- In 2025, you cannot switch from visitor to worker from inside Canada. The temporary public policy that once allowed this ended in August 2024.
- Some groups, like spouses of workers or students and recent graduates, can apply for a work permit from inside Canada, but visitors are not included.
- If you want to work while on visitor status, you must apply from abroad or, in limited cases, at a port of entry.
Why Visitors Want to Become Workers
Many people come to Canada on a visitor visa for tourism, family visits or short-term business. Once here, new opportunities often appear and it is natural to wonder if it is possible to stay and work instead of leaving.
Some visitors are offered jobs while in Canada and want to begin working right away. Others decide they want to extend their time with family or settle more permanently, which requires income and work authorization. Employers also sometimes prefer hiring people who are already inside Canada, as it can seem faster and easier than recruiting workers internationally.
These situations are common, but a visitor status doesn’t allow employment. To legally work in Canada, a person must hold a valid work permit. Understanding what is and is not possible helps avoid mistakes that could affect future applications or immigration opportunities.
The Temporary Policy That Once Allowed Switching
For several years, Canada had a special public policy that made it possible for visitors to apply for a work permit without leaving the country. This measure was first introduced in 2020 during the pandemic, when international travel was difficult, and it was extended multiple times because employers and foreign workers found it useful.
The policy allowed visitors who were already in Canada with valid status to apply for an employer-specific work permit. To qualify, they needed a legitimate job offer and, in most cases, the employer had to obtain a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) unless the job was exempt.
This option gave many visitors the chance to move directly into the workforce, while helping Canadian employers fill urgent labour shortages. However, it was always meant to be temporary. The policy officially ended on August 28, 2024 and is no longer available.
The Current Rules for Visitors in 2025
Today, the rules are clear. People with a visitor visa cannot apply for a work permit from inside Canada.
This means that if you are in Canada on a visitor status and want to work, you generally need to leave the country and apply for a work permit from abroad. That process usually requires securing a valid job offer, ensuring the employer has completed the proper steps, such as obtaining an LMIA when required and then submitting a new application outside Canada.
Some groups can apply for a work permit from inside Canada, but visitors are not included in this list (we’ll cover those exceptions in the next section).
The important takeaway is that while it is natural to want to switch from visitor to worker while in Canada, visitor status alone doesn’t provide a direct pathway. Understanding this upfront can save time, reduce stress and help you plan the right legal route toward working in Canada.
Who Can Apply for a Work Permit Inside Canada
Some people in Canada do have the option to apply for a work permit without leaving the country. Visitors, however, are not among them. The people who can apply from inside include:
- People with a valid study or work permit: If you already hold a study or work permit and your status is still valid, you can apply for a new work permit from inside Canada.
- Spouses or common-law partners of workers or students: Partners of temporary foreign workers or international students may be eligible to apply for an open work permit without leaving Canada.
- Recent graduates eligible for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP): Students who finish their program and still have a valid study permit can apply for a PGWP from within Canada.
- Temporary resident permit holders: If your permit is valid for at least six months, you may be eligible to apply for a work permit inside Canada.
- Refugee claimants and protected persons: People who have made a claim for refugee protection or have been recognized as protected persons can apply without leaving the country.
- Applicants under trade agreements like CUSMA: Traders, investors, intra-company transferees and certain professionals under the Canada–United States–Mexico Agreement can apply from inside Canada.
- Applicants waiting on decisions for certain permanent residence classes: If you’re applying for permanent residence from inside Canada, you may also apply for a work permit.
Options for Visitors Who Want to Work
If you are in Canada as a visitor and want to work, the rules in 2025 are straightforward. Visitors cannot apply for a work permit from inside Canada.
This means you must leave Canada and apply for a work permit from abroad. In most cases, you will need:
- A valid job offer from a Canadian employer
- An LMIA if required or proof that the job is LMIA-exempt
- Supporting documents such as your qualifications and proof of identity
You will then submit your application to the visa office that serves your home country or your country of legal residence.
Some visa-exempt travellers may apply for a work permit at a port of entry, such as a land border or airport, if they meet the requirements for their type of work permit. This option is not available to everyone, but a few examples include:
- A U.S. citizen entering Canada to work under a CUSMA professional category
- An intra-company transferee from a multinational company who qualifies for an LMIA-exempt work permit
- A business executive from a visa-exempt country with a pre-approved LMIA whose employer has already completed the employer compliance process
The key takeaway is simple. If you are a visitor, you cannot switch directly to worker status inside Canada. You must apply from outside and wait for approval before starting work. Having a clear plan before your visitor status expires will help protect your future immigration opportunities.
Why Work With an Immigration Lawyer
Immigration rules in Canada change fast. Just a year ago, visitors could apply for a work permit without leaving the country. Today, that option is gone. For most people, it is nearly impossible to keep up with these changes while also planning for work, family and the future.
This is why having an immigration lawyer in your corner matters. At Ackah Business Immigration Law, we stay ahead of policy shifts and guide you through what is possible right now, not what was possible last year. We know the pitfalls that cause refusals and we know how to build applications that succeed.
You don’t need to navigate this alone. With Ackah Law by your side, you can move forward with confidence, knowing you have trusted advisors protecting your goals and your future in Canada.
Find the Right Path to Work in Canada
Switching from visitor to worker in Canada is no longer possible from inside the country, but that doesn’t mean your journey ends here. With the right guidance, you can explore legal pathways that fit your situation, whether that means applying from abroad, using a trade agreement category or considering other immigration options.
At Ackah Business Immigration Law, we help visitors turn uncertainty into opportunity. Our team tracks every policy change so you don’t have to and we follow strategies that protect your goals and give you the best chance of success.
Don’t leave your future to chance. Book a call with one of our client engagement coordinators and take the first step toward building your next chapter in Canada.
