Ottawa, August 28, 2024—Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has terminated a temporary public policy that allowed visitors to apply for work permits while in Canada, effective immediately.

This policy was initially implemented in August 2020 to assist visitors who could not depart the country due to COVID-19 travel restrictions. It enabled visitors to apply for work permits without leaving Canada and allowed those who had changed their status to “visitor” after holding a work permit in the past 12 months to legally work while awaiting a new permit decision.

Although the policy was originally set to end on February 28, 2025, IRCC has decided to conclude it earlier to better manage the number of temporary residents and maintain the integrity of the immigration system. Concerns about misuse of the policy by some individuals to deceive foreign nationals into working without proper authorization also contributed to this decision.

Applications submitted before August 28, 2024 will still be processed under the previous policy guidelines.

Beginning this fall, international students in Canada will have the opportunity to work up to 24 hours per week off-campus, an increase from the current limit of 20 hours.

This update, announced by Immigration Minister Marc Miller in April, is designed to allow students more work opportunities without negatively affecting their academic performance.

Although the exact date for this change is not yet confirmed, it is expected to be introduced within this month. Until then, international students must adhere to the existing 20-hour per week limit for off-campus work during academic sessions.

Students will have no restrictions on working hours during official breaks, such as summer and winter holidays. Off-campus work encompasses any employment outside of the educational institution, including self-employment opportunities like Uber or DoorDash.

It's important to follow these guidelines carefully, as non-compliance could lead to loss of student status, difficulties with future study or work permits, and possible deportation.

Please note that until the new 24-hour work limit is officially in place, the 20-hour per week restriction continues to apply.