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Guide 5067 – Permanent residence pathways for Hong Kong residents

Apply online using the Permanent Residence Portal

Use our new online immigration application (opens in a new tab) to apply for these pathways.

Table of contents

This is not a legal document. The explanations and definitions are not legal definitions. In case of a discrepancy between the language in this document and the relevant legislation or regulations, the legal text in the legislation and regulations prevails. 

For legal information, refer to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and Regulations or the Citizenship Act, Citizenship Regulations and Citizenship Regulations No. 2, as applicable.

Overview

Application package

This application package has:

The instruction guide:

Read the instruction guide completely and then fill out each of the applicable forms.

For an application to be considered complete, the principal applicant must fill out the forms listed below and must submit them all together in the Permanent Residence Online Application Portal for the principal applicant and each of the dependants. Incomplete applications will be returned. The forms are designed with questions that will help the processing of your application.

If you or your representative cannot apply online through the Permanent Residence Online Application Portal and require accommodations, including for a disability, you may ask an alternative format. After we review your request, we’ll send you the application package in one of these formats:

To request another format:

  1. Open a new email
  2. In the subject line of your email, include:
    • the format you need (paper, braille, or large print), and
    • the application package you want
  3. In the body of your email, include
    • your full name as shown on your passport
    • the full name of your sponsor, if you’re being sponsored by a family member
    • a statement explaining that you’re asking for an alternate format
    • if you want the application in English or French
    • how we should send it you (by email or regular mail)
      • Include your email address if you want us to send it electronically so you can print it yourself. This option will save you the time it would take to mail it to you.
      • Include your mailing address if you want it mailed to you.
  4. Send your email to: IRCC.PRPortalALTRequest-DemandeALTPortailRP.IRCC@cic.gc.ca

After we get your request, we’ll reply with instructions and tell you where to send your application.

To submit your application

For more information about applying with an alternate format, call 1-888-242-2100 (from inside Canada only).

Using a representative

Note: If a paid representative is submitting your application online on your behalf, they must sign in to their Representative Portal account to do so. You, as the Primary Applicant, need to electronically sign your application and your representative must also provide their declaration before submitting the application.

If you (the principal applicant) want to authorize a representative to act on your behalf (paid or unpaid) you must

If you (the principal applicant) want to allow us to release information from your application to someone other than yourself who will not act as your representative you must

Eligibility Requirements

There are 2 streams for which you may be eligible. You can apply for permanent residence under only 1 stream. Make sure you’re eligible for permanent residence under this public policy before you apply.

Admissibility Requirements

Police certificates

If you and your family members are 18 years of age and older and aren’t permanent residents or Canadian citizens, you must provide a valid police certificate for any country other than Canada in which you spent 6 or more months in a row since the age of 18.

Note: You do not need to provide a police certificate from a country if you or your family members were under 18 years of age the entire time you lived in that country.

If the original certificate isn’t in English or French, you must get an accredited translator to translate it. You must include both the police certificate and the translation.

We’ll also do our own background checks to see if there are reasons why you or your family members may not be admissible to Canada.

For specific and up-to-date information, see our guide on where to get a police certificate.

Convictions / offences outside Canada

If you were convicted of or committed a criminal offence outside Canada, you may overcome this criminal inadmissibility

  • by applying for rehabilitation, or
  • you may be deemed to have been rehabilitated if at least ten years have passed since you completed the sentence imposed upon you, or since you committed the offence, if the offence is one that would, in Canada, be an indictable offence punishable by a maximum term of imprisonment of less than ten years.

If the offence is one that would, in Canada, be prosecuted summarily, and if you were convicted for two (2) or more such offences, the period for rehabilitation is at least five (5) years after the sentences imposed were served or are to be served.

Convictions / offences in Canada

If you have a criminal conviction in Canada, you must seek a record suspension (formerly a pardon) from the Parole Board of Canada (PBC) before you will be admissible to Canada.

Note: Do not complete the forms in this guide until you have received your record suspension.
You can request a Record Suspension Application Guide or additional information from:

Parole Board of Canada
Clemency and Record Suspension Division
410 Laurier Avenue West
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0R1
Telephone: 1-800-874-2652 (Callers in Canada and the United States only)
Fax: 1-613-941-4981
Email: suspension@pbc-clcc.gc.ca
Website: https://www.canada.ca/en/parole-board.html
(The instructional guide and application forms can be downloaded from the website)

In order to be considered for a record suspension under the Criminal Records Act, a specified period of time must pass after the end of the sentence imposed. The sentence may have been payment of a fine, period of probation, or imprisonment.

Note: Once you have a copy of the record suspension, submit a photocopy to a Canadian visa office or Citizenship and Immigration Centre. If you are travelling to Canada carry a copy of the record suspension with you.

If you have had two (2) or more summary convictions in Canada, you may no longer be inadmissible if:

  • at least five (5) years have passed since all sentences imposed were served or to be served,
  • you have had no other convictions.

