Canada has consistently been one of the most popular immigration destinations for Hong Kongers. However, the Canadian government has implemented a series of policy changes and tightening measures in 2024, making the path to immigration for Hong Kongers more challenging.

In August, Canada's Immigration Minister revealed further tightening of immigration policies, with a series of measures to restrict temporary immigration expected to be announced in the coming weeks. The Post-Graduation Work Permit Program (PGWP) is also facing adjustments. Meanwhile, the Canadian government currently lacks a large-scale plan to provide status for undocumented residents.

A July poll revealed that 60% of respondents believe Canada has too many new immigrants. Immigration Minister Sean Fraser also predicts that immigration will be one of the top issues in the next federal election in late 2025.

Beyond federal policy adjustments, individual provinces are also introducing restrictive measures. For instance, the BC government has implemented new guidelines for public higher education institutions, limiting the proportion of international students to 30% of the total enrollment. This new policy aims to ensure international student enrollment does not strain the institution's ability to provide services, but it undoubtedly adds to the difficulties for Hong Kongers hoping to immigrate through studying.

Against the backdrop of tightening immigration policies globally, Canada's skilled immigration policies will be significantly tilted towards technical and in-demand occupations in the latter half of this year and beyond. Hong Kongers who wish to immigrate must plan ahead and avoid being caught off guard by policy changes.