Eligible foreign nationals who have entered Canada as a visitor are allowed to apply for a work permit without leaving the country for another two years.

Canada continues to allow foreign nationals who are on a temporary resident visa and who have received a valid job offer, to apply for a work permit. They can apply while in the country, with the federal government extending the COVID-19 temporary policy by 2 years.

The temporary public policy announced during the first year of the COVID-19 was set to expire last month, but now has been extended by two years until February 28,2025. The federal government is hoping that extending the temporary policy will be beneficial for employers in Canada, as many are facing significant labour shortages.

“Visitors applying under this public policy who held a work permit within the last 12 months will also continue to be able to request interim work authorization to begin working for their new employer more quickly,” noted Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) in a statement.

Source: IRCC, March 1, 2023, Public policy allowing certain visitors in Canada to apply for an employer-specific work permit