Canadian Government Ends Policy Allowing Visitors to Apply for Work Permits Without Leaving the Country
The Canadian government has announced the immediate end of a policy that, since 2020, allowed visitors to Canada to apply for a work permit without leaving the country. This measure was introduced to respond to the exceptional circumstances caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Launched in August 2020, this public policy offered flexibility to visitors stuck in Canada due to travel restrictions. It also allowed foreign nationals who had recently held a work permit and had transitioned to visitor status to continue working while awaiting a decision on their new work permit application.
Although this temporary measure was set to expire in February 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has decided to end it earlier. The government justifies this decision by the need to readjust the number of temporary residents in Canada and protect the integrity of the immigration system. Indeed, abuses have been reported, with some individuals using this policy to allow foreign nationals to work in Canada without proper authorization.
IRCC has specified that applications submitted before August 28, 2024, will be processed according to the rules of this policy, even though it is now repealed.
