To meet the employer hiring needs in the Canadian labor market during the pandemic, the immigration department introduced a temporary policy on August 24, 2020, allowing the conversion of in-country tourist visas to work permits. This temporary policy has been extended multiple times and is now further extended until February 28, 2023.
This means that individuals holding tourist visas in Canada can still submit work permit applications within the country for the next year if they have a Job Offer supported by either an LMIA or LMIA-exemption. The application requirements are generally the same as the previous policy:
1. Applicants must be inside Canada with valid visitor status, including implied status for extensions.
2. Submit a closed work permit application supported by an LMIA or LMIA-exempt job offer by February 28, 2023.
3. Stay in Canada and maintain legal status after submitting the application.
4. The application should have a valid LMIA or LMIA-exempt job offer, such as those supported by provincial nominations under employer-sponsored categories.
Before this policy was introduced, individuals entering Canada with a tourist visa, even if they had an LMIA or LMIA-exempt job offer, could not apply for a work permit within the country and had to submit their applications outside Canada or go to the U.S.-Canada border to obtain a work permit. This policy allows applicants to submit their work permit applications within Canada, avoiding the hassle of leaving the country. However, it's important to note that this type of work permit is not guaranteed and may occasionally depend on factors like the applicant's work background and language skills as assessed by the visa officer.
