Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot

In 2018, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) launched the Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot (EMPP) to provide complementary pathways to permanent residence for skilled refugees. The EMPP is a unique opportunity for employers in Canada to connect with and hire, skilled refugees overseas.
Hiring through the EMPP enables employers to:

  • Access to a new pool of international talent
  • Partner with non-governmental organizations (NGOs) who will help you navigate the world of hiring refugees overseas, including: finding and hiring candidates and providing employment-related resources and immigration-related services to candidates that you hire.

Partner NGOs charge fees to employers for use of their services with the EMPP. The cost to recruit an employee through EMPP is between $5,000 and $10,000 and includes visa, relocation and in some cases the cost of temporary accommodation on arrival. Please contact program staff for more information. 


There are no fees payable to the GNWT to use immigration programs, such as the EMPP. There are fees payable to the Government of Canada which are included in the cost of the EMPP. This includes fees such as Right of Permanent Residence fees.

Interested employers can contact program staff for more information.