On August 28, IRCC announced that temporary visitors in Canada cannot apply for work permits from within the country. This change reverses a policy that allowed visitors to apply for work permits without leaving Canada, which was put in place during the COVID-19 pandemic to help those who were unable to return home. The policy also allowed people who had recently held work permits to work legally while waiting for their new work permit applications to be processed.
The policy was originally scheduled to end on February 28, 2025. However, IRCC has decided to end it now to manage the number of temporary residents in Canada and maintain the integrity of the immigration system. Applications submitted under the policy before August 28 will still be processed.
Why Is This Change Happening?
IRCC is ending the policy early because it found that some people were using it illegally to help foreign nationals work in Canada without permission. This is part of IRCC’s efforts to stop immigration fraud and reduce the number of temporary residents in Canada. For example, last year, 700 Indian students were found to be in Canada with fake letters of acceptance. IRCC now requires schools to verify these letters and has limited the number of international students Canada can accept.
What Does This Mean for the Future of Canada Work Permits?
Canada is making significant changes to its temporary foreign worker program to reduce the number of foreign workers in the country. The government has paused processing some work permit applications, limited the number of foreign workers employers can hire, and shortened the maximum length of employment for low-wage workers. These changes are part of a broader effort to roll back pandemic-era policies that made it easier for employers to hire foreign workers. The government is also considering reducing the number of permanent residents coming to Canada in the future.
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