Temporary residents in Canada on a visitor visa are no longer permitted to apply for a work permit from within Canada.

The policy was introduced in August 2020 to assist visitors in Canada who were unable to return home because of border closures related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Under the policy, they could apply for a work permit without having to leave Canada. Also, anyone who had held a work permit within the preceding 12 months but had changed their immigrations status to “visitor” became eligible to “work legally in Canada while waiting for a decision on their new work permit application.”

Originally set to end on February 28, 2025, the policy is now being terminated early. According to Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), this decision is part of their broader strategy to adjust the number of temporary residents and maintain the integrity of the immigration system.