The number of international immigrants coming to Alberta in 2020 was 47% (20,736) smaller than 48,805 in 2019, reports ATB Economics. The pandemic cut Alberta immigration in half: Alberta experienced a 65% decline in immigration in the second quarter of 2020 compared to the same period in 2019. This reflects a nationwide downward trend in Canadian immigration during 2020 and the 1st half of 2021 due to the COVID-19 travel restrictions and a backlog of immigration paperwork due to IRCC and embassy closures and cutbacks. Alberta immigration numbers are increasing, but remain down 21% compared to their pre-pandemic level as of the first quarter of 2021.
"Immigration into Canada fell by almost half last year, hitting its lowest level in more than two decades as the Covid-19 pandemic disrupted travel across borders," reported Bloomberg.
According to data compiled by Statista, Canada's immigration has been on an upward trend in recent years, primarily since the "Canadian government announced its aim to significantly increase the number of permanent residents to Canada in order to combat an aging workforce and the decline of working-age adults." In early 2020 Canada’s Immigration Minister Marco Mendicino announced Canada planned to welcome 341,000 new immigrants in 2020, but just days after the announcement Canada closed its borders due to the COVID pandemic.
| 2020* | 284.39 |
| 2019 | 313.6 |
| 2018 | 303.33 |
| 2017 | 272.71 |
New Immigration Initiatives
In order to attract more immigrants to Alberta and all of Canada, the government has put into place a series of initiatives to welcome more newcomers in 2021, and to encourage temporary workers and international students already in Canada to become Permanent Residents:
- New Pathways to Permanent Residence for Hong Kong Citizens
The new pathways to permanent resident status are for in-Canada Hong Kong residents who meet specific eligibility criteria. - Expedited Work Permits for UK and Northern Ireland Citizens: CUKTCA
CUKTCA is a reciprocal treaty, and Canadian workers have similar benefits if they want to live and work in the U.K. - TR to PR Pathway: Guide to Canada's 6 New Permanent Resident Pathways
6 new temporary pathways with a goal of accelerating permanent residency for 90,000 essential healthcare workers, temporary essential workers in other fields, international graduates and francophones and bilingual workers already in Canada.
In addition, Canada's IRCC has a new online immigration application, a TR to PR Pathway online eligibility tool and other efforts to expedite and streamline the immigration process.
Do You Want To Become a Canada Permanent Resident?
If you are already in Canada and want to become a permanent resident, Ackah Business Immigration Law can guide you through the immigration journey to permanent residence in Canada. To find out if you qualify and to help process your application, contact Ackah Law today at (403) 452‑9515 or email us at contact@ackahlaw.com.
