Canada ended the policy allowing visitors to apply for work permits

On September 9, 2024, Canada announced the termination of a public policy that allowed certain visitors to apply for employer-specific work permits in the country. The policy, which came into effect on August 24, 2020, and ended on August 28, 2024, had three main goals: to allow eligible visitors to apply for work permits within Canada with job offers, to exempt them from certain temporary residence compliance requirements, and to let former temporary workers continue working during application processing. This policy was part of Canada’s efforts to address labour shortages and support economic recovery during the COVID-19 pandemic. The termination of this policy marks a significant shift in Canada’s approach to temporary foreign workers and visitor work permits. As a result, visitors to Canada will now need to follow standard procedures for obtaining work permits.