Altec’s Insight | End of Visitor-to-Worker Transition? What Other Options Are Available?

Given Canada’s recent announcement that it will no longer process work permit applications for individuals on visitor status, some may be wondering what other options remain.

As of August 28, visitors in Canada were able to apply for work permits while inside the country as part of a temporary measure introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic. This allowed new immigrants stranded in Canada due to travel restrictions to work while waiting to return home, filling urgent vacancies in the national workforce.

Since then, Canada’s Immigration Minister, Marc Miller, reported that 138% of the jobs lost during the pandemic have been recovered, and the current unemployment rate (as of June 2024) is 6%. As a result, Canada has ended many of the temporary measures introduced during the pandemic. With the expiration of these measures, it may now be more difficult to obtain a work permit if you enter Canada as a visitor. However, there are still legal ways to remain in the country.

Visitors to Canada

Arriving in Canada as a visitor does not grant you the right to work or study in the country, and you must leave by the expiration date of your visitor record.

Visitor visas are issued by Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). Not all nationalities require a visa to visit Canada. Some foreign nationals may be eligible to enter Canada via an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA). In most cases, though there are some exceptions, a visitor visa is typically valid for up to 10 years. Most visitor visas allow recipients to enter Canada multiple times.

Visitor Record

After arriving in Canada, foreign nationals visiting Canada typically receive a visitor record issued by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) at the port of entry—though this is not always mandatory.

A visitor record is a document separate from your passport. Typically, a visitor record allows you to legally stay in Canada for 183 days. Border officers may specify a shorter stay. A visitor record will have an expiration date, which indicates when you must leave Canada.

If you find that you want to stay in Canada longer than your current status allows, you can apply to extend your visitor record. To do so, you must submit a separate application to IRCC before your current status expires.

To extend your temporary visitor status in Canada, you must apply at least 30 days before your current status expires.

If Your Temporary Resident Status Expires

IRCC states that if your temporary resident status (such as a work permit, visitor visa, or study permit) has expired, you are no longer eligible to apply for an extension. However, you may be able to apply to restore your status if you do so within 90 days of the expiry. If more than 90 days have passed, you must leave Canada.

Expiring Work and Study Permits

Workers or students in Canada may apply to extend their worker or student status and continue to stay in Canada. They must meet the eligibility requirements to apply for the corresponding permit.

From the moment IRCC receives your application until they make a decision, as long as you remain in Canada, you will have what is known as “maintained status.” This allows you to continue working or studying in Canada while IRCC processes your application.

You can prove that you are still maintaining your status by applying for an extension of your permit.

What Other Options Are Available?

1. Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) Supported Work Permit

A Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) is a document that a Canadian employer needs to obtain before hiring a foreign worker. The LMIA demonstrates that the employer tried to find a Canadian citizen or permanent resident for the job but was unsuccessful. After the employer receives a positive LMIA, the foreign worker can apply for a work permit.

To apply for a work permit under this option:

• Employer Responsibility: The Canadian employer must submit an application to Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) for an LMIA. They must provide proof of their recruitment efforts to hire Canadians or permanent residents.

• Foreign Worker Application: After the LMIA is approved, the foreign worker (in this case, the visitor) must leave Canada to apply for a work permit from outside the country. The work permit application requires the LMIA, a valid job offer, and compliance with other admissibility requirements, such as health and security checks.

This option is more commonly used for positions in industries facing labor shortages, such as healthcare, construction, and agriculture.

2. International Mobility Program (IMP)

The International Mobility Program (IMP) allows employers to hire foreign nationals without an LMIA if they meet specific criteria. This is an LMIA-exempt program, meaning employers are not required to demonstrate that they have made efforts to hire a Canadian or permanent resident.

Eligible categories under the IMP include:

• Intra-Company Transfers: If you’re being transferred from a multinational company to a Canadian branch, you may be eligible for a work permit under the IMP.

• International Agreements: This includes workers eligible under agreements like CUSMA (formerly NAFTA), which allows for simplified work permits for professionals in the U.S. and Mexico.

• Significant Benefit to Canada: Some workers can qualify if they are deemed to bring significant social, cultural, or economic benefits to Canada.

While visitors in Canada must leave the country to apply for this work permit, they can continue to be considered for job offers under IMP if they qualify for these exemptions.

3. Study Permit and Work Eligibility

Another option for foreign nationals on a visitor visa is to apply for a study permit. Studying in Canada can open up several pathways to work during and after your education:

• On-Campus and Off-Campus Work: International students holding a valid study permit can work on-campus without a separate work permit. They may also work off-campus for up to 20 hours per week during the academic year and full-time during scheduled breaks (e.g., summer or winter vacations)​(

• Post-Graduation Work Permit Program (PGWPP): After completing an eligible study program at a Canadian designated learning institution (DLI), graduates can apply for a post-graduation work permit (PGWP). This permit allows them to work for any employer in Canada and gain valuable Canadian work experience, which can later help in applying for permanent residence under programs like the Canadian Experience Class (CEC)​(

Each of these options provides a path for visitors to transition into the Canadian workforce, although they now require applying from outside of Canada.

For more detailed information and eligibility requirements, you can visit the IRCC website.

At Altec Global, we are dedicated to helping individuals achieve their Canadian immigration dreams, no matter how challenging the circumstances may seem. If you need immigration assistance, we encourage you to contact our team for a personalized assessment.