Starting this summer, skilled refugees and other displaced people can use the Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot (EMPP) to fill in-demand jobs in Canada. More information, including who may be eligible, will be available in the coming weeks.

Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot (EMPP)

The Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot (EMPP) combines refugee resettlement and economic immigration. It’s a pathway that

• helps skilled refugees immigrate to Canada through existing economic programs
• gives employers access to a new pool of qualified candidates to fill job openings

EMPP benefits

The new federal pathway will make the application procedure simpler and quicker by requiring only one application and following uniform qualifying requirements. The majority of applications will be approved within 6 months, allowing applicants to travel to Canada and start employment immediately. The new pathway will supplement current EMPP pathways and provide companies with more chances to fill various in-demand positions such as teachers, hospitality employees, truck drivers, software engineers, and long-term care aides.

The EMPP will help you apply to specific economic immigration programs by making it easier for you to

• be eligible for an economic immigration program
• complete and submit your application
• start your new life in Canada

Through this pilot, the IRCC will:

• make it easier for you to apply and be eligible for the economic program you choose
• waive the application and biometric fees for you and any of your dependents
• review and process your application in 6 months or less (in most cases)
• cover the cost of your pre-departure medical services and medical exams through the Interim Federal Health Program
• let you use a loan to meet the financial requirements to support yourself and your family when you come to Canada (your settlement funds)
• give you access to the Immigration Loans Program (ILP), if your application is approved, to help with
  • travel costs
  • some pre-arrival travel services from the International Organization for Migration that the ILP covers the fee for
  • some start-up costs after you arrive in Canada (which is also available to other economic immigration applicants)
  • the right of permanent residence fee
• let you access the Canadian Orientation Abroad Programme to help you integrate and settle in Canada

New opportunities

The EMPP offers eligible candidates the opportunity to resume their professions and lives in safety with their families in Canada while also supporting companies in meeting their labor market demands. The eligibility criteria have been expanded to include other displaced individuals who require international protection and lack a long-term solution. More details, including eligibility requirements, will be made available on the EMPP website in the upcoming weeks.

How will EMPP work?

Employers will be allowed to recruit refugees and displaced persons who qualify under any National Occupation Classification 2021 category TEER 0-5 according to the new government gateway. The Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, stated that Canada will continue to develop innovative immigration measures to help employers address critical labor shortages and provide refugees with the opportunity to rebuild their lives in safety.

The IRCC states that the EMPP was created to help skilled refugees immigrate to Canada through existing economic programs to support Canadian labour market needs. This is the second phase of the EMPP. In the first phase of this pilot, they learned that skilled refugees can qualify for permanent residence through our economic programs with some help.

Starting December 3, 2021, EMPP phase 2 the IRCC will help settle up to 500 skilled refugees, and their families, in Canada.

The pilot combines refugee resettlement and economic immigration. Before you apply for the EMPP, you’ll apply for 1 of these immigration programs:

• Atlantic Immigration Program
• Provincial Nominee Program
• Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot

Employers can use this pathway to fill a wide range of in-demand jobs, from nurse aides to software engineers and truck drivers. More information on the new EMPP federal pathway, including eligibility criteria, will be available online in the coming weeks: https://t.co/JgkFv0o99V pic.twitter.com/cF5jGiXFwz

— IRCC (@CitImmCanada) March 27, 2023

Who can apply?

According to the IRCC:

There are 2 sets of eligibility requirements you must meet to apply for the EMPP.

1. You must be a refugee

To prove this, you must

• be a convention or country of asylum refugee.
  • we’ll determine if you meet one of these definitions or
  • one of our partners (TalentLift, Talent Beyond Boundaries or Jumpstart Refugee Talent) will give you a referral letter stating you do
• be outside Canada and your country of persecution
• have no durable solution in the country you’re living in
• have one of these documents, if you don’t have a referral letter from one of our partners:
  • a valid, positive Refugee Status Determination (RSD) from the UNHCR or a refugee-hosting state
  • proof you’re an asylum seeker abroad, registered or recorded by the hosting state
  • proof you’re registered or recorded as a person of concern by the UNHCR, if you don’t have a positive RSD yet

2. Admissibility

You must be admissible to Canada.

3. You must be eligible for an economic immigration program

You must be eligible for one of the following economic immigration programs:

• Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP)
• Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)
• Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot (RNIP)

To qualify for 1 of these, you must have:

• English or French skills
• education or job training, and work experience
• a job offer from a Canadian employer for full-time work

If you want to apply for AIP or RNIPAs part of the EMPP, you don’t need to meet some eligibility requirements for these programs:

1. You don’t need to prove you worked the number of hours asked for in the timeframes listed. Instead, you only need to show you worked the same number of hours in general, before you apply.
2. You can apply for a loan to meet the requirement of having enough money to support yourself and your family when you come to Canada (your settlement funds).

These exemptions do not apply to PNP. The province or territory decides the requirements for this program.

Quotes

“Canada is a global leader in helping skilled refugees connect with employers struggling to find workers in critical areas, while giving newcomers the opportunity to restart their careers and their lives here in Canada. Our government will continue to develop and scale innovative immigration measures to help employers address their critical labour shortages and provide refugees with the opportunity to live in safety while rebuilding their lives.”

– The Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship

“This is a solution for every hiring team in Canada. There are many thousands of women and men living as refugees globally who have enormous talent to contribute. Why not source your future colleagues from within refugee populations? You’ll find competitive skills, adaptability and creativity. These are people you want on your team. As visas get more seamless, Canada can become the world’s capital for hiring displaced talent.”

– Dana Wagner, Co-Founder and Managing Director, TalentLift