Canada IRCC Updates Stream B Pathway Work Experience Requirements for Hong Kong Residents

On December 18, 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) updated its website for the Permanent Residence pathways for Hong Kong residents, specifically the Stream B pathway (Canadian Work Experience). These changes provide clearer direction on the work experience requirements for applicants.  See the announcement here.

Updated Eligibility Conditions

To qualify under the Stream B pathway, applicants must meet all of the following conditions within the last three years before application submission:

1. Accumulate at least 1,560 hours of authorized Canadian work experience through paid full-time or part-time employment at any skill level.
2. Hold a valid Canadian work permit for a minimum of one year during that same three-year period.
3. Complete at least 12 months of employment. While this requirement is not explicitly stated in the policy itself, IRCC’s latest guidelines make clear that applicants must demonstrate a minimum one-year employment period in addition to meeting the 1,560-hour threshold.

Documentation Requirements

Applicants should retain comprehensive proof of their employment history, including:

• Pay stubs
• T4s
• Records of hours worked
• Employer reference letters outlining job duties, hours, and duration

These documents are essential to demonstrate the hours worked, duration and genuineness of employment.

Implications to Applicants

• Even though hardworking individuals may accumulate more than 1,560 hours of work within a period shorter than 12 months, they must still wait until they have completed a full 12 months of employment before submitting their Stream B application.
• For those who work 12 months full-time, it is equally important to ensure they have accumulated at least 1,560 hours. For example, if someone works only 30 hours per week and takes a few weeks of annual leave during this period, they may fall short of the required hours and therefore not qualify.
• This clarification became necessary because IRCC deleted the previous guideline that capped work calculations at 30 hours per week. Without that cap, some applicants mistakenly believed they could qualify by working intensive hours over a shorter period. We have obtained IRCC’s feedback that both the hour requirement and the 12-month duration requirement should still be satisfied

For Hong Kong residents, the pathway remains a valuable opportunity, but careful record-keeping and planning are now essential to meet the stricter criteria. The deadline is August 31, 2026, if an application is returned or refused a few months after submission, there is unlikely enough time to submit again!

Have you met the requirements under the Stream B pathway and would like to apply for PR? Get in Touch with Rothe International Canada Today

If you have met the requirements under the Stream B pathway and would like to apply for PR, get in touch with us today to see how our licensed Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC) can assist you to achieve your Canadian immigration goals. We have represented many candidates and would be delighted to assist you.

For further enquiries, please contact us at 2868 3780 or email [email protected]

Disclaimer

The information provided above is for general private reference purposes only and is not intended to be a comprehensive explanation of Canadian immigration laws or a substitute for professional legal advice. Rothe International Canada is not responsible for any losses caused by the use of the above information.

If you have any specific questions, you are welcome to contact Rothe International Canada directly at (852) 2868-3780 or fill in our online enquiry form.