Canada ends visitor work permits policy

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced, on August 28, 2024, that it will immediately discontinue the policy permitting visitors to apply for work permits while in Canada.

The policy, initially set to expire on February 28, 2025, is being ended as part of efforts to adjust the number of temporary residents and maintain the integrity of the immigration system.

Introduced in August 2020, the policy was designed to assist visitors who could not return to their home countries due to COVID-19 border closures.

The policy allowed visitors to apply for work permits without leaving Canada.

It allowed those with previous work permits who changed to “visitor” status to work legally while awaiting new permit decisions.

IRCC cited concerns over misuse of the policy, noting that “some bad actors were using the policy to mislead foreign nationals into working in Canada without proper authorization.”

Despite the policy’s discontinuation, IRCC will continue processing applications submitted before August 28, 2024, under the current rules.

History of the policy

The policy allowing visitors in Canada to apply for work permits without leaving the country was introduced in August 2020, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The pandemic disrupted global travel, stranding many temporary residents in Canada as international borders closed or were heavily restricted.

With travel options severely limited, some temporary residents were unable to return home or renew their work permits.

This pushed them into “visitor” status as their previous permits expired.

IRCC introduced this policy to address these challenges and to help both the affected visitors and the Canadian economy.

The policy allowed those with a valid job offer to apply for an employer-specific work permit without leaving Canada.

This provided relief, allowing many to maintain legal status, continue working, and contribute to the country’s pandemic recovery.

Importance of the policy

The significance of this policy cannot be understated.

It offered a lifeline to temporary residents at risk of losing their legal status.

It also provided Canadian employers with access to a much-needed labor force during economic uncertainty.

The policy allowed visitors to work legally while permits were processed, stabilizing the situation for employers and workers.

The impact of the policy was considerable.

Between August 2020 and its discontinuation in August 2024, thousands of individuals took advantage of the policy.

It eased the transition for those with work permits forced to change status due to the pandemic’s unforeseen circumstances.

The policy benefited many, helping them avoid the complexities and uncertainties of international travel during a global health crisis.

Misuse of the policy

The early discontinuation of the policy allowing visitors in Canada to apply for work permits from within the country was largely driven by concerns over its misuse.

IRCC highlighted that some individuals and groups, referred to as “bad actors,” were exploiting the policy to mislead foreign nationals.

These bad actors misled foreign nationals into believing they could work in Canada without proper authorization under the policy.

One example involved 700 Indian students in Canada with fraudulent acceptance letters from Designated Learning Institutions (DLIs).

Many of these students were unaware that their documents were fake and had been misled into believing they were legally authorized to work in Canada.

This highlighted broader immigration fraud, prompting the IRCC to act decisively and close potential loopholes.

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