October 2, 2024
Visitors in Canada No Longer Allowed to Apply for Work Permits from Within the Country
On 28 August 2024, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced that the temporary public policy, which allowed visitors to apply for a work permit, had ended effective immediately.
The temporary public policy was introduced in August 2020 to help visitors who were unable to leave the country due to COVID-19 travel restrictions apply for a work permit from within Canada. In addition, foreign nationals who held a work permit in the previous twelve (12) months but who changed their status in Canada to “visitor” could apply to work legally in the country while waiting for a decision on their new work permit application.
The temporary public policy was initially set to expire on 28 February 2025. However, IRCC stated that they were ending the policy as part of their “overall efforts to recalibrate the number of temporary residents in Canada and preserve the integrity of the immigration system.” IRCC also noted that they were aware of some bad actors who were using the policy to mislead foreign nationals into working in Canada without authorization. This rollback is related to IRCC’s ongoing efforts to tackle immigration fraud and reduce temporary resident levels.
IRCC will continue to process applications submitted before 28 August 2024 under the policy.
If you would like to discuss your options, please contact our office to book a consultation.
Ana Martinez
Ana graduated from the University of Southampton in the United Kingdom with a Bachelor of Laws (Juris Doctor). During this time, she participated in mooting and negotiation competitions as well as mentorship and human rights initiatives. Prior to law school, Ana graduated from the University of Toronto with a double major in Criminology & Socio-Legal Studies and Italian Studies. Ana is fluent in Spanish.