Updated on September 23, 2024 by canadian immigration experts
Canadian Government released more information on who can apply for employer-specific work-permit applications in Canada.
Since August 25, 2020, Immigration Canada has allowed in-Canada applications for work permit for temporary residents. In the past, the in-Canada option was not available for temporary residents.
This is a temporary measure to reflect the impact of COVID-19 on the temporary residents who have been stuck in Canada since the onset of the pandemic.
To qualify for in-Canada application, you must meet the following main requirements:
- Have valid temporary status in Canada
- Have been in Canada on August 24 and have remained in Canada
- Have a job offer
- Submit an application for an LMIA-based or LMIA-exempt work permit before March 31, 2021.
The temporary residents may be allowed to work while the Government is considering their work permit application. To be eligible to apply for employer-specific work permit, the foreign national must be on a legal visitor status or implied Status in Canada.
Temporary workers who changed their status to “visitor” are also authorized to work subject to meeting the following requirements:
- They are on valid temporary status as a visitor, and they have not left Canada since August 24, 2020
- They had a work permit within 12 months from the time of submitting their work permit application
- Their work permit application must be employer-based (it can be LMIA-based or LMIA-exempt)
- They have applied to Immigration Canada for interim authorization to work via Webform.
Such individuals must mention in their Webform application that they are requesting interim authorization to work pending approval of their work permit under the new policy.
