Historically, visitors in Canada could not seek a work permit from within Canada (with limited exceptions). They would need to seek their work permits either, in the case of visa-requiring nationals, at a visa post/online, or, in the case of non-visa-requiring nationals, at a port of entry.
During COVID, Canada relaxed this policy, and allowed visitors to seek their work permits from within Canada. The relaxed policy was introduced in August, 2020, and was set to expire on February 28, 2023. However, just prior to the expiration date, the government of Canada extended the relaxed provision to February 28, 2025 (see the initial ImmPulse™ newsletter on the topic here, and the ImmPulse™ newsletter on the extension here).
However, today, in a rather surprising announcement, the government suddenly terminated the policy, effective immediately. Post August 28, 2024, the rules revert to their pre-COVID iterations – i.e., applicants physically in Canada must apply from outside the country (again, either at a visa post/online, or at a port of entry, as the case may be).
Applications already in process will not be impacted, and any exceptions previously allowed remain in place, but otherwise, new inland visitor-to-work permit applications are no longer permitted.
The information in this article is for general purposes only, and not intended as legal advice for any particular situation.