Visitors no longer allowed to apply for work permits from within Canada
As of August 28, temporary residents in Canada on a visitor visa are no longer allowed to apply for a job-supported work permit from within Canada. However, for Iranians currently in Canada on a visitor visa, the policy remains in effect until February 2025. Given recent developments and upcoming policy changes, it is strongly recommended that those wishing to obtain a work permit submit their applications as soon as possible.
The temporary policy allowing visitors to apply for work permits from within Canada was introduced in August 2020. This measure was initially put in place to help some visitors who were unable to return to their home countries due to border closures during the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, it aimed to support employers in filling critical labor shortages by permitting certain visitors who met specific conditions to apply for a job-supported work permit from within Canada.
Note: Some visitors in Canada can still apply for other types of work permits from within the country. Additionally, certain applications, such as those for a Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP), must be submitted from inside Canada and cannot be submitted from outside the country.
Initially, this policy was set to expire on February 28, 2025. However, Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has announced that it will end the policy earlier as part of their broader efforts to reassess the number of temporary residents in Canada and maintain the integrity of the immigration system.
The IRCC has confirmed that applications submitted under this policy before August 28 will still be processed.
Bigger changes to temporary foreign worker levels in Canada
The end of the temporary policy allowing some visitors to apply for a work permit comes amidst a week of big changes aimed at reducing Canada’s temporary foreign worker levels.