China and the Center for China and Globalization (CCG) jointly released the "International Talent Blue Book" in Beijing, indicating that China is currently the largest source country for international immigrants to Canada, as well as the largest source country for international students in Canada.
Since the Canadian government fully opened independent immigration applications from mainland China in 1996, the number of Chinese immigrants to Canada has ranged from 5,000 to 10,000 annually, rising to 17,500 in 1996 and 42,200 in 2005, making China the largest source country for international immigrants to Canada.
In 2012, the number of individuals born in China who obtained Canadian permanent resident visas reached 33,018, an increase of 4,323 from 2011, representing a growth rate of 15.1%, although this figure is 9,274 less than the peak in 2005, a decrease of 21.9%.
Over the past four years, China has been the largest source country for international students in Canada, with 25,346 students studying in Canada in 2012, bringing the total number of Chinese students in Canada to 80,638.
The number of workers authorized to work in Canada has also been steadily increasing, with a total of 15,034 workers from China in 2012, and an additional 2,929 workers that year.
In 2012, Canada issued 235,000 tourist visas to Chinese nationals, setting a new historical high. With the increase in tourism, short-term business visits, and international students, the number of Chinese immigrants to Canada is expected to continue to rise.
