Visitors can no longer apply for work permits within Canada
MUMBAI: The Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), the immigration arm of the federal government has announced that effective as of August 28, it has ended its ‘temporary’ public policy that allowed visitors to apply for a work permit while in Canada. This policy was initially set to end on Feb 28, 2025.
IRCC had introduced the policy in August 2020 to help visitors who were unable to leave the country due to Covid-19 pandemic–related travel restrictions.Under the policy, visitors in Canada could apply for a work permit without having to leave the country. In addition, foreign nationals who had held a work permit in the previous 12 months but who changed their status in Canada to ‘visitor’ could apply to work legally in Canada while waiting for a decision on their new work permit application. IRCC states that it will continue to process applications submitted prior to this date under the earlier policy.
This is just another announcement aimed at reducing the immigrant stock. It follows the recent announcement restricting hiring of low-wage migrants under the ‘Temporary Foreign Worker Program’. An escalation in costs – such as housing, pressure on infrastructure including medical, spike in the number of temporary workers (albeit owing to Canada’s own policy) and an upcoming election are resulting in such policy announcements, state immigration experts.
IRCC had introduced the policy in August 2020 to help visitors who were unable to leave the country due to Covid-19 pandemic–related travel restrictions.Under the policy, visitors in Canada could apply for a work permit without having to leave the country. In addition, foreign nationals who had held a work permit in the previous 12 months but who changed their status in Canada to ‘visitor’ could apply to work legally in Canada while waiting for a decision on their new work permit application. IRCC states that it will continue to process applications submitted prior to this date under the earlier policy.
This is just another announcement aimed at reducing the immigrant stock. It follows the recent announcement restricting hiring of low-wage migrants under the ‘Temporary Foreign Worker Program’. An escalation in costs – such as housing, pressure on infrastructure including medical, spike in the number of temporary workers (albeit owing to Canada’s own policy) and an upcoming election are resulting in such policy announcements, state immigration experts.
