In August 2020, IRCC introduced a policy to assist visitors who couldn't leave Canada due to COVID-19 travel restrictions. This policy allowed visitors to apply for a work permit without leaving the country, and those who had previously held a work permit but had changed their status to “visitor” could apply to work legally while awaiting a decision on their new work permit application.
Although the policy was initially set to end on February 28, 2025, IRCC is concluding it earlier to better manage the number of temporary residents and maintain the immigration system's integrity. There were concerns about misuse of the policy, with some individuals misleading foreign nationals into working in Canada without proper authorization.
IRCC will still process applications submitted before August 28, 2024, under this policy.