Just before Remembrance Day, Canada’s Armed Forces (CAF) announced that immigrants in Canada with permanent residency status will soon be allowed to work for the armed forces. This news was declared by an Instagram post by CAF. The tradition of Remembrance Day dates back to the First World War. it commemorates the sacrifices made by the armed forces.
Currently, permanent residents were not eligible to apply to CAF because of various issues regarding national security. However, in recent years, there has been a shortage of applicants for the Department of National Defence (DND) which led to the current historical decision to waive the citizenship requirements for the army. As the Canadian government aims to welcome 5,00,000 new PR immigrants by 2025, the announcement by CAF surely broadens the prospects for immigrants. However, there is yet to be an official announcement by the DND.
Until now, permanent residents were only allowed jobs in the military by the Skilled Military Foreign Applicant (SMFA) program. In this, only those with a specific set of skills will be recruited for posts such as pilots and doctors. However, only citizens of Canada over the age of 18 years old can apply for an officer-level job in CAF.