Visitors in Canada can continue to apply for work permits while in the country, with the Trudeau-government extending the temporary policy by 2 years.
Visitors applying under this policy who held a work permit within the last 12 months will also continue to be able to request interim work authorization to begin working for their new employer more quickly. Current policy set to expire at the end of February, the COVID-era temporary policy has been extended by 2 years, until February 28, 2025.
“Leaving this temporary policy in place makes visitors an option for employers in Canada, as many are facing significant labour shortages during this period of economic expansion,” the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) said.
As of January, Canada’s rate of unemployment was at 5%. Statistics Canada data from December 2022, showed there was an overall decrease in the number of vacancies to 848,000 from over one million earlier in the year.
