Canada has officially ended a policy that allowed visitors on temporary visas to apply for work permits within the country. The Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced the decision on Wednesday, marking a significant shift in the country’s immigration framework.
This policy, initially introduced in August 2020 to assist visitors stranded in Canada due to COVID-19 border closures, enabled visitors to apply for work permits without leaving the country. It also allowed individuals who had held work permits within the past 12 months and had transitioned to visitor status to legally work in Canada while awaiting a decision on their new permit application.
The IRCC noted that the policy, originally set to expire in February 2025, is being discontinued as part of broader efforts to manage the number of temporary residents and maintain the integrity of Canada’s immigration system. The agency cited concerns that the policy was being exploited by “bad actors” who were misleading foreign nationals into unauthorized work.
While the policy is ending immediately, the IRCC clarified that it would continue processing applications submitted before August 28, 2024.
This development comes amid growing tensions related to recent immigration reforms in Canada, which have sparked widespread protests, particularly among international students. The new reforms include a cap on student visas, expected to reduce the intake of foreign students by 35%, and the abolition of the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) program. These changes have raised concerns about potential deportations, with around 70,000 international students fearing they may be forced to leave the country once their work permits expire at the end of the year.
The Canadian government’s stance is that these measures are necessary to address challenges related to housing, unemployment, and public services, but they have been met with significant opposition from student advocacy groups and other stakeholders.
