Effective May 27, 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has extended indefinitely a COVID-era temporary public policy exempting eligible holders of employer-based work permits from certain requirements when changing employment.
Under the extended policy, foreign national workers, in Canada with valid work authorization, who are required to obtain a new work permit before commencing a new job, can begin working in a new job while their work permit application is pending.
Individuals expected to benefit from these measures include foreign nationals who:
- are on “maintained status” and are authorized to work while their work permit application is pending, but who are bound to the conditions imposed on their expired work permit such that they cannot move to a new occupation or employer while on maintained status;
- continue to hold a valid work permit that limits them to working for a named employer, but need to transition to a different occupation or employer for reasons that may include having been laid-off; or
- are work-permit exempt, but require a work permit to work in a new occupation or for a new employer.
The foreign worker must apply for this public policy exemption online. If this application is successful, the exemption will be valid until a decision is made on their work permit application.
The earlier, COVID-era policy which this replaces included an exemption from the requirement to submit biometrics in support of the work permit application where the Service Canada office serving the area where the applicant lives was temporarily closed and was not collecting biometrics due to the pandemic. This exemption has been removed in the updated policy.
Erickson Insights & Analysis
Erickson Immigration Group will continue monitoring developments and sharing updates as more news is available. Please contact your employer or EIG attorney if you have questions about anything we’re reporting above or if you have case-specific questions.