Visitors can continue to apply for work permits in Canada

The Canadian government has extended a temporary public policy that allows visitors to apply for and receive a work permit without leaving the country.

The Canadian government has extended a temporary public policy that allows visitors to apply for and receive a work permit without leaving the country. This policy change is aimed at addressing significant labour shortages faced by many Canadian employers during this period.

Under the extended policy, visitors with valid job offers can apply for a work permit without leaving Canada. Additionally, visitors who held a work permit within the past 12 months can request interim work authorization, allowing them to start working for their new employer more quickly.

This public policy was set to expire on February 28, 2023, but has been extended for two more years, until February 28, 2025. This means that visitors are still an option for employers in Canada looking to hire foreign workers.

Before this temporary policy change, individuals looking to work in Canada had to apply for their initial work permit before arriving in the country. If they were already in Canada with visitor status when they were approved for a work permit, they would need to leave Canada to be issued their work permit. With this policy in place, leaving Canada is no longer necessary.

To be eligible for this temporary public policy, applicants must have valid visitor status in Canada at the time of their application and have a job offer supported by a labour market impact assessment (LMIA) or an LMIA-exempt offer of employment.

Applicants must also meet all other standard admissibility criteria and submit their application for an employer-specific work permit no later than February 28, 2025.

If you are a visitor to Canada who has held a valid work permit in the past 12 months, you can follow special instructions to get interim work authorization, allowing you to start working for your new employer before your work permit application is finalized.

This extended temporary public policy is great news for visitors to Canada who are interested in working during their stay. It provides a more accessible path to obtaining a work permit and supports Canadian employers in addressing labour shortages during a time of economic expansion.

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