Canada ends visitor-to-work permit policy

The Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada has ended a temporary public policy that allowed visitors to apply for a work permit from within Canada.

The IRCC introduced the policy in August 2020 to help visitors who were unable to leave the country due to COVID-19 pandemic–related travel restrictions.

Under the policy, visitors in Canada could apply for a work permit without having to leave the country.

In addition, foreign nationals who had held a work permit in the previous 12 months but changed their status in Canada to “visitor” could apply to work legally in Canada while waiting for a decision on their new work permit application.

“While the temporary policy was set to expire on February 28, 2025, the IRCC is ending the policy as part of our overall efforts to recalibrate the number of temporary residents in Canada and preserve the integrity of the immigration system,” the Canadian government said in a statement published on its website on Wednesday.

The IRCC was also aware that “some bad actors were using the policy to mislead foreign nationals into working in Canada without authorisation.”

It however noted that it would continue to process applications submitted before August 28, 2024, under the policy.

The development is likely to have a huge impact on intending migrants including Nigerians who might want to explore the avenue to seek a stay in the country.

The development is also coming amid tensions that heightened earlier this week when tens of thousands of international students took to the streets across Canada to protest new immigration policies introduced by the government that could see about 70,000 of them deported.

Canada is a destination for many Nigerians seeking greener pastures and education, especially in the wave of ‘Japa’ that has hit the country.