Medical requirements

You don’t need to complete a medical exam before you apply. We’ll contact you with instructions about completing medical exams for you and your family after you submit your application. Your family members must complete medical exams, even if they’re not coming with you to Canada. Find out more about completing a medical exam.

Biometric (fingerprints and photo) requirements

You and your family members may need to appear in person to have fingerprints and a photograph (biometric information) taken at a biometric collection service point.

Canadian citizens and permanent residents of Canada are exempt from giving biometrics.

As of December 3, 2019, you need to give biometrics when you apply from within Canada. You can go to a designated Service Canada location.

Find out if you need to give biometrics.

If you have to give biometrics, you can give them after you:

  • pay for and submit your application and biometric fees; and
  • get a Biometric Instruction Letter (BIL) which will direct you to a list of biometric collection service points you may choose from.

You must bring the BIL with you to the biometric collection service point to give your biometrics.

We encourage you to give your biometrics as soon as possible after getting the BIL. We’ll start processing your application after we get your biometrics.

Where to give your biometrics

You need to book an appointment to give your biometrics at one of these official biometric collection service points.

Step 1. Gather your documents

What documents do I need?

Use the Document Checklist [IMM 0134] (opens in a new tab) to help you gather the necessary documents.

Important information: If you can’t provide one or more documents required on the document checklist, you must provide a written explanation for each missing document. If you don’t your application may be delayed or returned to you as incomplete. You must also provide any other evidence or documents you have available to satisfy the requirement.

Incomplete applications will be returned by email. A complete application includes:

Translation of documents

You must include the following along with any document that is not in English or French:

Translations may be done by:

  • a person who is fluent in both languages (English or French, and the unofficial language); or
  • a Canadian certified translator (a member in good standing of a provincial or territorial organization of translators and interpreters in Canada).

If the translation isn’t done by a Canadian certified translator, the person who completed the translation must provide an affidavit swearing to their language proficiency and the accuracy of the translation.

The affidavit must be sworn in the presence of:

In Canada:

Authority to certify varies by province and territory. Consult your local provincial or territorial authorities.

Outside of Canada:

  • a notary public

Authority to administer oaths varies by country. Consult your local authorities.

Important information: Translations must not be done by the applicants themselves nor by members of the applicant’s family. This includes a parent, guardian, sibling, spouse, common-law partner, conjugal partner, grandparent, child, aunt, uncle, niece, nephew and first cousin.

Note: An affidavit is a document on which the translator has sworn, in the presence of a person authorized to administer oaths in the country where the translator is living, that the contents of their translation are a true translation and representation of the contents of the original document. Translators who are certified in Canada don’t need to supply an affidavit.

Certified true copies

To have a photocopy of a document certified, an authorized person must compare the original document to the photocopy and must print all of the following on the photocopy:

  • “I certify that this is a true copy of the original document”;
  • the name of the original document;
  • the date of the certification;
  • the name of the authorized person;
  • their official position or title; and
  • their signature.

Who can certify copies?

Only authorized people can certify copies.

Important information: Certifying of copies must not be done by the applicants themselves nor by an applicant’s parent, guardian, sibling, spouse, common-law partner, conjugal partner, grandparent, child, aunt, uncle, niece, nephew or first cousin.

People authorized to certify copies include the following:

In Canada:

Authority to certify varies by province and territory. Check with your local provincial or territorial authorities to learn who has the authority to certify.

Outside Canada:

  • a notary public

Authority to certify international documents varies by country. Check with your local authorities to learn who has the authority to certify in your country.

Step 2. Complete the Application

Follow the instructions below to complete the application.

Sign in or create an account in our Permanent Residence Portal (opens in a new tab) .

Click on each applicable form’s name to access it, then follow the instructions to complete it. Some forms must be filled through a web form, others are PDFs that you will have to upload. As the principal applicant, you’ll electronically sign for the entire application, including those of your family members.

You must fill out these digital forms online (you do not need to complete the PDF versions of these forms):

You must also fill out these PDF forms (you don’t need to sign them, simply upload them to your online application):

Document Checklist [IMM 0134] (opens in a new tab)

If you’re applying under stream A (in-Canada graduates)

If you’re applying under stream B (Canadian work experience)

Depending on your situation, you may need to submit:

If you want to appoint someone to do business with us on your behalf, you must submit:

Note: If a representative is submitting your application online on your behalf, they must sign in to their Representative Portal account to do so. You need to review and electronically sign the application declaration in the client portal. Details on this process may be found here.

If you want to allow us to release information from your application to anyone else (other than a representative), you must submit:

small exclamation warning signImportant information: It is a serious offence to give false or misleading information on these forms. The information you provide on your application may be subject to verification.

Be complete and accurate

Complete all sections on the forms. If a section does not apply to you, write “Not Applicable” or “NA”.

If you need more space for any section, include an additional page containing the appropriate section, complete it and upload it with your application. For the document type, choose “other.”

Uploading additional documents to your online application:

To submit supporting documentation with your online application select “Other” from the drop-down menu (Document type) and upload your documents or other additional information which can be in any of the following formats: JPG, JPEG or PDF.

