Apply for a Work Visa While Visiting Canada

By Ella Bergquist August 25, 2020 (Updated March 6, 2023) 2 min. read
Visitor Visa to Work Visa

Many people visit Canada and fall in love with its charm. There are many job opportunities that visitors come across and they may wonder, “Can I change my visitor visa to a work visa to stay in Canada longer?”. The answer used to be, “not really” but now there have been some changes that allow visitors to become temporary workers in Canada.

New Rules Allowing Visitors to Stay in Canada While Applying for Canada Work Permit

February 28, 2023 Update: Canada extends the temporary policy stating foreign nationals who are visiting Canada can apply for a work permit and work in the country if they receive a valid job offer without leaving the country.

On August 24, 2020 the IRCC released news that intends to benefit employers who are still facing difficulty finding workers. Visitors who are currently in Canada and have a valid job offer are able to apply for an employer-specific work permit and if approve can start working without leaving the country.

Minister of Immigration, Marco E.L. Mendicino announced that this is a temporary policy change that takes effect immediately. During the COVID-19 pandemic, many temporary residents who were stuck in Canada were encouraged to maintain a legal status. With Canada and many other countries closing their borders it made it impossible to follow the current rules of the Canadian work permit.

“We have heard from employers who continue to face challenges recruiting and hiring the workers they need during the pandemic. At the same time, some visitors in Canada may be able to contribute their skills where there are labour shortages. The measures introduced today will now allow visitors to apply for work permits without having to leave the country first. This exemption from the normal temporary work permit requirements is aimed at removing barriers to create a more agile workforce that leverages visitors with the skills and experience to accelerate our economic recovery.”

—The Honourable Marco E.L. Mendicino, P.C., M.P., Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship

Eligibility for the Temporary Visitor Visa to Work Visa Policy

In order to qualify for this temporary offer an applicant must meet the following requirements:

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Ljiljana Pavkov

I have nothing but praise! The entire team was extremely professional, knowledgeable, and kind, especially Mansi Sanghiv. She patiently explained everything I needed to know and resolved all of my concerns. I felt safe and well taken care of throughout the entire process. I am extremely satisfied with the service and experience, and I wholeheartedly recommend them to anyone looking for quality, dedication, and trust.

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Lisanne Cholette

Mansi has been helping me navigate through a new chapter in my life. It has been a huge comfort to be able to lean on her knowledge and expertise and I would highly recommend her to anyone!

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BERLITA COLLADO

I am so very thankful to the VISAPACE team for making it all come true and possible from my Open Work Permit to my Permanent Residence, you make it all happen .Thank you very much from the bottom of my heart , Thank you for being part of my achievements. Now I am now a Permanent Residence through the effort, power and knowledge of VISAPLACE LEGAL TEAM.
Sending you my best appreciation and thank you.

Berlie Collado

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Shahrzad Sh

“I truly want to thank Mansi. Her patience and thoughtful advices made a big difference for me. Her recommendations were not only helpful but also gave me clearer insight. Words can’t fully express how grateful I am for her support.”

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kevin geoffrey

Visa place helped me with my daughter’s sponsorship 3 years ago. Last week I contacted them for some clarification on a different matter. It was about an issue which technically was a problem of CIC’s software glitch and had nothing to do with Visa Place.
Yet Reena Sandu was assigned for my case. she helped me with enthusiasm and showed no hesitation despite me being an ex-client from 3 years ago.
I was very happy that even after 3 years of finishing business, Visa Place were respectful of their clients. Special thanks again to Reena for her enthusiasm and support.

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Nessie Leigh Ilarde

Thank you very much for helping me get my new visa! I appreciate Ms. Felicita and her colleagues for guiding us through the process making sure that everything is precise. Highly recommend your firm. Thanks again 🙂

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parker ellis

Mansi Sanghvi has been nothing for of remarkable for me. I have been dealing with a visa, immigration issues , and any time I have to call her, she has been there to answer any questions. Has answers to every question and is there to HELP YOU. Truly could not recommend her more.