Canada Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot
The Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot (EMPP) is one of Canada’s economic programs for immigrants. EMPP provides a pathway for skilled refugees to emigrate to Canada.
Contact us if you want to know more about the EMPP, the eligibility criteria and the application process. Speak to one of our immigration lawyers on +1 844 290 6312 for questions or anything related to migrating to Canada.
Page Contents
- What is Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot?
- Eligibility Requirements for the Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot
- Application Process for the Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot
- Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot (RNIP)
- Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)
- Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP)
- Supporting Documents for EMPP Application
- Fees for the Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot
- What Happens After Your EMPP Application?
- How IAS Can Help You
What is Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot?
The Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot (EMPP) is an immigrant economic program that was launched in April 2018. The EMPP aims to help resolve labour market shortages in Canada. The scheme was set up to help skilled refugees relocate to Canada through Canada’s existing economic immigration pathways.
The EMPP Canada program targets refugees with solid economic settlement potential for a provincial nomination. Nominations are usually under the different existing Economic Programs. Hence, the Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot combines refugee resettlement and economic immigration for potential applicants. Refugees who choose to apply under the EMPP pilot program are chosen based on the economic immigration requirements. All successful applicants to the EMPP will be eligible to receive all settlement and integration services in Canada.
The EMPP approach ensures that it is easier for applicants to:
- Become eligible for any economic immigration program
- Apply for immigration
- Begin a new life in Canada
Through the EMPP, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) aims to achieve the following:
- Ensure it is easier for refugees (applicants) to meet the eligibility requirements and apply for whichever economic immigration program they want
- Waive application and biometrics fees
- Achieve quicker review and process time for applications
- Cover the pre-departure medical examination and services of the applicant through the Interim Federal Health Program
- Grant applicants open access to loans to assist in meeting financial requirements for their application.
The Canada Immigration loan programs open to applicants will help in covering the right to permanent residency fee, travel costs, and start-up costs after arriving in Canada.
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Eligibility Requirements for the Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot
An applicant to the Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot must be a refugee and meet the following requirements:
- Be outside Canada and the country of persecution
- Have no durable solution in another country
- Be admissible to Canada
Asides from the eligibility requirements, applicants must also be able to present documents to show their refugee status. The acceptable documents include:
- A valid, positive Refugee Status Determination (RSD) from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) or a refugee-hosting state.
- A “person of concern” letter issued by the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR).
- Any other document showing the applicant as a registered asylum seeker.
Additionally, EMPP applicants must prove eligibility for one of the participating economic immigration pathways.
Application Process for the Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot
Once you meet the eligibility requirements, the next step is to fill out and submit the application forms. There are two forms to fill out: one for the EMPP application and the other for any economic immigration programs. The two documents must be submitted together. It is possible for applicants to use a legal representative or complete the forms on their own. There are three existing economic immigration programs to choose from:
- Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP)
- Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)
- Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot (RNIP)
Before applying for the Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot, applicants must first apply for one of the three economic immigration programs. For the application, the Schedule 20 (Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot) and the document checklist (IMM 0137) must be correctly filled.
The Schedule 20 is the main application form where you will have to fill in information like personal details and details of family members, travel history and refugee status. IMM 0137 is a checklist showing the supporting documents to be included in the application for EMPP. Both the Schedule 20 and IMM 0137 must be submitted upon completion of the economic immigration program application.
Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot (RNIP)
The RNIP program allows skilled foreign workers to live and work in participating communities and small towns across Canada.
Requirements for the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot (RNIP)
As an EMPP applicant, you must meet the eligibility requirements for the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot before applying. Visit our Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot page to find the details. However, not all the requirements are essential for refugees.
The following exemptions apply to you as an EMPP applicant:
- Application fees and biometrics
- Submission of a police certificate with the application (If there is a need to provide a police certificate, the IRCC will ask you to provide it)
- Proof of work for the required hours in the three years listed before the application.
Note: EMPP applicants can apply for a loan to meet the required amount of money needed to support themselves and their families in Canada.
EMPP applicants must meet the following requirements to apply for the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot:
- Pay the Right of Permanent Residence fee. EMPP applicants can also apply to the Immigration Loans program for a loan to cover the fee. Applicants who don’t require a loan should attach a copy of their payment receipt to their application to avoid any form of delay
Application Process for the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot
You must fill out several forms, including the IMM 5987, to complete the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot application. The IMM 5987 form is a Document Checklist. The Document Checklist ensures that applicants have attached all necessary supporting documents alongside their application.
Supporting documents for the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot
Two of the documents required in the checklist are:
- Proof of fee payment
- Police certificate
Note: EMPP applicants don’t need to include both documents in their application. For both documents, write “This item is not required as indicated on the EMPP checklist”. After completing the RNIP application, the next step is to complete the EMPP application.
Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)
The Provincial Nominee Program allows different Canadian provinces to set their own eligibility criteria for selecting and nominating candidates for Canada’s permanent residency.
Eligibility Requirements for Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)
To apply for the Provincial Nominee Program, you must meet the following criteria:
- Be nominated by that territory or province.
- Meet all the requirements of the territory or province.
