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Kelia Losa Author Kelia Losa Reinoso is a qualified content writer with a Master of Arts degree in Journalism and Media Studies https://www.canadianvisa.org/author/kelia-losa-reinoso

We Make Immigration Simple

2023-03-01T07:39:00

2023-03-01T12:36:00

Canada extends work permit policy for visitors with a valid work offer.

• Canada Immigration News

IRCC Extends Policy: Visitors Can Get Work Permits until 2025

Kelia Losa Reinoso is a qualified content writer with a Master of Arts degree in Journalism and Media Studies

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has announced the extension of a temporary public policy that enables foreign nationals who have an available job offer while in Canada to be able to apply for as well as receive a work permit.

This policy will be in place until February 28, 2025. To qualify, applicants must have valid status in the country as a visitor on the day they submit the application, have an offer of employment that has been supported by a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) or is LMIA-exempt , and meet all other regular admissibility requirements.

Canada’s Work Permit Policy Update

The temporary public policy from the COVID-19 period was scheduled to terminate on 28 February 2023 and has been extended. This policy joins Canada’s many others that encourage immigrants to enter and remain in Canada in order to join the labour market.

Any foreign visitor who is in Canada and gets an employment offer is eligible to file for and be granted a work permit. This policy is set to run until February 2025.

Prior to the policy alteration, applicants typically needed to obtain a work permit before entering Canada. To receive their work permit while in Canada with tourist status, they had no choice but to leave and re-enter the nation. An amendment of this policy has eliminated that step entirely - making it much easier for those wishing to travel or live in Canada.

When COVID-related travel restrictions were in place and it was difficult for newcomers to enter the country from overseas, the measure was originally introduced to assist employers in Canada fill urgent labor shortages.

Requirements to Apply

In order to be considered for this temporary state policy, a candidate must:

• Have a job offer that is backed by a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) or an LMIA-exempt offer of employment.
• Have legal visitor status in Canada on the day they apply.
• Must Submit applications for employer-specific work permits by February 28, 2025.
• Satisfy every other normal criterion for admissibility such as language requirements

A legitimate job offer must meet several criteria to be considered by Canadian immigration authorities. This includes being a written full-time, non-seasonal position with a one-year or longer duration of employment; the employer must also receive either a positive or even neutral Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) from Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC). Additionally, a LMIA exemption is an acceptable alternative as well.

Applying for this important document is essential if you're an employer hoping to hire foreign workers. ESDC will examine the impact of your decision on the Canadian economy, including whether or not it will have positive, neutral or negative consequences. If they assess that it'll be detrimental in any way, then unfortunately, you won't be eligible to employ foreign nationals.

Changes For Visitors

Anyone in Canada with visitor status who had a work permit in the last year but does not presently have one can follow special instructions to obtain temporary work authorization to start working for their new employer even before their work permit application is approved to increase the labour force in Canada.

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Canada extends meaure allowing visitors to apply for a work permit

A pandemic-related measure is being extended until 2025

By Shelby Thevenot

Posted on February 28, 2023

Updated on January 30, 2024

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Share article, visitors in canada can continue to apply for a work permit without needing to leave the country, provided they have a valid job offer..

The measure also applies to people who held a work permit within the last 12 months and who are still in Canada on visitor status.

This COVID-era temporary public policy was supposed to expire February 28, 2023. However, it has been extended until February 28, 2025. It allows visitors to get a job in Canada without having to leave the country.

Before Canada introduced this policy, you would typically need to apply for your initial work permit before arriving in Canada. If you were already in Canada with visitor status when approved for a work permit, you would need to leave the country in order to get your work permit.

With this policy in place, leaving Canada isn’t necessary.

How to convert visitor visa to work permit in Canada

To be eligible to apply to transfer your visitor visa to a work permit in Canada, an applicant looking to benefit from this temporary public policy must meet the following requirements:

• You need to have valid status in Canada as a visitor on the day you apply
• You need to have a job offer that is supported by a labour market impact assessment (LMIA) or an LMIA-exempt offer of employment
• You need to submit an application for an employer-specific work permit no later than February 28, 2025
• And, you must meet all other standard admissibility criteria (i.e. criminal and medical admissibility)

Applicants who currently have visitor status but who have held a valid work permit in the past 12 months can follow special instructions on the IRCC website to get what’s called “interim work authorization” to start working for their new employer before their work permit application is finalized.

