As of February 28, 2023, visitors in Canada who receive a valid job offer can apply for a work permit without having to leave the country. Immigration Canada has announced that this temporary policy, set to expire on February 28, 2023, has been extended for another two years until February 28, 2025.
This is good news for both job seekers and employers as Canada is experiencing significant labor shortages during this period of economic growth.
Under this policy, visitors applying for a work permit who held a work permit in the past 12 months can request an interim work authorization to start working for their new employer more quickly. Prior to this policy change, those who wished to work in Canada would usually have to apply for a work permit before coming to the country. If they were already in Canada with visitor status when they received their work permit, they would need to leave the country to obtain it. With this new policy, leaving Canada is no longer necessary.
To be eligible for this temporary public policy, applicants must meet the following criteria:
have valid visitor status in Canada on the day of application
receive a job offer supported by a labour market impact assessment (LMIA) or an LMIA-exempt offer of employment
submit an application for an employer-specific work permit no later than February 28, 2025.
meet all standard admissibility criteria.
If you need assistance with your work permit application, please contact us for help.