Temporary residents with visitor status to apply for a work permit from within Canada.

Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) have extended the COVID-19 public policy allowing certain temporary residents with visitor status to apply for a work permit from within Canada. This public policy originally took effect on August 24, 2020, until March 31, 2021, but on April 1, 2021, IRCC extended it until August 31, 2021.

For the eligibility requirements, foreign national must meet the following:

1. is in Canada with valid temporary resident status as a visitor, including status extensions under subsection 183(5) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (IRPR), that is, maintained status, at the time of work permit application submission

2. has submitted an employer-specific work permit application

3. has remained in Canada with status since application submission

4. submitted the application on or before August 31, 2021

If the application is approved, the new status and period of authorized stay will apply.

If the application is refused, when the status is extended under subsection R183(5), the expiry date of the period of authorized stay becomes the decision date on the application submitted.

All in-Canada work permit applications must be submitted electronically.