offer.
- Access to benefits such as waived fees and pre-arrival services.
- Program applicable to displaced individuals.
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Details of The Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot (EMPP):
The Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot (EMPP) helps skilled refugees and other displaced people immigrate to Canada.
We made some updates to make it easier to apply to immigrate to Canada through the EMPP.
There are now 2 ways you can apply for the EMPP:
- through one of 3 selected economic programs
- Atlantic Immigration Program
- Provincial Nominee Program
- Rural and Northern Immigration Program (RNIP)
- This is referred to as the regional EMPP. You need to be eligible for one of the above programs and apply first to a province, territory or RNIP community (depending on which program you choose.)
- directly to us for just the EMPP
This is referred to as the federal EMPP. It includes a Job Offer and No Job Offer stream. You need to meet the work experience, education and language requirements.
Through the EMPP, we’ll
- waive application and biometric fees for you and your dependants
- review and process your application in 6 months or less (in most cases)
- cover the cost of medical exams through the Interim Federal Health Program
- let you access the Immigration Loans Program (ILP), if we approve your application, to help with
- travel costs
- some pre-arrival travel services from the International Organization for Migration
- the right of permanent residence fee
- let you access the EMPP-specific Canadian Orientation Abroad Programme to help you settle in Canada
If you choose to apply for an economic immigration program through the regional EMPP, we’ll also
- make it easier for you to be eligible and apply for the program
- let you use a loan to meet financial requirements to support yourself and your family in Canada (your settlement funds)
Read Also: How to Migrate to Canada as a Teacher: A Comprehensive Guide
Who can apply for The Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot (EMPP):
There are 3 sets of eligibility requirements you must meet to apply for the EMPP.
1. You must be a refugee or displaced person
To prove this, you must have one of these documents
- a positive Refugee Status Determination (RSD) from the UN Refugee Agency or a refugee-hosting state
- proof you’re registered or recorded as a person of concern by the UN Refugee Agency
- a refugee certificate from the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine in the Near East (UNRWA)
- proof of being registered or recorded as a person of concern with UNRWA
- proof you have temporary protected status and a copy of the completed durable solution information form (IMM 0195)
- If you apply with a temporary protected status document, an officer will need to assess your case and decide if you don’t have a durable solution.
If you don’t have any of the above documents, one of our trusted partners can
- assess your eligibility as a refugee or displaced person and
- issue you a referral letter, if they find you meet the criteria
You must be living outside Canada when you apply to the EMPP.
2. You must meet the criteria depending on how you’ll apply
Apply based on your work experience, education and language skills (the Federal EMPP)
Apply through an economic immigration program (the regional EMPP)
If you need a loan for your settlement funds
If you’re applying for an economic immigration program through the regional EMPP, you may be able to get a loan to cover your settlement funds.
We’ve partnered with Windmill Microlending to offer low-interest microloans to eligible EMPP candidates who
- have a job offer and
- don’t have the minimum funds needed to meet their immigration program financial eligibility requirements
Find out how to apply for this loan.
You can’t use the Immigration Loans Program to cover your proof of settlement funds.
3. Admissibility
You must be admissible to Canada.
How To Apply for The Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot (EMPP):
You can apply for the Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot (EMPP)
- on your own, or
- with help from a non-government partner
There are partner organizations outside government that can help you
- connect to employers in Canada
- prepare for a job offer, then apply for the EMPP
These partners include
- TalentLift
- Talent Beyond Boundaries
- Jumpstart Refugee Talent
- RefugePoint
- HIAS
- FOCUS Humanitarian Assistance
- International Rescue Committee
- World University Service of Canada
1. Get ready to apply
You have to submit proof of your current refugee situation with 1 of these
- a positive Refugee Status Determination (RSD) from the UN Refugee Agency or a refugee-hosting state
- proof you’re registered or recorded as a person of concern by the UN Refugee Agency, if you don’t have a positive RSD yet or you can’t get one in the country you’re in
- a refugee certificate with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA)
- proof of being registered or recorded as a person of concern by the UNRWA, if a refugee certificate has not been obtained yet
- proof you have temporary protected status and a copy of the completed durable solution information form (IMM 0195)
- If you apply with a temporary protected status document, an officer will need to assess your case and decide if you don’t have a durable solution.
If you don’t have any of these documents, you can work with a partner who can issue you a “trusted partner referral letter.”
Get a referral letter from a partner
The partners that can issue a “trusted partner referral letter” make sure you
- meet the definition of a convention refugee or country of asylum refugee
- they don’t need to do this if you have a temporary protected status (TPS) document
- have no durable solution
They will then issue you a trusted partner referral letter. You include this letter with your application.
Partners that can provide this letter are
Other partner organizations can help you apply, but they can’t issue a trusted partner referral letter.
2. Complete the application
You can complete your applications yourself (or with a partner). If you decide to use an immigration representative, make sure you know how to choose one.
If you apply based on your work experience, education and language skills (the federal EMPP)
You only need to complete 1 application, whether or not you have a job offer.
Complete your application for the EMPP
If you apply through an economic immigration program (the regional EMPP)
There are 2 applications you must complete using this process:
- An application for one of the economic immigration programs
- Atlantic Immigration Program
- Provincial Nominee Program
- Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot
- An application for the regional EMPP
- If you’re eligible, you’ll
- apply online using the permanent residence portal
- complete and submit both online applications together
- If you can’t apply using the portal, we’ll accept applications by email.
- If you’re eligible, you’ll
