Can I do freelance and part time with visitor visa?

[snoopy_15]

Hi everybody,

I'm new to this forum and new to Canada. I apologize if this subject repeats in this forum but couldn't find with search.

I arrived as a visitor in Canada a month ago. My husband got work permit for three years and I come to visit him. As his spouse I applied for open work permit inside Canada and a process will take about three months. I want to know can I work something until I got work permit. I know that I can't have full time job and contract job, but what about freelance, or some additional job. I saw lot of ads for freelance and additional part-time jobs. Can I apply for them? I am web and software developer and I worked in my country in company and as a freelancer like additional job and didn't have problems. Can somebody explain me how that things work here?

How for example internship programs operate? Can I do some internship?

I really want to do something but don't want to risk my long term staying here. I want to work to meet people, make contacts...

I hope someone can help me with those questions. Thank you!

 

[scylla]

No - you can't do any of these things on a visitor visa. If you do, you'll be working illegally and in violation of the conditions of your visitor visa. You need a work permit to engage in any kind of work in Canada - even if it's unpaid (e.g. unpaid internship).

 

[snoopy_15]

Ok, I understand.

Thank you for your response. I hope to get SOWP soon.

 

[naksha]

No - you can't do any of these things on a visitor visa. If you do, you'll be working illegally and in violation of the conditions of your visitor visa. You need a work permit to engage in any kind of work in Canada - even if it's unpaid (e.g. unpaid internship).

Hi.. I have a similar situation as snoopy_15. Your reply clarifies that without work permit we cannot, as a visitor, do any work physically in Canada. My doubt is, can we do freelancing online with our home country or any other country from Canada...If we can do online freelancing, should it be only with the country where we are authorized to work (home country) or it can be done with any country including Canada.

 

[Jalex23]

Hi.. I have a similar situation as snoopy_15. Your reply clarifies that without work permit we cannot, as a visitor, do any work physically in Canada. My doubt is, can we do freelancing online with our home country or any other country from Canada...If we can do online freelancing, should it be only with the country where we are authorized to work (home country) or it can be done with any country including Canada.

You can do remote work for any employer as long as:

1) Your employer is not Canadian.
2) Your clients are not Canadian.
3) You are not recieving any remunaration in Canada.

 

[aprillee]

Hi everybody,

I'm new to this forum and new to Canada. I apologize if this subject repeats in this forum but couldn't find with search.

I arrived as a visitor in Canada a month ago. My husband got work permit for three years and I come to visit him. As his spouse I applied for open work permit inside Canada and a process will take about three months. I want to know can I work something until I got work permit. I know that I can't have full time job and contract job, but what about freelance, or some additional job. I saw lot of ads for freelance and additional part-time jobs. Can I apply for them? I am web and software developer and I worked in my country in company and as a freelancer like additional job and didn't have problems. Can somebody explain me how that things work here?

How for example internship programs operate? Can I do some internship?

I really want to do something but don't want to risk my long term staying here. I want to work to meet people, make contacts...

I hope someone can help me with those questions. Thank you!

If I understood corretly, you applied for a spouse work permit after arrival to Canada, right? Did you tell the officer at the airport that you were planning to do so? What did he say? Did you have a ticket back home?

 

[naksha]

You can do remote work for any employer as long as:

1) Your employer is not Canadian.
2) Your clients are not Canadian.
3) You are not recieving any remunaration in Canada.

Thank you

 

[umangs18]

Thank you

Hi, thanks , this was informative, just wanted to check in addition to this discussion --
My Spouse will be working on a Work permit in Canada and i will have an Open Work Permit and not visitor visa then can I work for a non Canadian employer (as a free lancer of India) --Client is not Canadian /Employer not Canadian and paid in USD directly to India,paying taxes in India.

 

[Floje]

Hi, thanks , this was informative, just wanted to check in addition to this discussion --
My Spouse will be working on a Work permit in Canada and i will have an Open Work Permit and not visitor visa then can I work for a non Canadian employer (as a free lancer of India) --Client is not Canadian /Employer not Canadian and paid in USD directly to India,paying taxes in India.

You may work full time in Canada if you are an Open Work Permit holder. Be it for a Canadian employer/client or not.

 

[laroche]

You can do remote work for any employer as long as:

1) Your employer is not Canadian.
2) Your clients are not Canadian.
3) You are not recieving any remunaration in Canada.

Hi! In my case, I've a freelancer contract with a company in my country (which respect the itens up here), and am going to CA to do a seasonal study program, as a tourist.
My question is, should I mention (in case asked for founds or so), that I'll keep working remotely part-time during my stay there?
Thanks!

 

[bellaluna]

Hi! In my case, I've a freelancer contract with a company in my country (which respect the itens up here), and am going to CA to do a seasonal study program, as a tourist.
My question is, should I mention (in case asked for founds or so), that I'll keep working remotely part-time during my stay there?
Thanks!

That question is unlikely to come up, and I also wouldn’t advise admitting you are remotely working, even if for a foreign company.