Convert Canada Visit Visa into Work Permit | Guidelines

The Government of Canada, through Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, announced on February 28, 2023, that applicants with a valid Canadian visitor visa can now convert their visa into a work permit without leaving Canada. This temporary policy has been extended for an additional two years and will remain in effect until February 28, 2025. For those applicants who want to work in Canada, this is a significant opportunity to convert a Canada visit visa into a work permit. This post will guide you through the process of changing your Canadian visitor visa to a work permit.

Prior to this temporary policy, individuals already in Canada on a visitor status who were approved for a work permit were required to leave the country to receive their work permit. With this new policy, exiting Canada is no longer necessary. Under this temporary policy, all foreign nationals in Canada on visitor status who receive a valid job offer can apply for and obtain a work permit without having to leave the country.

For more information on the Canada visit visa work permit eligibility and the application process to change your visa status, keep reading below.

Eligibility Requirements to Convert Canada Visit Visa into Work Permit

• To benefit from this temporary Policy, an applicant must:An applicant must have a Valid Temporary Visit Visa from Canada.
• Have a valid status in Canada as a visitor on the day they apply.
• Have a job offer that is supported by a labor market impact assessment (LMIA) or an LMIA-exempt offer of employment
• Apply for an employer-specific work permit no later than February 28, 2025
• Meet all other standard admissibility criteria.

How to Apply for the Canada Work Permit?

• You need to apply online for the work permit depending on your situation.
• Applying from outside Canada?
• Applying from Inside Canada?

Link: Apply online for Work Permit

How to Find Jobs in Canada?

If you are in Canada already on a visitor visa or if you are looking for Job opportunities from outside Canada. I am telling you the best Website to find Job opportunities in Canada for foreign applicants.

• Job Bank Website: The Job Bank website (jobbank.gc.ca) is the largest Job portal for Job seekers. This is one of the best websites that is managed by the government of Canada.
• Click on “LMIA” if you are not a Canadian citizen, or you are not in Canada.
• LMIA approved Job means that the employer is allowed to hire a foreign worker with or without a work permit.

Can I Convert my Visitor Visa to a Work Permit in Canada?

Under a temporary policy Without leaving Canada, you can convert your visitor visa to a work permit in Canada. This policy is set to expire on February 28, 2025.

Can I apply for a work permit while on a visitor visa in Canada?

Yes, you can apply for a work permit while on a visitor visa in Canada after finding an LMIA-approved Job, and you have a valid visitor visa.