Visitors can continue to apply for work permits inside Canada with temporary policy extended by 2 years

Foreign nationals who are visiting Canada and receive a valid job offer will be able to apply for and receive a work permit without leaving the country. Visitors applying under this public policy who have held a work permit within the last 12 months may also request interim work authorization to begin working for their new employer sooner. This COVID-era temporary public policy, which was set to expire today, has been extended by two years, until February 28, 2025. Keeping this temporary policy in place gives employers in Canada another option, as many are facing significant labour shortages during this period of economic expansion.

Prior to this temporary policy change, those wishing to work in Canada had to apply for their initial work permit before arriving. If they were already in Canada with visitor status when they were approved for a work permit, they would have to leave before their work permit could be issued. Leaving Canada is no longer necessary with this policy in place.

To be eligible to apply, an applicant looking to benefit from this temporary public policy must

• have valid status in Canada as a visitor on the day they apply

• have a job offer that is 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 other standard admissibility criteria