Canada has recently announced that individuals holding visitor visas are no longer eligible to apply for work permits while in the country.
This decision was communicated by the Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) through a statement issued on Wednesday, with immediate effect.
“Although the temporary policy was originally scheduled to expire on February 28, 2025, IRCC is ending the policy early as part of our broader efforts to manage the number of temporary residents in Canada and maintain the integrity of the immigration system,” the statement read.
The IRCC also noted concerns that some individuals were exploiting the policy to mislead foreign nationals into working in Canada without proper authorization. “IRCC will continue to process applications submitted before August 28, 2024, under the previous policy,” the statement added.
The policy, which was put into place in August 2020, was initially designed to assist visitors who found themselves unable to return to their home countries due to COVID-19 border closures.
It allowed these individuals to apply for a work permit without having to leave Canada.
Furthermore, those who had previously held a work permit within the last 12 months and had transitioned to a “visitor” status were permitted to work legally in Canada while waiting for a decision on their new work permit application.
Now that the policy has been rescinded, visitor visa holders will be required to exit Canada if they wish to pursue a work permit.
