Do immigrants and newcomers to Canada qualify for Employment Insurance (EI) ?

Yes, immigrants and newcomers to Canada can qualify for Employment Insurance (EI) benefits. However, to be eligible for EI benefits, you must be a resident of Canada and have a valid Social Insurance Number (SIN). You need to have worked in insurable employment and accumulated enough insurable hours to qualify for EI benefits. The number of hours required depends on the unemployment rate in your region at the time of your claim, ranging from 420 to 700 hours in the past 52 weeks. As these amounts and thresholds vary from year to year, you are advised to visit the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) website for the most up-to-date information.