Maple News reports that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has extended its temporary policy allowing visitors in Canada to apply for employer-specific work permits without the need to leave the country. Initially introduced in August 2020 as a pandemic response measure, the program will now remain in effect until February 28, 2022.
This exceptional policy allows those currently in Canada on valid visitor status — including individuals who have transitioned to ‘maintained status’ — to apply for a work permit directly from within the country. Prior to this regulatory change, visitors typically had to leave Canada before applying for such permits.
The intent behind this move was twofold: to support Canadian employers grappling with acute labour shortages and to offer relief to visitors whose stay was disrupted by travel limitations during the COVID-19 pandemic. Many temporary residents were caught in limbo, unable to return home or renew expired work permits due to job losses or other complications.
Originally, eligibility was restricted to visitors who entered Canada before August 24, 2020. However, IRCC has relaxed this condition, opening the opportunity to all visitors regardless of their arrival date, provided they are still in Canada with valid status.
To qualify for a work permit under this policy, applicants must be physically present in Canada, have valid visitor status, and submit an employer-specific permit application on or before February 28, 2022. Applicants must maintain their legal status throughout the process.
Additionally, those who previously held a Canadian work permit within the past 12 months may apply for interim work authorization. This allows them to begin working for their prospective employer while awaiting a decision. To obtain this interim approval, they must fill out a specific web form, remain in Canada with valid status, and work in the occupation and employer stated on their application.
This extension comes as Canada continues to face record-high job vacancies. Labour market data from June showed 815,800 open positions — the highest number since tracking began in 2020. Economists warn that these workforce gaps may persist or worsen in the short term, adding urgency to government efforts to expand the eligible labour pool.
As international travel restrictions have eased — particularly for fully vaccinated U.S. and international travellers — more visitors are now entering Canada. This policy shift empowers them to contribute to the Canadian economy during a period of high demand for workers, supporting both individual career goals and national recovery.