Temporary public policy to exempt certain out-of-status foreign nationals in Canada from immigration requirements during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic

Date Announced:

July 7, 2020

Active Period:

July 7, 2020 until December 31, 2020. Extended until August 31, 2021.

Overview:

Due to Covid-19 measures, temporary residents in Canada may be affected in a variety of ways: First, there may be some foreign nationals who are unable to leave the country due to Agency Directives>Border closures in their home country, a lack of commercially-available flight options, or difficulties obtaining travel documents (e.g., due to embassy closures). Second, their stay in Canada, employment or schooling may have been disrupted, and they may find it challenging to maintain status and/or eligibility for work or study authorizations. Third, reduced government services due to the COVID-19 pandemic means that some temporary residents face delays in securing the appropriate documents required for their visitor, work, or study applications. This public policy will: (1) provide eligible foreign nationals, temporary workers and international students) who have fallen out of status during the COVID-19  pandemic with more time to restore their temporary resident status; (2) exempt eligible foreign nationals from the requirement that a work or study permit not be issued if they have not complied with certain temporary resident conditions; and (3) allow eligible temporary workers applying for a job offer-supported work permit to work while a decision on their restoration application is pending. This includes former workers who have applied, or will apply, within 90 days of losing their temporary resident status, and those availing themselves of the public policy exemption to apply after 90 days have

Departments and Agencies:

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada

Type of Administrative Action:

  • Programmatic Changes

    • Immigration Category:

    Economic migrants | International students | Temporary foreign workers | Temporary residents | Visitors

    Keywords:

    out-of-status | study permit | temporary status | work permit

    Source Document(s):

    https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/corporate/mandate/policies-operational-instructions-agreements/public-policies/out-of-status-covid-19.html
    https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/news/notices/public-policy-extended-restore-status.html

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