Canada will launch a new permanent immigration program in 2025, based on the success of the existing Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot (EMPP).
The EMPP is a pathway to permanent residence (PR) designed to connect skilled refugees and displaced persons with Canadian employers.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) first launched the EMPP in 2018, and in 2023 announced plans to transition the pilot to a permanent program.
The EMPP has since been extended to December 31, 2025.
According to IRCC’s Departmental Plan 2025-2026, the new permanent pathway to PR is set to launch prior to the expiry of the current pilot.
The federal government has yet to announce full details on the upcoming permanent pathway, such as eligibility criteria and other features of the program.
About the EMPP
The EMPP is an immigration pilot that enables skilled refugees and displaced individuals to work and settle in Canada permanently through various economic programs, offering employers a new talent pool to address job vacancies.
Since its inception, a total of 970 people have been admitted to Canada through the EMPP, according to the most recent government data (2019 – Mar 2025).
In its current form, eligible individuals can apply through the federal EMPP, or through the regional EMPP via the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) or Provincial Nominee Program (PNP).
Eligibility requires proof of refugee/displaced status in the form of one of five acceptable documents, or an assessment/referral letter from an IRCC-approved partner.
Whether a foreign national applies through the federal or regional EMPP, they must do so from outside Canada.
Federal EMPP
The federal EMPP has two streams (each with annual intake caps):
- A job offer stream (950 applications); and
- A no job offer stream (150 applications).
Job offer stream: Have a full-time job offer from a Canadian employer, at least one year of full-time work experience, and meet education and language proficiency requirements based on the TEER* category of your job offer.
No job offer stream: Have one year of full-time work experience (within the past three years) in TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3, a Canadian high school diploma or foreign equivalent, and meet a Canadian Language Benchmark of CLB 7 in all four language abilities.
Applicants must also provide proof of settlement funds.
This stream is currently closed.
* Under Canada’s National Occupational Classification (NOC), jobs are ranked across six levels (0 to 5) based on required Training, Education, Experience and Responsibilities, from highest-skilled (TEER 0) to lowest-skilled (TEER 5).
Regional EMPP
A foreign national must be eligible for and first apply to a province or territory participating in the AIP or PNP.
They will need to have the following, which varies by program and jurisdiction:
- A full-time job offer from a Canadian employer;
- Sufficient English or French language proficiency; and
- Sufficient education or job training and work experience.
When applying through the AIP, a foreign national does not need to provide an education credential assessment nor time-frame specific hours worked, and can apply for a loan to meet settlement fund requirements.
Additional EMPP benefits
IRCC waives application costs and biometric fees for EMPP applicants and their dependents, in addition to covering the costs of their medical exam(s).
The federal government also provides EMPP-specific settlement assistance, and helps with travel costs and the right of permanent residence fee.
About immigration pilots
Immigration pilots are temporary by definition, and are typically set to run for five years.
Generally, eligible foreign nationals can apply directly to the federal government for PR under a pilot, up until the pilot’s annual intake cap has been reached.
Successful pilots can lead to the establishment of permanent immigration programs.
