New permanent residence pathway for former minors in protective care

January 23, 2024, Ottawa—While in the care of child protective agencies, a few people who entered Canada as kids never achieved citizenship or permanent residence. Consequently, some of these vulnerable individuals who either lost or never had status are now at danger of being deported back to their home country. Many people who have lived in Canada for years have little to no ties to their home country and frequently do not speak the language.

Canada is dedicated to resolving the issue and granting equitable access to its immigration system. In order to give people who entered Canada as kids, were placed in protective care, and never gained citizenship or permanent residence status a way to do so, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada implemented a public policy. The effective date of this public policy is January 21, 2027.

This new road for permanent residence expands on earlier policies that were implemented in the fall of 2023. With the implementation of new ministerial directives on September 29, 2023, qualified individuals who had previously been in child protection services could now apply for both a job or study visa and a temporary residence permit (TRP). The TRP lowers the chance of being deported from Canada and grants temporary residence status. This method will now allow those who qualified for the TRP to apply for permanent residency.

Who can apply

For the purposes of this public policy, being in state care means:

You were legally obligated to give child and family services.
By court order, the relevant provincial or territorial authorities acquired full legal “parental” obligations for you.
If you submitted an application for a temporary residency visa
Your temporary resident permit (TRP), if you applied for and were granted one, is valid until the date indicated on the permit or until your application for permanent residency is approved.
Some of the documentation you submitted for the TRP application may be required during the permanent residence application procedure.

Eligibility for permanent residence

To be eligible to apply, you must:

arrived in Canada prior to the age of 19.
having lived in Canada consistently for a minimum of three years prior to applying.
having lived in Canada continuously since you were 19 (if you are currently older than 19).
have served for a minimum of one year (cumulatively) as a child and family services provider under the designated ministry for child protection of a province or territory government.
be physically present in Canada at the time of application submission and upon receiving permanent residence.
intend to call a territory or province other than Quebec home.
not be someone who has valid grounds to be viewed negatively.
You have committed a major non-political felony, a war crime, or a crime against peace outside of Canada.
You have engaged in activities that go against the goals and ideals of the United Nations.
possess a legitimate
passport
travel document
identity document, or
Statutory declaration
not be prohibited from entering Canada
Exclusions from admission
Individuals you can add to your application
Your application may include any eligible family members who reside in Canada.

All of your family members, both those who are traveling with you and those who are not, must be disclosed on your application. Your non-accomplishment family members will not be eligible for future family sponsorship if they are not included.

Definition of a family member

A family member is defined as:

Your common-law partner or spouse
The dependent kid of you, your spouse, or your common-law partner
An individual who is dependent on another dependant

How to apply:

FIND MORE INFORMATION ON HOW TO APPLY HERE

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