Signatures

If signatures are missing (when this applies), we will return the application by email without processing it.

As the principal applicant, you’ll electronically sign for the entire application, including your family members by typing your full name exactly as it is shown on your passport.

Note:

Step 3. Pay the Fees

Calculating your fees

Use the table below to calculate the total amount of fees to be paid. We recommend you pay the right of permanent residence fee ($575) now to avoid delays. You will have to pay it before you become a permanent resident.

Application $CAN
Your application
Processing fee ($635) and right of permanent residence fee ($575)		 1,210
Your application (without right of permanent residence fee) 635
Include your spouse or partner
Processing fee ($635) and right of permanent residence fee ($575)		 1,210
Include your spouse or partner (without right of permanent residence fee) 635
Include a dependent child 175(per child)

Note: Dependent children are exempt from paying the Right of Permanent Residence fee.

Biometrics fees $CAN
Biometrics (per person) 85
Biometrics (per family) (2 or more people)

Maximum fee for a family of 2 or more people applying at the same time and place

 170

How to pay the fees for your application

To pay your fees for your application you’ll need:

Follow these instructions to pay your fees online.

stop sign hand Do not exit without printing or saving the receipt! The receipt is your proof of payment!

Payment Issues

No fee included or Insufficient Fees

If you do not pay the full fees for your application(s) we will return your application(s). We will only start processing your application after you return it with the correct fees.

question mark For immigration applications, see section 10 of the IRPR and for citizenship applications, see section 13 of the Citizenship Act for more information.

Overpayment

If you pay more than the fees needed for your application(s) we will start processing your application, and send you a refund as soon as possible.

Note: You don’t have to ask for a refund. It will be done automatically.

Note: If you’re eligible for a refund, we will issue the refund to the person indicated on the Payer Information section of the receipt. (If a receipt is attached to a paper application or uploaded as part of an online application). If you paid directly within an online application (no receipt attached), or if there is no name indicated on the receipt, we will send the refund to the applicant.

Additional fees

You will also have to pay fees to third parties for yourself and your family members (if applicable) for:

Step 4. Submit the Application

Use a courier to submit your paper application

Due to the labour disruption at Canada Post, consider using another courier to send us your application. Use one that offers tracking, so you have proof your application was delivered.

Find out how to check if your application has been received.

Now that you’ve prepared your application, you can submit it for processing. To help make sure the application can be processed as quickly as possible:

What Happens Next

The application process

Submission

After you submit your application, we’ll review it to make sure it’s complete. Find out what happens after you submit your application.

What you can do to help processing

There are certain things you can do to help make sure your application is processed as fast as possible:

Things that delay processing

The following may delay processing:

Protecting your information

Your personal information is:

question mark For more information about the protection of your data, visit the Help Centre.

Quality Assurance Program

Our quality assurance program randomly chooses applications for a special review. If chosen, we will ask you to attend an interview with an IRCC official to:

Note: We will notify you in writing if your application is chosen.

Need help?

If you need help, you can find answers to your questions by visiting the Help Centre.

Appendix A - Photo Specifications

Notes to the applicant

Take this information with you to the photographer

  • Photos may be in colour or in black and white.
  • Photos must be original and not altered in any way or taken from an existing photo.
  • Photos must reflect your current appearance (taken within the past twelve (12) months).

Applying online

  • Upload 1 photo taken within 12 months of the date you apply and include images of the front and back of the photo.
  • For digital photos, the information required for the back of one photograph can be provided as one separate document with a confirmation from the photo studio (e.g. receipt). This document should be uploaded in the Portal section titled “Additional Supporting Documents - Other”.

Additional details for digital photos:

The photograph must be:

  • in JPEG or PNG format;
  • measurements must be between 715x1000 and 2000x2800 pixels;
  • file size must 4 MB or less;
  • a scanned photo (don’t take a picture of a paper photo with your digital camera or phone).

Notes to the photographer

The photo must be:

  • taken by a commercial photographer;
  • 50 mm x 70 mm (2 inches wide x 2 3/4 inches long) and sized so the height of the face measures between 31 mm and 36 mm (1 1/4 inches and 1 7/16 inches) from chin to crown of head (natural top of head);
  • clear, sharp and in focus;
  • taken with a neutral facial expression (eyes open and clearly visible, mouth closed, no smiling);
  • taken with uniform lighting and not show shadows, glare or flash reflections;
  • taken straight on, with face and shoulders centered and squared to the camera (i.e. the photos must show the full front view of the person’s head and shoulders, showing the full face centered in the middle of the photo);
  • taken in front of a plain white background with a clear difference between the person’s face and the background. Photos must reflect and represent natural skin tones and not be altered.

The back of the photo must include:

  • the name and date of birth of the person in the photo
  • the name and complete address of the photography studio
  • the date the photo was taken;

The photographer may use a stamp or handwrite this information. Stick-on labels are not accepted.

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2025-09-10