Big news! Visitors can apply for a work permit without having to leave Canada and can start work while it processes.
Effective as of August 24, 2020, the public policy will benefit employers in Canada who are facing difficulties finding the workers they need during the COVID-19 pandemic as well as foreign workers who have had to change their status to visitor due to a work permit expiry, or they didn’t have a job offer to apply for a new work permit.
Under this public policy, applicants who meet the criteria and have had a valid work permit in the past 12 months can begin working for their new employer before their work permit application has been fully approved. To be eligible to work, applicants need to request authorization after applying by contacting IRCC through Web Form with the following information (make sure to complete the sections in square brackets before sending):
Priority Code VISIT2WORK2020: I am requesting consideration under the Temporary Public Policy to Exempt Certain Visitors in Canada from Immigration Requirements during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic and ask that the applicable exemptions be granted until a decision is made on my work permit application or it is withdrawn.
My previous work permit number [U#########] expired on [Date].
I have submitted my application for a work permit online. OR I have submitted my application on paper and the postal/courier tracking number is NUMBER.
I intend to work for [employer NAME] / [occupation] as specified in the aforementioned work permit application.
I understand that providing false, misleading or incorrect information is a violation of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and may result in enforcement measures against me.
To be eligible for this public policy, you must:
Have valid visitor status on August 24, 2020, and remain in Canada (if you have left Canada after August 24, 2020, you cannot apply this way if you return)
Have a job offer
Submit an application for an employer-based work permit that is supported by a Labour Market Impact Assessment, or an LMIA-exempt offer of employment no later than March 31, 2021, and
Meet all other admissibility requirements
Prior to this change, applicants applying for an initial work permit would normally need to do so before entering Canada. If they were already in Canada on visitor status and where approved a work permit, they would need to leave Canada and return to have their work permit issued at the port of entry.