In a move to “recalibrate the number of temporary residents in Canada” and preserve the integrity of the immigration system, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has discontinued the policy allowing visitor visa holders to apply for work permits within the country.
This change, effective immediately, aims to prevent exploitation by “bad actors” who misled foreign nationals into working without authorization.
Introduced in August 2020, the policy was meant to assist visitors stranded in Canada due to COVID-19 border closures.
However, with the policy’s discontinuation, visitors must now apply for work permits from outside Canada.
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Applications submitted before August 28, 2024, will still be processed under the previous policy.
This development comes amidst ongoing protests by international students, who are concerned about new immigration policies that could lead to deportations.
The Canadian government has capped student visas, aiming to reduce foreign student intake by 35% to alleviate pressures on housing, unemployment, and public services.
