28 August: The Canadian government has abruptly ended a COVID-era policy that allowed visitors to apply for work permits from within the country. This special measure, which was initially set to expire in February 2025, was introduced to help visitors who were stranded in Canada due to border closures during the pandemic and to address labor shortages.
The Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced that the cancellation of the policy is part of efforts to manage the number of temporary residents and protect the integrity of the immigration system. The policy had been criticized for contributing to a surge in temporary residents and was reportedly being misused by some to work in Canada without proper authorization.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government has faced growing pressure to slow immigration amid global economic challenges and changes in the domestic labor market. Earlier this year, the government capped the issuance of new study permits for international students and tightened rules for employers hiring temporary foreign workers, aiming to reduce the proportion of temporary residents in Canada from 6.1% to 5% over the next three years.
During the pandemic, various policies were relaxed to help international students, migrant workers, and individuals fleeing conflicts in Ukraine and Afghanistan. These measures led to a significant increase in the temporary resident population, which doubled to 2.8 million in the past two years.
Critics argue that allowing visitors to apply for work permits encouraged some foreign nationals to enter Canada under the guise of tourism while seeking employment and a potential path to permanent residency. As a result, border officials have reportedly increased scrutiny at entry points, particularly airports, to prevent abuse of the system, forcing some to claim asylum upon arrival to remain in the country.
Advocates for migrant workers, such as Chris Ramsaroop from Justice for Migrant Workers, have expressed concerns that the policy’s repeal will make it more challenging for temporary foreign workers to maintain their employment status in Canada when their work authorization expires or when they are between jobs.
The change does not affect those who are still eligible to apply for work permits from within Canada, such as international students and their families, refugee claimants, in-Canada permanent resident applicants, and Mexican citizens.
