Mr. Chair, members of the committee, thank you for inviting asking us to join you this evening.
My name is Glen Linder, and I am Director General of Social and Temporary Migration Policy at the Department of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship. Accompanying me is my colleague, Jean-Marc Gionet, Director General of Immigration Program Guidance.
I am going to use these opening remarks to give the Committee a snapshot of recent trends in migration to Canada of foreign nationals who hold Peoples’ Republic of China, Hong Kong, and Taiwanese passports. I will then give the Committee some recent metrics with respect to the special measures we put in place in 2021 for the benefit of Hong Kongers.
In terms of our footprint on the ground, IRCC has contracted Visa Application Centres in 11 cities in mainland China, one in Hong Kong, and one in Taiwan. These Visa Application Centres facilitate visa applications from clients, take the biometrics of our clients to enable them to be vetted, and submit the applications for review by IRCC officers.
Canada remains a destination of choice for clients from China. The numbers of applicants for both our permanent and temporary resident pathways have rebounded to prepandemic levels, and our final numbers for 2021 generally show that we are at about the same levels as we received in 2019.
China is the second top source country for new permanent residents to Canada, the second-largest international student source country and the third-largest source of tourism. In terms of actual numbers with respect to permanent resident applications, from China we processed 12,753 in 2021 compared to 14,500 in 2019 and from Taiwan, 1,571 in 2021 compared to 1,063 in 2019.
With respect to Hong Kong, we have seen significantly increased interest in Canada. For example, study permit applications increased from 1,499 in 2019 to 7,755 in 2021, while work permit applications increased from 1,800 in 2019 to 12,362 in 2021.
I will now turn in greater detail to these special measures for Hong Kong, all of which remain in place. On February 8, 2021, Canada put in place a special measure that allows Hong Kongers who have completed post-secondary studies in the last five years to access an open work permit for Canada. On June 8, 2021, this measure was expanded to allow access to a work permit to those with graduate or post-graduate studies where the program length is a minimum of one year and where a post-secondary degree or diploma is a prerequisite. As of June 30, 2022, a total of close to 17,000 individuals from Hong Kong had applied for this measure.
In addition to this temporary resident pathway, Canada also put in place two special pathways to permanent residence for Hong Kongers, effective June 1, 2021. The first pathway targets former Hong Kong residents who have gained a minimum of one year of full-time authorized work experience in Canada in the last three years and graduated in or outside Canada in the past five years with a degree or diploma. The second pathway is for those who have graduated from a post-secondary institution in Canada in the past three years with a degree or diploma. At least 50% of the program of study must have been completed while physically present in Canada. As of June 30, 2022, 1,851 individuals have applied for permanent residence in Canada under these two pathways.
Finally, I'd like to note that foreign nationals in Canada, including Hong Kong residents, continue to have access to our asylum system. Those with eligible asylum claims are referred to the Immigration and Refugee Board, which hears and decides claims for refugee protection made in Canada.
Thank you again, Mr. Chair, for asking us to join you today. We would be happy to take your questions.