Canada Restricts Work Permits for Nigerians, Other Visitors.
The Canadian government has officially banned Nigerians and other visitors holding temporary visas from applying for work permits within the country. This change, effective immediately, was announced by Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) on August 28, 2024.
Reason for the Policy Change
The IRCC cited the need to recalibrate the number of temporary residents in Canada and to preserve the integrity of the immigration system as the primary reasons for ending the policy. The directive comes ahead of the originally planned expiration date of February 28, 2025.
The IRCC also revealed concerns over “bad actors” who were exploiting the policy to mislead foreign nationals into working in Canada without proper authorization. However, the IRCC assured that applications submitted before August 28, 2024, under this policy would still be processed.
Background of the Temporary Policy
The temporary policy was first introduced in August 2020 as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic, which had left many visitors stranded in Canada due to global border closures. It allowed visitors who were already in Canada to apply for a work permit without needing to leave the country. Additionally, individuals who had held a work permit within the previous 12 months and had since changed their immigration status to “visitor” were allowed to work legally in Canada while awaiting a decision on their new work permit application.
Further Restrictions on Temporary Foreign Workers
This announcement is part of a broader strategy to reduce Canada’s temporary foreign worker levels. On August 26, 2024, the Department also announced a pause in processing certain Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) applications under the Low-Wage stream of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP). This will affect applicants in areas with an unemployment rate of 6% or higher by September 26, 2024.
Additionally, Canada is introducing limits on the number of foreign workers that employers can hire under the TFWP, capping it at 10% of their total workforce. The maximum term of employment for workers in the Low-Wage stream is also being reduced from two years to one year.
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