Ottawa- Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has ended a temporary public policy that allowed visitors to apply for a work permit from within Canada, effective immediately.This change marks the end of a temporary policy introduced in August 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The now-defunct policy was initially implemented to assist visitors who were unable to return to their home countries due to global border closures. It allowed those on visitor visas to apply for work permits without leaving Canada. Additionally, individuals who had held a work permit within the previous 12 months but had transitioned to “visitor” status were able to legally work while waiting for a decision on their new work permit application.
However, Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has cited concerns that the policy was being exploited by “bad actors” who misled foreign nationals into working in Canada without proper authorization. This early rollback is part of IRCC’s broader efforts to combat immigration fraud and manage temporary resident levels.
The department emphasizes its commitment to protecting the integrity of Canada’s immigration system and ensuring that immigration pathways are not misused.