Extension of public policy allowing visitors to apply for work permits inside Canada during the COVID-19 pandemic
Effective April 1, 2021, an applicant looking to benefit from this temporary public policy must
have valid status in Canada as a visitor on the day they apply
have remained in Canada with valid status
have a valid job offer
submit an in-Canada application for an employer-specific work permit that is supported by a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) or an LMIA-exempt offer of employment, no later than August 31, 2021
meet all other standard admissibility criteria
This temporary public policy also provides the opportunity for applicants who meet these criteria and who had a valid work permit in the past 12 months to begin working for their new employer before their work permit application has been fully approved. To do so, they need to follow the steps on how to get authorization to work while they wait for approval.