Job vacancies in Canada

Employers in Canada are facing significant labour shortages, during a period of economic expansion. By leaving this policy in place, foreign nationals can get a job in Canada while on a visitor visa, and not have to leave.

This not only supports newcomers who may want to work and eventually immigrate to Canada, but it also eases the burden on employers who have job vacancies.

According to Statistics Canada’s most recent job vacancies report , there are more than 800,000 job vacancies in Canada. The highest vacancy rates are in the accommodation and food services, as well as the healthcare sectors.

Are you looking for a job in Canada? Check out the listings on the Moving2Canada Job Board .

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About the author.

Shelby Thevenot

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Visitors inside Canada can apply for Work Permit until 2025

• 24 November 2023, 9:04 PM EST 24 November 2023, 9:04 PM EST
• Visitors , Canada Immigration News , Work Permit

Last Updated On 24 November 2023, 9:04 PM EST (Toronto Time)

Foreign nationals who are visiting Canada on a tourist or visitor visa can continue to be eligible to apply for work permits until February 28, 2025.

All the individuals reaching out to inquire about this topic: Yes, you can apply for a work permit from within Canada, but you need to fulfill the requirements to support your work permit application.

Anyone having a visitor visa and currently in Canada doesn’t mean they can just apply for a work permit by simply submitting any application to IRCC.

Such interested visitor visa holders need to satisfy all the work permit criteria, including a supporting Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) or a valid job offer (if offered, the job is LMIA-exempt) by the Canadian employer.

A temporary public policy initially announced in 2020 was extended on February 28, 2023, by the former immigration minister Sean Fraser.

As per the policy, foreign nationals who are visiting Canada and obtain a valid job offer will be able to apply for and receive a work visa 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.

IRCC Makes New Extension For Visitors to Work Permit Policy By 2 Years

The purpose of this policy

Keeping this interim policy in place gives Canadian firms another option, as many are facing major worker shortages in this era of economic development.

Prior to this temporary policy adjustment, anyone wishing to work here had to apply for their initial work visa from outside Canada.

If they were already inside the country with visitor status when they were authorized 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 effect.

Initially, this policy was only for the visitors who came before August 24 2020 and have a job offer in addition to other requirements.

But then this policy was amended to allow all visitor visa holders entering Canada without considering their date of entry.

Eligibility Criteria To Apply

An applicant looking forward to benefiting from this temporary public policy must:

• have a valid visitor status in Canada on the day they apply
• have a job offer backed by a labour market impact assessment (LMIA) or an LMIA-exempt offer of employment
• submit an application for an employer-specific work permit before February 28, 2025, and
• satisfy all other standard admissibility requirements

Candidates with visitor status who have already held a work permit in the last 12 months under this temporary policy are also eligible if they meet the below-listed criteria:

• When you apply, you must be physically present in Canada.
• You must remain in the country while your application is being processed.
• You will not be eligible for this public policy if you depart while your application is being processed.
• While applying for a work permit, you must be a visitor with valid status.
• If your visitor status has expired, you must restore it before applying for a work permit.
• applied for an employer-specific work permit between August 24, 2020, and February 28, 2025
• had a valid work permit in the 12 months before to applying for a new work permit

Visitors inside Canada who have held a valid work permit in the last 12 months can follow particular guidelines to obtain interim work permit.

LMIA Approved Jobs In Canada-Here Is How To Find One

Eligibility Requirements For Interim Authorization To Work

Interim Work Authorization is only granted to visitor visa holders who have held a valid work permit in the previous 12 months under this temporary arrangement.

After submitting an application for a work permit under this policy, applicants must complete the IRCC Web form with the message that IRCC has specified below.

When you fill out the  Your Inquiry  section, you must  copy the text  below.

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.

Make sure you fill out the sections in square brackets, including the

• work permit number (begins with a “U”)
• name of your employer
• title of your job

After completing the webform, you must wait for an email from IRCC informing you that you can start working.

