Canada is known for its immigration-friendly policies and the Canadian government recently announced that visitors in the country who have a valid job offer no longer have to leave Canada but can apply for a work permit extension for another 2 years. This policy will last until February 28th 2025 and what this means is that they can stay in Canada for another 4 years.
This new policy allows eligible foreign citizens with a valid temporary residence status as visitors of Canada to be able to apply for a work permit extension from inside Canada. It allows eligible former temporary foreign citizens to have a job while their work permit extension application is pending
And finally, it allows foreign nationals to be exempted from the requirements that they will not get a work permit if they have not complied with certain conditions about temporary residence.
Requirements for visitors to apply for a work permit extension
- As a candidate, you must be in Canada with a valid temporary residence status at the time you are submitting your application for your work permit extension.
- Making use of the application to change conditions, Extend my Stay or Remain in Canada as a Worker (IMM5710), a candidate must have submitted an application for Employer-Specific Work Permits.
- Candidates must have stayed in Canada and intends to remain in Canada since submitting the application and also throughout the time their work permit is being processed.
- Candidates must have submitted the application on or before February 28th 2025 Interim Authorisation to Work Eligibility Requirements;
You must have a valid temporary resident status.
As of the time you are submitting the application for your work permit extension.
You must have an Authorization
You must have requested that authorization to work should be applicable until a decision is made on your work permit application
You Must Remain In Canada
You must remain in Canada all through the processing period of your work permit application
Work For An Employer
You must work for an employer or an occupation that is specified by LMIA or LMIA-exempt offer of employment that is included in your work permit application
Apply For Interim Work Authorization
Using the IRCC web form, you must have applied to IRCC for the interim authorisation to work
Valid Work Permit
You must have held a valid work permit for the 1 year before the date you submitted your work permit application.
Did you know that before the covid-19 era, visitors who travelled to Canada would have to leave Canada after the visa validity expired? Which is usually 2 years, also they could not apply for a work permit and still remain in Canada. They would usually have to leave the country after applying for a work permit and then come back after the work permit has been approved. The work permits could only take effect after they have re-entered Canada.
This policy was only to last till February 2023 however with this news, it means that with the extension, the policy will now last until 2025 and visitors in Canada will not have to leave Canada after applying for a work permit and can instead stay while the application is been processed.
Canada has extended this policy because it is facing a huge level of labour shortage right now and employers are looking for people that fit in and can do the jobs that are available well.
How to apply for a work permit in Canada
There are two types of work permits. They are;
Employer-Specific Work Permit
Employer Specific Work Permit allows you to work in Canada based on the conditions on your work permits which are the location where you can work, the duration that you can work for, and the name of the specific employer you can work for. Start your application here
To be able to apply for an employer-specific work permit, you must get a copy of your employment contract, a copy of a labour market impact assessment (LMIA), and an offer of employment number for (LMIA exempt workers.)
You can click here to read about jobs that are in high demand in Canada.
Open work permit
An open work permit allows you to work for any employer in Canada except for an employer that is listed as ineligible on the list of employers who have failed to comply with the conditions or employers that regularly offer erotic dance, escort services, erotic massages and striptease.
The work permits allow you to migrate with your common-law partner or spouse and dependants’ children and also they are able to study or leave and work.
Documents that you will need for your work permit
You will need your international passport
You will need your visitor visa
Police clearance certificates
medical exam clearance certificate
Applicant eligibility requirement
Proof of funds
You have to show proof that you have enough money to care for yourself and your family members while you’re in Canada
Proof of leaving
You need to be able to prove to an officer that you intend to leave Canada when your work permit expires
Clear Records
You need to have no record of criminal activity and maybe ask to submit a police clearance certificate
Health insurance
You need to be in good health and have a medical exam if it is necessary and also has health insurance.