These are the new immigration pathways coming to Canada in 2025
Canada is set to introduce several new pathways to permanent residence in 2025.
These new pathways present opportunities for eligible foreign nationals seeking permanent residence.
Discover if You Are Eligible for Canadian Immigration
Here is a look at the pathways to launch in 2025:
| Pathway | Whom it is for |
| Enhanced Caregiver Pilot Programs (2) | Home care workers such as home child care providers and home support workers |
| Rural Community Immigration Pilot | Those who fulfill labour shortages in select small rural communities in Canada |
| Francophone Community Immigration Pilot | French-speakers who fulfill labour shortages in select small communities outside Quebec |
| Manitoba’s West Central Immigration Initiative pilot | Workers who want to live in communities in Manitoba’s rural west-central region |
Enhanced Caregiver Pilot Programs
Acknowledging the need for more caregivers in the country, IRCC announced two enhanced caregiver pilots on June 2, 2024.
These new pilot programs are set to replace successful pilots that ended in June 2024 — the Home Child Care Provider Pilot and the Home Support Worker Pilot.
Unlike the previous programs, they give homecare workers permanent residency (PR) on arrival in Canada.
Home care workers will also be allowed to work for organizations that provide temporary or part-time care for people who are semi-independent or recovering from an injury or illness.
Details and eligibility:
Candidates need to have:
- A minimum language proficiency of level 4 on the Canadian Language Benchmarks tests;
- The equivalent of a Canadian high school diploma;
- Recent and relevant work experience; and
- An offer for a full-time home care job.
More information on the full launch of the pilots and the eligibility criteria is expected to be released in the coming months.
Rural Community Immigration Pilot
Following the success of the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot (RNIP), IRCC announced the launch of a new Rural Community Immigration Pilot.
The Rural Community Immigration Pilot will provide pathways to PR for newcomers who:
- can help overcome labour shortages; and
- want to live long term in small rural communities in Canada.
Details and eligibility:
On December 14, the Canadian Gazette published further details regarding eligibility for the Rural Community Immigration Class.
Candidates must have:
Work experience: This should meet specific conditions. This requirement can also be waived for international graduates who meet certain conditions.
Education: The applicant must have obtained at least a secondary school level credential.
Genuine offer of employment: The offer must be from a designated employer that meets specific conditions
Language proficiency: The Canadian Language Benchmark required depends on the NOC TEER of the job offer.
Necessary funds: The amount must be at least half of the low-income threshold for rural areas outside major cities, as published annually by Statistics Canada, for one year.
Intent to reside: The applicant must demonstrate that they intend to reside in the designated community they will work in.
They must also have a valid certificate of recommendation from an economic development organization at the time of application.
This pilot had been scheduled to launch in the fall of 2024 but is now expected to launch in 2025.
Francophone Community Immigration Pilot
This pilot is part of Canada’s Policy on Francophone Immigration, which aims to promote the growth of francophone minority communities.
The Francophone Community Immigration Pilot will focus on increasing the number of French-speaking newcomers settling in francophone minority communities outside of Quebec.
It aims to ensure the “economic development of francophone minority communities, while also helping to restore and increase their demographic weight.”
This pilot was announced at the same time as the Rural Community Immigration Pilot. As with the Rural Community Immigration Pilot, IRCC will work with select communities participating in the pilots to “attract and retain foreign skilled workers in rural and francophone minority communities.”
Details and eligibility:
On December 14, the Canadian Gazette published further details regarding eligibility for the Francophone Community Immigration Class.
Candidates must have:
Work experience: An applicant must have work experience that meets specific conditions. This requirement can also be waived for international graduates who meet certain conditions.
Education: The applicant must have obtained at least a secondary school level credential.
Genuine offer of employment: The offer must be from a designated employer that meets specific conditions
Language proficiency: French language ability equivalent to a Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens (NCLC) level 5 in all language abilities.
Necessary funds: funds equivalent to one-half of the most recent Low-Income Cut-off (LICO) criteria relevant to their designated community, for one year.
Intent to reside: The applicant must demonstrate that they intend to reside in the designated community they will work in.
They must also have a valid certificate of recommendation from an economic development organization at the time of application.
This pilot had been scheduled to launch in the fall of 2024 but is now expected to launch in 2025.
Manitoba’s West Central Immigration Initiative pilot
On November 15, Manitoba announced a three-year pilot to address labour market shortages in its rural west-central region.
This will see the province collaborate with seven rural municipalities and Gambler First Nation to meet respective labour market needs.
According to the Manitoba Minister of Labour and Immigration, the pilot is a response to local needs for skilled workers. It builds on the province’s current regional immigration initiatives in Winkler-Stanley, Morden, and the Parkland region.
Details and eligibility
According to the press release, approximately 240-300 people will be needed by the province over the next three years to meet labour market needs.
No launch date or eligibility criteria have been shared so far.
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