Canada Second Most Desirable for Study for Hongkongers

After the UK, Canada more popular for higher education

Canada has beat the United States and Australia to become the second most popular destination for higher education after the United Kingdom.

Previously it was the UK followed by Australia, the US and then Canada.

But after the Canadian government last year announced new ways for Hongkongers to emigrate in Canada, 6,365 Hong Kong residents were granted student visas, just behind the 6,511 student visas issued by Britain.

Hongkongers looking for ways to leave the city

Canada used to be the least popular of the four countries for Hongkongers to study abroad. Only about 2,500 were granted Canadian student visas each year, from 2018 to 2020, making up about one-fifth of the total student visas issued by the four countries.

Australia was popular because geographically it was closer, and the United States for its quality education, but perhaps the racial attacks against Asians and the rise in gun violence may have played a role as well. 

This latest news will be a boon for the Canadian education sector from kindergarten to post secondary, as being a student who graduates in the last three years can be granted permanent residency; they can also gain residency after graduating from post-secondary school in Canada or abroad, and has one year's work experience in Canada.

Interest in these two new pathways grew as a result. Last year, nearly 2,300 Hong Kong residents gained permanent residency, a newly 50 percent increase compared with the pre-pandemic total of just over 1,500 permanent resident landings in 2019.

Growing interest in HKers to come to Canada

In addition, in 2021, 10,143 Hongkongers and those holding BNO passports obtained a Canadian work permit. This compares to only 931 people who got work permits in 2019.

It's good to see the Canadian government stepping up and offering opportunities for young Hongkongers -- and middle-aged ones too -- who need a fresh start and a good education to move ahead in their careers as they settle down in their new home.