What were Stream A and Stream B?
Short answer: Two in-Canada streams, and you could use only one. Stream A was for in-Canada graduates of a designated learning institution. Stream B was for people with Canadian work experience. Both required a valid Hong Kong Special Administrative Region passport or a United Kingdom British National (Overseas) passport issued to a person born, naturalized or registered in Hong Kong. You had to be physically present in Canada when you applied and when you became a permanent resident, hold valid temporary resident status, intend to live outside Quebec, and show Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) or Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens (NCLC) level 5 in all four skills.
| Rule | Stream A (in-Canada graduates) | Stream B (Canadian work experience) |
|---|
| Where you apply | Inside Canada | Inside Canada |
| Passport | HKSAR or BN(O) as defined by IRCC | Same |
| Language | CLB / NCLC 5 in all 4 skills |
Stream A graduate or post-graduate diplomas also needed a prior diploma or degree completed in the 5 years before that program started. IRCC lists this on who can apply. Confirm a school on the designated learning institutions list.
If you live in Quebec and were using this pathway, you had to prove intent to settle elsewhere: a statutory declaration, a job offer, family ties, a lease, or similar. That is on the documents page.
These criteria describe who could apply before the close. They are not a way to start a new file today.
Can you still get an open work permit after 31 August 2026?
Short answer: Yes, if you already applied for permanent residence under one of the two Hong Kong pathways, you held a work or study permit within the 3 years before IRCC received that PR application, you are in Canada, and you are eligible for a work permit. The permit is valid for up to 3 years. You have until May 2029 to apply. IRCC said this on 28 August 2026 and on the open work permit page. You only need this permit if your current temporary status will expire while you wait.
You cannot use this public policy if the PR application was refused, withdrawn, or returned. A spouse, common-law partner, or dependent child over 18 can apply for an open work permit with you if they were included on the PR application.
The work permit fee on that page is CAD $155. Pay it in the IRCC secure account. If your status expired less than 90 days ago and you are still in Canada, you may restore status when you apply for this permit. Check the restoration amount on the live fee list.
