Canada Ends Policy Allowing Visitor Visa Holders to Apply for Work Permits Internally
Canada has officially ended the policy that permitted visitors on temporary visas to apply for work permits from within the country.
Canada has officially ended the policy that permitted visitors on temporary visas to apply for work permits from within the country. Initially introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic, this policy was designed to help visitors who were stranded due to global travel restrictions. The decision to terminate the policy is part of a broader effort by the Canadian government to maintain the integrity of its immigration system and manage the number of temporary foreign workers.Introduced in August 2020, the policy allowed temporary residents on visitor visas to apply for work permits without leaving Canada. It was a significant relief for many during the pandemic when border closures prevented people from returning to their home countries. Additionally, those who had previously held a work permit within the last 12 months and had transitioned to visitor status were eligible to work legally in Canada while waiting for their new work permit application to be processed.Originally set to expire on February 28, 2025, the policy has been terminated ahead of schedule. Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced that the early rollback is part of a strategy to regulate temporary foreign worker levels and uphold the immigration system’s integrity. Applications submitted before August 28 will still be processed under the old policy.The decision to end the policy was partly driven by concerns that it was being exploited by “bad actors” who misled foreign nationals into working in Canada without proper authorization. The government’s move comes amidst a series of broader changes aimed at tightening the rules around temporary foreign workers.In the same week, Canada’s Department of Employment announced a pause in processing certain Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) applications under the Low-Wage stream of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP). This pause, effective September 26, 2024, will affect applicants in Census Metropolitan Areas with an unemployment rate of 6% or higher. Additionally, new restrictions were introduced, limiting employers to hiring foreign workers under the TFWP to only 10% of their total workforce. The maximum term of employment for workers in the Low-Wage stream has also been reduced from two years to one year.These changes reflect Canada’s ongoing efforts to balance the need for temporary foreign workers with the importance of protecting the local labour market and ensuring the fair treatment of all workers within the country.
