Maple News reports that Canada has officially ended a key pandemic-era policy allowing visitors to apply for work permits from within the country. This temporary measure, implemented during COVID-19, was originally designed to help newcomers stuck in Canada due to travel disruptions contribute to the labor market while awaiting their return home. The change officially took effect on August 28, 2024.
Under the now-lifted policy, visitors were able to request work authorization without leaving Canada—a move that helped fill critical labor shortages. However, with the labor market recovering significantly, Immigration Minister Marc Miller recently confirmed that over 138% of the jobs lost during the pandemic have been restored. As of June 2024, Canada’s unemployment rate sits at 6%, prompting the federal government to roll back several COVID-related immigration policies.
For individuals currently in Canada as visitors, this marks a turning point. Although applying for a work permit from within Canada is no longer an option, visitors still have lawful avenues to remain in the country longer, provided they adhere to regulatory requirements.
Maple News explains that holding visitor status in Canada, whether through a visitor visa or an electronic Travel Authorization (eTA), does not grant permission to work or study. Typically, visitor visas are valid for up to 10 years and allow for multiple entries, but each individual stay is usually restricted to 183 days unless otherwise specified by Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) officers at the border.
When entering Canada, some visitors may be issued a physical document called a visitor record. This document outlines how long they are permitted to stay and includes a date by which they must exit the country. Importantly, visitor records are separate from visitor visas and not all travelers receive one.
Visitors wishing to extend their stay must apply to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) before their current status expires. Applying for a visitor record extension allows the individual to remain in Canada without falling out of legal status.
While the closure of the visitor-to-worker pathway is a setback for some, Maple News encourages individuals to explore other immigration streams—such as study permits, work visas obtained from abroad, or broader immigration programs like Express Entry—depending on eligibility.
The federal government continues to shift its immigration policies back to pre-pandemic norms, and maintaining lawful status is now more important than ever for foreign nationals currently in Canada as tourists.