Ottawa Feb. 28,2023- The temporary policy that allows visitors to apply for work permits was extended to Feb 28, 2025

Posted 02/28/2023

Visitors to Canada who get a valid job offer while they are there will still be able to apply for and get a work permit without having to leave the country. Visitors who apply under this policy and have had a work permit in the last 12 months will still be able to ask for temporary work permission so they can start working for their new employer faster. This temporary public policy from the COVID era was set to end today, but it has been extended by 2 years, until February 28, 2025. Leaving this temporary policy in place gives Canadian employers who are having trouble finding enough workers a way to hire people from outside the country.

Before this temporary policy change, most people who wanted to work in Canada had to get their first work permit before coming to Canada. If they were already in Canada as a visitor when their work permit was approved, they would have to leave the country to get their work permit. With this policy in place, there is no reason to leave Canada.

Check below for the screenshot of the eligibility requirement from canada.ca official website.