Major Update: Visitors won’t have to leave Canada now to apply for work permit

Canada has enacted a new temporary policy that will prove to be beneficial for both Canadian employers and temporary residents. So far Canada had a regime that if temporary residents received a job offer in Canada, they had to apply for the work permit. For this purpose, they had to leave Canada to file an application for the work permit and re-enter once their application gets approved. This process was time-consuming and restricted the workers to start the work immediately. Temporary residents staying in Canada need a work permit to work legally. So, they had to undergo the tedious process of leaving and re-entering the country. Also Read: How to Get a Job in Canada? The Ultimate Guide However, now as per a new policy, international workers with a job offer can apply for the work permit while staying in Canada. Canada has taken such an excellent step in response to the ongoing travel restrictions that inhibit individuals to travel freely. The IRCC has stated that the new policy for visitors will be applied immediately. It will help all those visitors who have a job offer from a Canadian employer. However, this policy does not apply to new arrivals who enter Canada after August 24, 2020. Super visa holders, individuals belonging to Global Skills Strategy, and business visitors are eligible to apply for a work permit through the new policy. The Immigration Minister believes that the new regulation is the right step that is taken to support the workers and employers. Before this mandate, temporary residents had to apply for a work permit before coming to Canada. Further, people with a visitor status had to leave the country and re-enter to get the work permit. Also Read: 9 Easiest Ways to Immigrate to Canada The policy is also a great initiative for employers who face huge labor shortages and require workers without delay. Temporary residents living in Canada are always urged to manage their legal status. Now that flights are restricted in several countries, visitors in the country are not able to travel. Many foreign workers also changed their status to “visitor” as their work permit expired and they could not renew the work permit as they were unable to get a job offer. Thus, the new policy will act as a useful measure for both workers and employers.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants can get a work permit while living in Canada provided that they meet the following requirements:

They must have valid visitor status as of August 24, 2020;
They should have a job offer;
They have to give an application with an LMIA for an employer-specific work permit or an LMIA exempt job offer;
They must meet all other general admissibility needs.

Applicants who are able to fulfill all these criteria and who already had a valid work permit in the last 12 months, can start their work with the new employer even before their work permit is fully approved.