Visitor to Worker Status
Changing your status from a visitor to a worker or student.
Renewing your status from a visitor to a worker or student involves transitioning from a temporary, non-immigrant visa category to another that allows for employment or education. This process requires meeting specific eligibility criteria, gathering necessary documentation, and following procedural steps to ensure legal compliance With few exceptions, most people wishing to apply to study or work must do so before entering Canada. This means that even if you are in Canada at the time and meet the eligibility requirements for either a study permit or a work permit, you will still need to apply online as if you were outside of the country. In some cases you can apply at the port of entry for a work permit or study permit. Some people can apply for study permits or work permits in Canada and have them processed in Canada.
Understanding the Process
Changing your status from a visitor to a worker in Canada is more complex than simply extending your stay. It requires securing a valid job offer, meeting specific eligibility criteria, and submitting a formal application for a work permit to Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
Eligibility Requirements
To change your status to a worker, you must:
- Have a valid job offer from a Canadian employer.
- Obtain a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) from your employer, unless your job is LMIA-exempt.
- Meet the job’s specific requirements, such as education or work experience.
- Prove that you will leave Canada when your work permit expires unless you apply for a renewal.
IRCC has announced that foreign nationals with job offers in Canada can now apply for and obtain work permits. This extends the COVID-19 temporary public policy, previously set to expire today. To qualify, applicants must:
- Have valid visitor status in Canada at the time of application,
- Possess a job offer supported by an LMIA or an LMIA-exempt offer of employment,
- Apply for an employer-specific work permit by February 28, 2025,
- Meet all other standard admissibility criteria.
The job offer must be written, for a full-time, non-seasonal position lasting at least one year, and supported by a positive or neutral LMIA from Employment and Social Development Canada, or be LMIA-exempt.
Those who currently hold visitor status in Canada but have had a valid work permit in the past 12 months can obtain interim work authorization to start working for their new employer while their work permit application is being processed.
Previously, individuals had to apply for work permits before arriving in Canada and leave the country to obtain them if they were on visitor status. This policy removes that requirement.