The Government of Canada has announced the immediate termination of a temporary public policy that permitted visitors to apply for work permits without leaving the country. Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) confirmed this policy change in a statement released today.
Originally introduced in August 2020 as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the policy provided relief for visitors who could not leave Canada due to global travel restrictions. It allowed visitors to apply for work permits from within Canada and granted foreign nationals who had held a work permit in the previous 12 months and had since changed their status to “visitor,” the ability to work legally while awaiting a decision on their new work permit application.
Although the policy was originally set to expire on February 28, 2025, IRCC has decided to end it ahead of schedule. The decision is part of broader efforts to manage the number of temporary residents in Canada and to uphold the integrity of the immigration system. The department also cited concerns about the policy being exploited by individuals seeking to work in Canada without proper authorization.
Despite the policy’s termination, IRCC has assured that applications submitted before the cutoff date of August 28, 2024, will still be processed under the now-concluded policy.
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