Canada has officially barred holders of visitor visas from applying for work permits while inside the country, effective immediately.
The announcement was made by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) on Wednesday, marking a significant shift in policy.
“While the temporary policy was set to expire on February 28, 2025, IRCC is ending the policy as part of our overall efforts to recalibrate the number of temporary residents in Canada and preserve the integrity of the immigration system,” the IRCC stated.
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The IRCC further explained that the decision was influenced by concerns that some individuals were exploiting the policy to mislead foreign nationals into unauthorized employment in Canada.
“IRCC is also aware that some bad actors were using the policy to mislead foreign nationals into working in Canada without authorization. IRCC will continue to process applications submitted before August 28, 2024, under the policy,” the statement added.
This policy was initially implemented in August 2020 as a response to the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
At the time, many visitors were stranded in Canada due to international travel restrictions and border closures.
The policy allowed these visitors to apply for work permits without having to leave the country.
Additionally, it provided an opportunity for those who had previously held a work permit within the last 12 months but had since switched to visitor status to legally work in Canada while awaiting a decision on their new work permit application.
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