How staff on closed work permits can change employers whereas awaiting a choice on a brand new work allow…

At present, it’s attainable for non permanent international staff on closed work permits to begin a brand new job earlier than being issued a brand new work allow, as a consequence of a brief public coverage launched throughout the Covid-19 period.

Previous to the introduction of this non permanent public coverage, staff on closed work permits would want to attend for his or her new work allow utility to be authorized earlier than altering employers — that means that it may take many months for them to vary jobs.

Schedule a Free Work Allow Session with the Cohen Immigration Regulation Agency

Who’s eligible?

With a purpose to be eligible, a international nationwide should:

• Be in Canada with legitimate non permanent resident standing (this features a maintained standing);
• Have held a sound work allow, or have been licensed to work and not using a work allow when their utility for a brand new work allow or work allow renewal was submitted;
• Have submitted a piece utility or be renewing an utility for an employer-specific work allow (for which a choice has not but been made);
• Intend to work for the brand new employer as specified on the job provide;
• Have utilized for the general public coverage exemption, as recognized by the division (particulars on the method beneath); and
• Have requested the exemption to be relevant till a choice is made on their work allow utility.

If I’m eligible, what exemptions apply to me?

Overseas nationals who’re eligible might be exempted from sure Immigration and Refugee Safety Rules:

• The situation to not work until licensed (by Half 9 or 11 of the Rules);
• Following the situations on their work allow concerning the kind of work, employer, and instances and intervals of labor they’re permitted to interact in, or prohibited from doing, in Canada;
• The requirement to be licensed to work in Canada by a piece allow or the Rules; and
• Offering biometrics for a brand new work allow utility or work allow renewal, if their native Service Canada workplace isn’t amassing them as a consequence of COVID-19.

This non permanent public coverage primarily advantages international nationals who:

• Are on maintained standing (beforehand known as implied standing) who’re sure to the situations imposed on their expired work allow, prohibiting them from transferring to a brand new occupation or employer;
• Maintain a sound work allow that limits them to an employer (closed work allow); or
• Are work-permit exempt however require a piece allow for a brand new occupation or employer.

How do I apply?

A international nationwide should submit their utility for an employer-specific work allow from inside Canada (IMM 5710).

When filling out the “your enquiry” part of the IRCC net type, candidates want to repeat particular textual content that applies to their state of affairs. Full samples of the message for work allow holders altering jobs or employers, or work permit-exempt staff, might be seen right here.

Candidates should embody the code “PPCHANGEWORK2020” once they copy and paste the textual content. This helps officers prioritize their request.

This utility may also be achieved on paper.

When you’ve submitted the applying

Officers will evaluation the general public coverage consideration.

They might reject it if it does not embody:

• A request for evaluation; or
• Enough data to substantiate the receipt of an employer-specific work allow utility.

Those that have submitted the applying by net type can count on an e mail in roughly 10-15 days. Making use of by paper could take extra time to obtain this e mail.

The e-mail will let candidates know if they’re licensed to work whereas their work allow utility is being processed.

NOTE: If the work allow utility is incomplete, the processing officer will give the applicant 30 days to offer further data. They may even present a public coverage evaluation choice (both constructive or unfavorable) as a reply to the IRCC Webform e mail and add a case word on their choice.

Why was this non permanent public coverage launched?

This coverage was launched throughout the pandemic to:

• assist non permanent international staff who’re in Canada begin new jobs faster whereas ready on their work allow functions being processed; and
• guarantee their work allow functions are finalized so they’re higher protected beneath employer compliance rules.

This coverage is in impact as of January, 14 2025. As with all non permanent public insurance policies, it may be revoked at any time with out discover.

Schedule a Free Work Allow Session with the Cohen Immigration Regulation Agency