Economic Mobilities Pathways Pilot

Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot

The Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot (EMPP) is designed to support skilled refugees and displaced individuals seeking permanent employment in Canada. This program:

• Facilitates the immigration of skilled refugees and displaced persons through existing economic pathways.
• Provides employers with access to a diverse pool of qualified candidates to address labor shortages.

As outlined in the 2025-2027 Immigration Levels Plan, application processing may be limited in the short term. While the goal remains to process 80% of applications within standard timelines, a high volume of applicants may lead to longer processing times over the next three years.

Ways to Apply for the Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot (EMPP)

There are now two ways to apply for the EMPP:

1. Regional EMPP (Through Selected Economic Programs)

Applicants can apply through one of the following economic immigration programs:

• Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP)
• Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)
• Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot (RNIP) (no longer accepting new applications)

To apply, candidates must first meet the eligibility criteria and submit an application to a province, territory, or RNIP community, depending on the program they choose.

2. Federal EMPP (Direct Application to the Government of Canada)

Applicants can apply directly through the federal EMPP, which includes:

• Job Offer Stream
• No Job Offer Stream

Candidates must meet specific requirements for work experience, education, and language proficiency.

Benefits of the EMPP

Through the EMPP, eligible applicants and their dependents can benefit from:
✅ Waived application and biometric fees
✅ Expedited processing (6 months or less in most cases)
✅ Covered medical exam costs under the Interim Federal Health Program
✅ Access to the Immigration Loans Program (ILP) to assist with:

• Travel expenses
• Pre-arrival services from the International Organization for Migration
• The right of permanent residence fee
  ✅ EMP-specific Canadian Orientation Abroad Program to support settlement in Canada

Additional Support for Regional EMPP Applicants

If applying through a regional economic program, applicants may also:
✔ Have an easier pathway to eligibility and application
✔ Use an immigration loan to meet settlement fund requirements

These benefits aim to make immigration and resettlement smoother for skilled refugees Eligibility Requirements for the Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot (EMPP)

To apply for the EMPP, you must meet three sets of eligibility requirements:

1. Refugee or Displaced Person Status

You must prove your status as a refugee or displaced person by providing one of the following:

• A positive Refugee Status Determination (RSD) from the UN Refugee Agency or a refugee-hosting country.
• Proof of registration or record as a person of concern by the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR).
• A refugee certificate from the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine in the Near East (UNRWA).
• Proof of registration or record as a person of concern with UNRWA.
• Proof of temporary protected status along with a completed Durable Solution Information Form (IMM 0195).

If you are applying with a temporary protected status document, an officer will assess your case to determine if you lack a durable solution.

If you do not have any of the documents listed above, one of EMPP’s trusted partners can:
✅ Assess your eligibility as a refugee or displaced person.
✅ Issue a referral letter if you meet the criteria.

📌 Important: You must be living outside Canada when applying for the EMPP.

2. Eligibility Based on Application Pathway
3. Applying for the Federal EMPP (Work Experience, Education, and Language Skills-Based)

You can apply under one of the following streams:

1. Job Offer Stream

To qualify, you must meet these criteria:

✅ Job Offer Requirements

• Must be full-time (at least 30 hours per week).
• Must be non-seasonal.
• Must be from a Canadian employer.
• Must be in TEER Categories 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 of the National Occupational Classification (NOC).

✅ Work Experience Requirements

• At least 1 year of full-time, paid work experience (1,560 hours), or an equivalent amount in part-time work.
• Work experience can be accumulated over any period of time.
• Work experience must be in TEER categories 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5.
• Self-employment experience is allowed.

✅ Education Requirements
Your education must align with the TEER category of your job offer:

✅ Language Requirements

• Must take an approved language test in English or French.
• Minimum scores required:
  • TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3: CLB/NCLC 5
  • TEER 4 or 5: CLB/NCLC 4
• Language test results must be less than 2 years old at the time of application.

1. No Job Offer Stream (Capped at 150 Applications per Year)

To qualify, you must meet the following:

✅ Work Experience Requirements

• 1 year of full-time, paid work experience (1,560 hours) in the last 3 years.
• Experience must be in TEER categories 0, 1, 2, or 3.
• Self-employment experience is NOT allowed.

✅ Education Requirements
You must have one of the following:

• A Canadian secondary school credential, or
• A foreign degree, diploma, or certificate with an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) (issued within 5 years of applying).

✅ Language Requirements

• Must take an approved language test in English or French.
• Minimum required score: CLB/NCLC 7 in all four language abilities.

✅ Settlement Funds Requirement
You must prove you have enough money to support yourself and your family in Canada. Acceptable sources include:

• Grants, gifts, and community donations.
• Household income earned by you, your spouse, or dependents.

1. Applying Through an Economic Immigration Program (Regional EMPP)

You must be eligible for one of the following programs:
✅ Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP)
✅ Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)
✅ Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot (RNIP) (no longer accepting new applications)

Key Eligibility Requirements

To qualify, you must meet these general criteria:

• Language proficiency (English or French).
• Relevant education, job training, and work experience.
• A full-time job offer from a Canadian employer.

Exemptions for AIP and RNIP

Under the EMPP, some requirements are waived for AIP and RNIP applicants:
❌ You don’t need to prove you worked a certain number of hours within a specific timeframe (only total hours worked matters).
❌ You don’t need to provide an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA).
❌ You can apply for a loan to cover your settlement funds requirement.

📌 Important: These exemptions do not apply to PNP applicants. The province/territory sets the PNP requirements.

1. Loan for Settlement Funds

If you apply under the regional EMPP and need help meeting settlement fund requirements, you may be eligible for a low-interest microloan through Windmill Microlending if you:
✅ Have a job offer.
✅ Do not have enough settlement funds.

❌ You cannot use the Immigration Loans Program (ILP) for settlement funds.

3. Admissibility

You must be admissible to Canada, meaning:

• You must not have a criminal record or security concerns.
• You must not have serious medical conditions that could pose a risk to public health.

You must not have misrepresented information in your application.