Canada Ends Temporary Public Policy Allowing Visitors to Apply for Work Permits

On August 28, 2024Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced the end of a temporary public policy that allowed visitors to apply for a work permit from within Canada. This policy, introduced in August 2020in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and its associated travel restrictions, permitted visitors to apply for work permits without leaving the country. It also allowed foreign nationals who had held a work permit in the past 12 months to apply for a work permit while waiting for a decision, even after changing their status to “visitor.”

Although the policy was originally set to expire in February 2025, IRCC has ended it early to recalibrate the number of temporary residents and to maintain the integrity of the immigration system. The decision also comes in response to concerns that some individuals were misusing the policy.

Applications submitted before August 28, 2024, will still be processed under the policy. For more information on applying for a work permit, please visit the IRCC website.

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