Visitors In Canada Can Apply for Work Permit Without Leaving the Country

The Canadian government has extended a temporary policy aimed at facilitating work permit applications for foreign nationals who are already in Canada as visitors.

The policy, which was set to expire at the end of February 2023, has now been extended for another two years. Under the policy, visitors who have held a work permit in the last 12 months can request interim work authorisation to start working for their new employer more quickly and applications will be accepted until 28 February 2025.

The government is hoping the extension of the policy will be a boon to employers who are having a hard time filling jobs due to a severe labour shortage in Canada.

“Leaving this temporary policy in place makes visitors an option for employers in Canada, as many are facing significant labour shortages during this period of economic expansion,”
The Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)

This process is significantly different from the conventional process, in which candidates would normally need to apply for their initial work permit before arriving in Canada, and if granted while in Canada on visitor status, would need to depart the country in order to receive their work visa.

Who Can Benefit From The Temporary Policy

The interim public policy went into force for the first time on 24 August 2020 when immigration to Canada was rapidly declining.

To be eligible, applicants must meet the following criteria:

have valid status in Canada as a visitor on the day they apply
have a job offer that is supported by a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) or an LMIA-exempt offer of employment
submit an application for an employer-specific work permit no later than 28 February 2025
meet all other standard admissibility criteria.

The extension of the temporary policy is aimed at addressing the labour shortages faced by many Canadian employers during a period of economic expansion.

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