IRCC extends policy that allows visitors to obtain work permits if they have valid job offers

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has announced that any foreign national who receives a job offer while in Canada will be able to apply for, and receive, a work permit.

This is an extension of the COVID-19-era temporary public policy that was set to expire today.

To be eligible to apply, 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 a job offer that is supported by a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) or an LMIA-exempt offer of employment
• submit an application for an employer-specific work permit no later than February 28, 2025
• meet all other standard admissibility criteria.

A valid job offer is defined as a written offer of a full-time, non-seasonal job for one year or more if you are accepted as a permanent resident and must have a positive or neutral Labour Market Impact Assessment from Employment and Social Development Canada (or the job is LMIA-exempt).