Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) issued an official announcement on Aug. 28 local time, confirming that the special permanent residence pathways established for Hong Kong residents — commonly known as Stream A and Stream B under the "Hong Kong Pathway" scheme — will not be extended and will cease accepting new applications as scheduled on Aug. 31, 2026.
The authorities stressed that any applications submitted on or before Aug. 31, 2026, will not be affected, and IRCC will continue to process them in accordance with standard procedures.
Since the program was launched on June 1, 2021, it has received approximately 30,315 applications representing 48,560 individuals as of June 30, 2026. To date, more than 8,600 applications (involving 13,485 people) have been approved, with approximately 13,370 Hong Kong residents having formally obtained Canadian permanent resident status.
To address the status transition issue for applicants during the processing period, IRCC confirmed that eligible individuals who have submitted PR applications and are still awaiting results may apply for an open work permit valid for up to three years. This transitional work permit policy will remain in effect until May 2029.
With the Aug. 31 deadline approaching, this five‑year dedicated immigration policy is set to formally conclude.
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