Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has announced the immediate end to its temporary public policy allowing visitors to apply for work permits from within the country.
The policy, which was introduced in August 2020 as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic, was initially set to expire on February 28, 2025.
The release posted on the country’s official website stated that the policy was particularly beneficial for those “who had held work permits in the previous 12 months but who changed their status in Canada to ‘visitor’” due to job losses or other disruptions caused by the pandemic.
“While the temporary policy was set to expire on February 28, 2025, the 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.
“IRCC is also aware that some bad actors were using the policy to mislead foreign nationals into working in Canada without authorization,” the Canadian government said in a statement published on its website on Wednesday.
As of August 28, 2024, visitors in Canada are no longer eligible to apply for work permits under this policy. However, IRCC has confirmed that applications submitted before this date will still be processed.
The decision aims to manage the number of temporary residents in Canada and ensure the integrity of the immigration system. Concerns were raised about the potential exploitation of the policy by some individuals.
According to the official press release, there were worries that some people might use the policy to deceive foreign nationals into working without proper authorization.
The sudden end to this policy has left many visitors in Canada scrambling to explore alternative options.
Those seeking to work in Canada will now need to leave the country and reapply for a work permit from abroad or explore other immigration pathways that allow for work authorization.
Visitors currently in Canada who were planning to apply for a work permit under this policy will need to explore alternative options, such as:
- Applying for a work permit from outside Canada
- Exploring Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs)
- International Mobility Program (IMP)
- Studying in Canada
- Visitor to Permanent Resident (PR) pathways
The termination of this policy comes at a time when Canada is experiencing an unprecedented number of temporary residents.
According to recent data, the number of temporary foreign workers and international students has surged in the last few years, contributing to a significant increase in the temporary resident population.
As of 2023, Canada had over 800,000 international students and more than 400,000 temporary foreign workers, which has now increased drastically.
The IRCC has stated that this decision is part of their efforts to manage the number of temporary residents in Canada and ensure the integrity of the immigration system.
While the policy provided much-needed flexibility during the COVID-19 pandemic, its end reflects IRCC’s commitment to recalibrating the temporary resident population and preserving the integrity of the immigration system.