Permanent residence: COVID-19 program delivery

This section contains policy, procedures and guidance used by IRCC staff. It is posted on the department’s website as a courtesy to stakeholders.

COVID-19 program delivery instructions (PDI) for applications for permanent residence

These instructions do not apply to overseas refugee (REF-OVS) lines of business.

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Application intake

The COVID-19 facilitation, where request letters for additional information or documents were issued with 90-day extensions, applies until April 11, 2021. Applications received on or after April 12, 2021, should include all mandatory supporting documents or a reasonable explanation with proof of why the applicant cannot obtain the documentation at this time.

Intake of new permanent residence applications will continue. New, complete permanent residence applications (associated fees are required) described in section 10 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (IRPR) will be processed as per normal procedures while taking into consideration the additional processing guidance outlined in General processing measures: COVID-19 program delivery – Requests for additional information on open applications.

Existing PDI (not COVID-related) processing guidance applies for officers who require additional information or documents following application review. Incomplete applications with no reasonable explanation provided, or for reasons unrelated to the disruption of services associated with the impacts of the novel coronavirus, may be rejected as per section 10 of the IRPR, and all fees associated with the application should be returned to the applicant.

Canadian education credentials (Express Entry)

Changes to Section 30 of the Ministerial Instructions respecting the Express Entry system came into force on July 26, 2022, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic disruptions to Canadian studies. Currently, applicants that have claimed points for Canadian educational credentials and completed any part of their program of study or training between March 1, 2020, and August 31, 2022, are eligible for Canadian educational credential points even if they completed the program entirely

Additional questions for applicants have been added to the Express Entry online profile form to capture this information.

Health-care workers permanent residence pathway

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