This will be your interim work authorization before getting the work permit and this process could take up to 30 days (6 weeks).

What is the Canada visitor visa to work permit processing time?

Most of the online work permit applications from inside Canada are taking an average of 135 days as per the most recent official IRCC processing update .

Paper-based applications are being processed in an average of 17 days after being received by the IRCC.

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How much work experience do I need to be eligible for the Canadian Experience Class?

To be eligible for permanent residence under the Canadian Experience Class you must have completed, within the three years before you apply, at least:

• 30 hours/week for 12 months = 1 year full time (1,560 hours), OR
• 15 hours/week for 24 months = 1 year full time (1,560 hours)
• 30 hours/week for 12 months at more than 1 job = 1 year full time (1,560 hours)

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Five things you need to know about Labour Market Impact Assessments

Some foreign workers in Canada require a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) to work in Canada, while others are LMIA-exempt .

An LMIA is a document that some employers in Canada need before hiring a temporary foreign worker. This document must be obtained before the foreign national applies for their work permit . It verifies that a foreign worker will have either a positive or neutral effect on the Canadian labour market.

Note: LMIA-exempt jobs do not require this document for an employer to support a foreign national’s work permit application.

Click here for more general information about LMIAs.

Schedule a Free Work Permit Consultation with the Cohen Immigration Law Firm

After the recent announcement that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will be reducing Canada’s temporary resident population over the next three years, many foreign nationals who want to work in Canada may be trying to accelerate their journey to Canada.

Accordingly, this article will guide readers through the answers to five common questions that many foreign workers have about LMIAs.

What is an LMIA?

Beyond what was described above, LMIAs are documents that, when approved, confirm that the employer can hire a foreign worker.

Note: A positive LMIA is sometimes called a confirmation letter.

How do I know if I need an LMIA?

Unless eligible for an exemption, employers typically require an LMIA to hire foreign workers. LMIA requirements and exemptions depend on a multitude of factors. You can read more about LMIA requirements and exemptions here .

Why do I need another LMIA to extend my work permit?

When a foreign national applies for a work permit in Canada, they must ensure that their LMIA is valid. In other words, although a work permit can be issued for a longer period than the LMIA itself is valid, the foreign worker’s LMIA needs to be valid at the time they apply for a work permit.

If a foreign worker’s initial LMIA expires but an employer seeks to extend the worker’s permit in Canada, a new LMIA will be required before the employee can apply for another work permit or a work permit extension.

In addition, when an employer applies for a new LMIA, it is important to understand that Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) will begin the assessment process over again and treat the situation as a new application. As part of this new application, EDSC will have the opportunity, if necessary, to ensure there are still no Canadian citizens or permanent residents available to fill the position of a temporary foreign worker.

Do I need an LMIA to work in Canada as an entrepreneur?

Entrepreneurs do not require an LMIA to apply for a work permit in Canada. However, foreign nationals coming to work in Canada as entrepreneurs must prove that the business they intend to operate in Canada will either:

• Create or maintain significant social/cultural/economic benefits
• Maintain or create jobs for Canadian citizens or permanent residents

For more information on work permits for entrepreneurs, visit this dedicated webpage .

How can an LMIA help me obtain more CRS points as an Express Entry applicant?

Although Canadian Experience Class (CEC) candidates do not require an LMIA to be eligible for this economic immigration program, it may be beneficial for these candidates, and all Express Entry candidates generally, to still obtain an LMIA from their employer.

A valid job offer supported by an LMIA will enable the candidate to get additional Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points as an Express Entry applicant.

Accordingly, candidates who obtain an LMIA can improve their chances of receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for Canadian PR by IRCC.

Recent IRCC news about LMIAs

In a joint press conference on March 21, Immigration Minister Marc Miller and Employment Minister Randy Boissonnault announced several changes to Canada’s Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP).

Among these changes, the two ministers announced that the validity period of each LMIA would return to the pre-pandemic standard of six months. This change will take effect on May 1, 2024.

Prior to this policy revision, Canada temporarily made LMIAs valid for 12 months during the COVID-19 pandemic. This was a measure designed to “help ease labour market conditions” across the country.

