Canadian Government has ended a temporary policy put in place allowing holders of visitor visas to apply for work permit from within Canada.
This was announced Wednesday, by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) effective immediately.
The policy was introduced in August 2020 to assist visitors in Canada who were unable to return home because of border closures related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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.
While the temporary policy was set to expire on February 28, 2025, IRCC is ending the policy as part of our overall efforts to recalibrate the number of temporary residents in Canada and preserve the integrity of the immigration system.
IRCC is also aware that some bad actors were using the policy to mislead foreign nationals into working in Canada without authorization.
The statement says IRCC will continue to process applications submitted before August 28, 2024, under the policy.