Effective 28 August 2024, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has ended a temporary public policy that permitted visitors to apply for a work permit from within Canada.
The COVID-era measure was created to mitigate the financial difficulties faced by foreigners stuck in the country due to border restrictions and to fill labour shortages caused by the pandemic. Under the policy, visitors in Canada could apply for a work permit without having to leave the country. It also allowed foreign nationals with a previous work permit (within 12 months) who changed their status in the country to “visitor” to apply for work legally in Canada while waiting for a decision on their new application.
The policy was originally set to expire on 28 February 2025. However, the government has decided to end it as part of its “overall efforts to calibrate the number of temporary residents in Canada and preserve the integrity of the immigration system.” That said, IRCC will continue to process applications submitted before 28 August 2024 under the policy.
Responding to “bad actors”
The IRCC noted that the abrupt end to the policy was also due to “bad actors” who were using the temporary policy to mislead foreigners into working in Canada without authorisation. The department has already taken steps to crack down on widespread immigration fraud. In January 2024, it introduced an online portal for Designated Learning Institutions (DLIs) to verify letters of acceptance (LOAs) that international students submit in support of their study permit application. This comes after a large number of students were found to be in Canada with false LOAs – without students’ knowledge that their letters were fake.
Steps to manage immigration growth
Canada continues to update its policies to manage the country’s immigration growth and respond to affordability and labour challenges at the domestic level. Many of its changes have impacted the international education and foreign labour sectors, with rules restricting a surge from foreign entrants.
Earlier this year, the government imposed a two-year cap on the number of new study permits to be issued to international students. It also implemented changes to work rules surrounding foreigners studying in the country. Along with the ending of the COVID policy, IRCC also recently announced restrictions under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP), including pausing the processing of some applications and reducing the maximum term of employment for workers.
Overall, the Canadian government has made clear its commitment to support a more sustainable immigration population. The measures that the country has established are clear steps towards balancing the needs of the industry and the current socio-economic status of the country.
Keep an eye on our newsroom to stay updated on the latest news in Canada. For more information about how to navigate policy changes in the country for your students, get in touch with our business development experts today.
