The policy will remain in effect until February 28, 2025.
The IRCC (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada) announced a public policy extension that would allow foreign nationals visiting Canada the opportunity to apply for a work permits while in Canada. This policy was first introduced during the covid-era, allowing foreign nationals the opportunity to apply for a work permit without having to leave Canada, which greatly benefited employers as they were able to find workers who were ready to begin employment as they were already in Canada.
Originally this public policy was set to expire in February 2023, however with the temporary extension, the policy will now be extended until February 2025.
In order to be eligible under this public policy, foreign nationals in Canada would need to apply for a work permit and receive a valid job offer from a prospective employer. A job offer must meet the criteria of eligibility including that the written offer is a minimum of one year of employment in a full-time non-seasonal work setting, and the job offer must be supported by LMIA or LMIA-exempt offer of employment.
A Labour Market Impact Assessment addresses key concerns in the labour market by confirming through the application process the need to hire foreign workers to fulfill an employment opportunity as the job has remained vacant and was unable to be filled with a Canadian worker or permanent resident. A positive LMIA result would confirm that there is a labour shortage and allow the employer the opportunity to hire a foreign national to temporarily fill this position.
This is different from a LMIA-exempt offer which allow foreign workers the opportunity to apply for a job position with a specific employer, however they do not require a positive LMIA application. Known as the International Mobility Program (IMP), this program was created to promote Canada’s social, economic, and cultural interests by allowing expedited work permits for foreign workers deemed to have a future significant impact and benefit on Canada’s society. As a result, the foreign worker becomes exempt from obtaining a positive LMIA from their future employer.
Candidates must also prove a valid visitor status in Canada when applying. If applicants received a valid work permit within the past 12 months, they could request interim work authorization which would allow the applicant to begin working with the employer, prior to the work permit application being finalized.
This public policy extension was announced as a tool to continue to fill job vacancies within the Canadian labour market and reduce the effects of labour shortages. From the onset of Covid, Canada has done a good job of introducing public policy framework which encourages foreign nationals to join the labour market, and as of January, Canada’s unemployment rate stands low at 5% to considerable higher periods.
If you need help in obtaining your work permit, book a consultation with Brace Law to help explore available options and navigate this process together. With Brace Law, you can Consider It Handled.
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