For more information on this change and other TFWP announcements from March 21, click here .

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Can Spouse travel on Open Work Permit dependent on PGWP expiring in one month

• Thread starter giaana2567
• Start date Yesterday at 11:11 AM

Hello, Please find some background on myself: I came to Saskatchewan Canada on Post Graduate Study Permit from India and Post completing my studies last year and have been working full time in an IT job in Saskatchewan on PGWP. My initial expiry date for PGWP was July 2024, but there is an active application(pending approval) Post which it will be extended till Oct, 2024. There are also Closed Work permit and PR application(through Saskatchewan PNP) through my Employer in progress. I had applied for my spouse open work permit based on my PGWP initial expiry July 2024 and just today received their visa stamped in India with expiry of July 2024. My questions is can my spouse and kid travel to Canada, will they have issues at the airport Port of Entry considering the expiry of visa is one and half months from now. Note: My Spouse and Kid are also part of my PR application(based on current processing times the result may come in Q2 next year). Thanks in advance for checking and the help  

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New measure to support skilled temporary workers in Manitoba

From: Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada

News release

Regional economic immigration programs support the sustainable growth and economic stability of our country, and contribute significantly to the cultural diversity and enrichment of Canada.

May 8, 2024 — Ottawa —Regional economic immigration programs support the sustainable growth and economic stability of our country, and contribute significantly to the cultural diversity and enrichment of Canada.

Today, the Honourable Marc Miller, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, announced that Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has approved Manitoba’s request to extend temporary resident status for potential nominees identified under the province’s Provincial Nominee Program who have work permits that will expire in 2024. These individuals are mainly post-graduation work permit holders who are currently in the Manitoba Skilled Worker Provincial Nominee Program Expression of Interest pool. These skilled workers are filling key job vacancies in Manitoba, and actively contributing to the province’s economy and diverse cultural fabric.

This temporary measure will authorize 6,700 temporary workers identified and supported by Manitoba to continue working while the province processes their applications for the Provincial Nominee Program. Within 2 years, it is expected that eligible foreign nationals will receive an official nomination from Manitoba and eventually become permanent residents.

IRCC is committed to stabilizing permanent immigration while reducing the percentage of people in Canada who are here as temporary residents.

While this measure applies to Manitoba, IRCC is open to exploring options with other provinces and territories to transition a greater portion of current temporary residents to permanent residence and address their labour market needs. IRCC is committed to ongoing collaboration with provinces and territories to address immigration opportunities and challenges.

“Supporting Manitoba’s skilled workers will help the province meet their regional economic immigration goals. This measure supports our priority of transitioning a greater portion of current temporary residents to permanent residence and meeting local labour market needs. We remain open to collaborating with other provinces to transition more temporary residents to permanent residence, ensuring a strong and diverse workforce that has the skills, education and work experience to grow Canada’s economy.” – The Honourable Marc Miller, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship

“Manitoba’s future success depends on supporting new Canadians who have chosen to make our province their home. By working together to extend temporary resident status for potential nominees, we are taking proactive steps to retain the needed skills and knowledge to build a strong and diverse Manitoba workforce.” – The Honourable Malaya Marcelino, Minister of Labour and Immigration

Quick facts

Immigration accounts for almost 100% of Canada’s labour force growth, and, by 2032, it is projected to account for 100% of Canada’s population growth.

In 2022, about 20% of all permanent resident admissions came through the Provincial Nominee Program, directly supporting provinces and territories in meeting their labour market needs.

In 2023, the Provincial Nominee Program represents nearly 40% of planned economic admissions, making it the largest economic immigration program identified under the Immigration Levels Plan .

In 2023, nearly 157,000 people transitioned from worker status to permanent residence nationally.

For Manitoba specifically, more than 10,000 people transitioned from worker status to permanent residence in 2023.

Associated links

• Immigrate as a provincial nominee – Canada.ca
• Get a work permit – Canada.ca
• Temporary public policies: Temporary resident to permanent resident pathway – How to apply – Canada.ca

Bahoz Dara Aziz Press Secretary Minister’s Office Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada [email protected]

Media Relations Communications Sector Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada 613-952-1650 [email protected]

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