Note: EMPP applicants do not need to pay the biometric and application fees. There is also no need to submit a police certificate. The provinces and territories with Provincial Nominee Program participating in the EMPP are:
- Manitoba
- Yuko
- British Colombia
- Ontario
- Newfoundland and Labrador
- Prince Edward Island
- New Brunswick
- Nova Scotia
Application Process for Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)
To apply for the Provincial Nominee Program, you must do the following:
- Contact a participating territory or province to apply for nomination.
Apply for permanent residence once nominated (the application must be made on paper).
The Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) Application Fees
Applicants must pay the Right of Permanent Residence fee. It is also possible to apply to the Immigration Loans program for a loan to cover the fee. EMPP applicants paying without a loan should attach a copy of the receipt to their application to avoid delay.
Supporting Documents for the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)
To complete the Provincial Nominee Program application, applicants must fill out some forms, including the IMM 5690 (Document Checklist). The Document Checklist ensures that applicants have attached all necessary supporting documents alongside the application. Two of the documents required in the document checklist are:
- Proof of fee payment
- Police certificate.
Note: EMPP applicants do not need to include both documents in their application. For both, EMPP applicants must write, “This item is not required as indicated on the EMPP checklist”. After the PNP application is complete, the next step is to complete the EMPP application.
Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP)
The Atlantic Immigration Program allows skilled foreign workers to live and work in one of the four Atlantic provinces of Canada.
Requirements for the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP)
There are eligibility requirements for the Atlantic Immigration Program that EMPP applicants must meet before applying. However, not all the requirements are essential for EMPP applicants.
As EMPP applicants, refugees are exempt from some of the requirements, which include:
- Payment of the biometric and application fees
- Submission of a police certificate with the application (If there is a need to provide a police certificate, the IRCC will ask you to provide it)
- Proof of work for the hours required in the five years listed prior to the application
Note: Refugees who do not have the required amount to support themselves and members of their families in Canada can apply for a loan.
EMPP applicants are not exempted from the following requirements:
- A job offer that meets the program requirements (the job must be in a participating province and from a designated employer
Note: Without the endorsement, the application for permanent residence is not complete.
Supporting Documents for The Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP)
You must complete several forms, including the IMM 0155 (Document Checklist), to apply for the Atlantic Immigration Program. The document checklist ensures that you have attached all necessary supporting documents alongside your application. Three of the documents required in the document checklist are:
- Employer’s form
- Proof of fee payment
- Police certificate
Note: EMPP applicants do not need to include proof of payment and a police certificate in their application. For both, write, “This item is not required as indicated on the EMPP checklist.” After the AIP application is complete, the next step is to complete the EMPP application.
Supporting Documents for EMPP Application
The documents needed for the Canadian Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot application include:
- Proof of refugee status
- Copy of all identity documents
- Copy of all passports or travel documents (If the applicant cannot get a passport or travel document, it must be indicated)
- All other documents like entry or exit permits, movement passes or any extra information to support the refugee claim
Fees for the Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot
There are no application fees for the Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot program. Also, applicants won’t have to pay biometrics fees and the fee for their chosen Canadian economic immigration program.
However, applicants need to pay $CAN 515 for the Right of Permanent Residence fee. If you can’t afford the fee, it is possible to apply for a loan. This loan covers the Canadian Right of Permanent Residence fee. Refugees should attach a copy of their receipt when submitting the application to avoid delays. Generally, EMPP applications take six months or less to be processed.
What Happens After Your EMPP Application?
After submitting your application, IRCC will review it in two stages: document check and eligibility (EMPP & admissibility to Canada)
Document check
If you included all the required forms duly signed, IRCC would email you or your representative an acknowledgement of receipt (AOR) that includes your application number. Otherwise, IRCC will send you an email to inform you that your application is incomplete. You may be asked to provide missing documents or advised to resubmit your application if applicable.
EMPP Eligibility
IRCC will review your application to see if you are eligible for the EMPP. If you are eligible, IRCC may invite you (including members who will be coming with you to Canada) to an interview to collect more information. In this case, you will be notified of the interview’s date, time, and venue, and you (as well as the family members) must provide fingerprints and photos (biometrics) at this interview.
Permanent Residency Eligibility
If eligible for EMPP, an officer will assess whether your application is eligible for any Express Entry programs managed by IRCC that you have applied under.
Admissibility to Canada Review
The next step is the admissibility requirement to enter Canada. IRCC will review your application and supporting documents to determine whether you pose any security, criminal, or medical risks. They may also contact other agencies or organizations to verify your provided information. If the officer needs more information from you, they will contact you or your representative.
You will be informed of the decision on your application by email. The email will explain why your application was refused if this is the case. If your application is approved, you will receive an email with your confirmation of permanent residence (CPR) number and instructions on how to complete your medical examination. You will need to wait for further instructions before travelling to Canada. Do not book your flight or make travel plans until you receive these instructions.
How IAS Can Help You
The Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot (EMPP) is a federal government initiative that allows skilled refugees and their families to obtain permanent residency through one of Canada’s economic immigration programs. If you are an economic immigrant looking to emigrate and settle in Canada, IAS can help with the immigration process.
We have a team of experienced immigration consultants who can help you with the application process from start to finish. We can help you gather the required documentation, fill out the forms, and successfully apply for permanent residency through one of Canada’s economic immigration programs of your choice.
Contact us today at +1 844 290 6312 to learn more about how we can help you immigrate to Canada through the EMPP.