Published: August 31, 2024
On August 28, 2024, IRCC ended the temporary public policy that had allowed certain visitors in Canada to apply for employer-supported work permits from inside Canada. The change was immediate.
What the temporary policy had done
Introduced during the pandemic, the policy created exemptions for eligible visitors who would otherwise have been required to apply from outside Canada. It also contained a measure under which certain former work-permit holders could request interim authorization to work while a new application was processed.
IRCC confirmed that applications submitted before August 28, 2024 would continue to be processed under the former policy. A person who had not applied by that date could not rely on the policy merely because a job offer or labour-market approval had already been obtained.
What ending the policy did not mean
It did not eliminate every possible in-Canada work-permit application. Eligibility depends on the specific regulatory provision, public policy or program. Nor did visitor status itself authorize work. A foreign national must have separate work authorization before beginning employment.
Historical suggestions about “flagpoling” should also be treated cautiously. Canada later restricted and then broadly ended routine flagpoling for work and study permits. Current applications should be planned through the process that is legally available now, not a border practice described in an older post.
Practical response
- Identify the exact work-permit category and where the application may legally be made.
- Maintain valid temporary status while in Canada.
- Do not begin work based only on an offer, LMIA or pending application.
- Review whether restoration or another status step is required.
Official source: IRCC — end of the visitor-to-work public policy.
Weiting Wang 