Can I work in Canada as a visitor?
In this blog, we’ll explore everything you need to know about traveling to Canada, including the activities you can engage in and the restrictions you might encounter, especially if you’re considering an extended stay for work purposes.
There are some considerations you have to keep in mind before deciding to move to Canada, so we will discuss all the things you need to know before moving, and also what you can do and what you can’t.
As a visitor, you are allowed to do the following:
1. You can enter and stay in Canada as a visitor:
The visitor visa is a legal status to lets you stay in Canada for up to 6 months at a maximum, so if you are planning to immigrate to Canada soon, you can visit Canada to know how it goes with life in Canada and also compare provinces work-wise, cultural experience and best places to live.
Whenever your visitor visa expires you have to get back to your home country so you can enter Canada in the future again.
2. Start your process of searching for a job:
Although you aren’t allowed to apply for a work permit as a visitor, you can start searching for job opportunities as employers prefer to meet the employee in person before hiring him/her.
But to apply for a job opportunity, you have to:
- Prove that you will return to your country.
- Prove that you won’t work in Canada without a valid work permit.
- Don’t lie to the immigration officer in any way.
3. You can join a short-term course:
To be eligible to study in Canada, a study permit is generally required. Nonetheless, under certain uncommon circumstances, you may study in Canada using a visitor visa, provided these criteria are met:
- The educational institution conducting the course is not a Designated Learning Institute (DLI).
- The course or program’s length is under six months.
- The course is not part of a longer academic program.
- You will finish the course within the validity period of your visitor visa.
4. Apply for extending your stay in Canada:
Visitor visas are initially valid for up to six months. If you wish to extend your stay past this period, an application for an extension can be made. The decision to grant the extension, as well as the duration of the extended period, depends on the judgment of the immigration officer evaluating your request.
5. You can start performing business activities while being in Canada:
Typically, a work permit is required to work in Canada, but certain business-related activities can be conducted with a visitor visa, provided they don’t involve entering the Canadian job market directly. Activities you can engage in include:
- Buying goods or services from Canadian companies for a foreign business.
- Conducting site visits to businesses.
- Attending training sessions for product use, sales, or other business-related activities at the invitation of a Canadian company.
- Engaging in meetings and interactions to start and finalize business deals.
6. Apply for a work permit:
Ordinarily, visitors in Canada cannot apply for a work permit during their stay. However, under a temporary rule effective until the end of February 2025, visitors who receive a valid job offer while in Canada can now apply for a work permit without leaving the country, even if they are there on a visitor visa.
Before this temporary adjustment, applicants for work in Canada were generally required to apply for their initial work permit before entering Canada. If they obtained a work permit while holding visitor status in Canada, they had to exit Canada to have their work permit issued. This current policy eliminates the need to leave Canada for work permit issuance.
Find out if you are eligible to get in Canada →
As a visitor, you aren’t allowed to do the following:
1. You can’t stay in Canada permanently as a visitor:
You can stay in Canada with a legal status as a visitor, but once your visitor visa expires you have to leave Canada because the visitor visa is a temporary visa to stay in Canada.
2. The visitor visa isn’t an authorization for you to work in Canada:
To work in Canada, it’s essential to have an appropriate work permit. Holding only a visitor visa is not sufficient for employment purposes in Canada. Therefore, while visiting, ensure that you refrain from participating in any form of employment or commercial activity that involves entering the Canadian labour market.
3. You can’t study in Canada while having a visitor status:
If you hold a visitor visa, studying in Canada is generally not permitted, except in the specific scenarios previously mentioned. For all other instances, obtaining a study permit is necessary to legally pursue education in Canada.
4. You can’t apply for a study permit while visiting Canada:
If you are in Canada on a visitor status, you are not eligible to apply for a study permit from within the country. Generally, you must start the process for a study visa once you return to your home country. However, there is an exception: if you have a family member in Canada with a valid study or work permit, then as a visitor, you can apply for a study permit from within Canada.
In conclusion, working in Canada as a visitor is not permissible under the standard visitor visa guidelines. This blog has outlined the essential requirements and restrictions for those wishing to work in Canada, emphasizing the need for a valid work permit. While visitor visas allow for travel and short stays, they do not grant the holder the legal right to engage in employment. Understanding and respecting these regulations is crucial for anyone considering working in Canada. For those who do wish to work, it’s advisable to explore the proper channels for obtaining the appropriate work permits, ensuring a legal and hassle-free experience in Canada.
