Islamabad, June 12, 2025: In a significant adjustment to its immigration policy, Canadian authorities have rolled out a new temporary measure designed to simplify job transitions for foreign employees. The policy regarding Canada work permit rules intended to improve labor market flexibility, allows eligible non-citizen workers to begin new roles without waiting for formal permit approvals—a move seen as beneficial for both workers and businesses.
The revised guideline, confirmed by sources familiar with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) processes, streamlines job mobility for thousands of temporary workers, removing previous administrative hurdles that often delayed employment changes and led to income disruptions.
Broader Aims and Impact
This provisional framework seeks to address multiple challenges: minimizing unemployment periods, accelerating recruitment for Canadian employers, and enhancing the economic security of temporary foreign staff. By enabling immediate job commencement post-application, the policy tackles long-standing complaints about system bottlenecks and hiring inefficiencies.
Who Benefits from the Update?
The relaxed rules are applicable to three categories of international workers:
Workers on Maintained Status
Foreign nationals who have submitted renewal requests for expired work permits are typically classified under “maintained status.” Under the new policy, these individuals can now transition into new roles while awaiting official extensions, freeing them from the constraints of outdated permit terms.
Permit Holders Seeking Employment Change
Individuals currently employed under role- or employer-specific permits can shift to new positions without delay. This development is particularly impactful for workers navigating layoffs, exploring better opportunities, or addressing workplace challenges.
Exempt Individuals Now Subject to Permits
Some professionals who previously held work-permit exemptions but are now required to obtain one can also begin new employment immediately after applying, sidestepping prior approval delays.
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Programs Under the Scope
The initiative covers job roles falling within the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) and the International Mobility Program (IMP). As long as a verifiable employment offer exists and a work permit application has been submitted under these frameworks, the applicant is cleared to start working.
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Process Overview
To leverage this policy, workers must:
- Secure a confirmed offer from a Canadian employer;
- File a corresponding work permit application;
- Begin working without waiting for a final decision from immigration officials.
Previously, job changes required full permit approval before any employment shift, often resulting in costly job gaps and procedural slowdowns. By contrast, the new approach is designed to modernize labor flows, reduce administrative lag, and boost workforce engagement across the country.
This adjustment, though temporary, is widely interpreted as a forward-looking attempt to adapt Canada’s labor immigration systems to the evolving needs of employers and foreign workers alike.
