The Canadian government has stated that foreign nationals who are visiting the country and receive valid job offers will be able to apply for and receive work permits without having to leave the country.
The temporary measure put in place to address the country’s labor shortage was set to expire on February 28, 2023. The Canadian government announced that it has been extended by two years, until February 28, 2025.
According to a statement on the Canadian Immigration website, this temporary policy allows visitors to be considered by Canadian employers, who are facing significant labor shortages during this period of economic expansion. It also stated that visitors applying under this public policy who have held a work permit within the last 12 months will be able to request interim work authorization in order to begin working for their new employer sooner.
What has changed?
Prior to this temporary policy change, those seeking to work in Canada had to apply for their initial work permit before traveling to Canada.
- If they were already in Canada with visitor status when they were approved for a work permit, they would need to leave Canada to be issued their work permit.
- But with the new policy in place, leaving Canada is no longer necessary.
Eligibility criteria.
The Canadian government stated that an applicant seeking to benefit from this temporary public policy must:
- Have valid status in Canada as a visitor on the day they apply.
- Have a job offer that is supported by a labour market impact assessment (LMIA) or an LMIA-exempt offer of employment.
- Apply for an employer-specific work permit no later than February 28, 2025.
- Meet all other standard admissibility criteria.
It also stated that applicants with visitor status who have held a valid work permit in the previous 12 months can follow special instructions to obtain interim work authorization and begin working for their new employer before their work permit application is finalized.
What it means for Nigerians.
For many Nigerians who want to relocate to Canada for work, this means they can come as visitors and then apply for jobs. If you are fortunate enough to find work during your visit, you can apply for a work permit without having to return home.
