Keeping Canadian visa while working outside Canada?

[thejackson5]

Hello,

My basic question is: My work visa says I can work within Canada — but does that mean I have to?

A bit of context: I have a Canadian work visa that is still valid for several more years. I recently received word that my Australian working holiday visa, issued right before the pandemic and which I thought was forever lost to time, can be reactivated and I can spend a year there.

I have permission from my employer to work remotely. What I'd like to do is to move to Australia for a year and continue working remotely for my Canadian employer from there. I'm unsure, however, about whether I'm allowed to do this. After all, it would make me an Australian tax resident for that year, which I'm not sure Canada would like — in their eyes, I'll essentially have taken a job from a Canadian (my visa is under CUSMA so my employer didn't have to perform an LMIA) then upped and left, taking the salary but not contributing the taxes. (Then again, not using the social services… but still.)

Am I right to be worried, or is this 100% allowed (if maybe frowned upon)? When I move back to Canada after a year abroad, can I simply tell the border agent the truth, that I was working for the Canadian company from Australia, and they'll be cool with that?

Thanks for any advice you can offer!

 

[scylla]

Hello,

My basic question is: My work visa says I can work within Canada — but does that mean I have to?

A bit of context: I have a Canadian work visa that is still valid for several more years. I recently received word that my Australian working holiday visa, issued right before the pandemic and which I thought was forever lost to time, can be reactivated and I can spend a year there.

I have permission from my employer to work remotely. What I'd like to do is to move to Australia for a year and continue working remotely for my Canadian employer from there. I'm unsure, however, about whether I'm allowed to do this. After all, it would make me an Australian tax resident for that year, which I'm not sure Canada would like — in their eyes, I'll essentially have taken a job from a Canadian (my visa is under CUSMA so my employer didn't have to perform an LMIA) then upped and left, taking the salary but not contributing the taxes. (Then again, not using the social services… but still.)

Am I right to be worried, or is this 100% allowed (if maybe frowned upon)? When I move back to Canada after a year abroad, can I simply tell the border agent the truth, that I was working for the Canadian company from Australia, and they'll be cool with that?

Thanks for any advice you can offer!

You are certainly allowed to work outside of Canada from a Canadian immigration perspective. Nothing stopping you from doing that.

Note that if you plan to apply for PR, the time you spend working in Australia will count as foreign work experience even though you are working for a Canadian employer.

 

[thejackson5]

You are certainly allowed to work outside of Canada from a Canadian immigration perspective. Nothing stopping you from doing that.

Thanks for the quick reply. Applying this to a domestic level: Do you know whether this is the same for working from different provinces within Canada (esp. one that are different to my visa's stated work province)? For example, if my visa specifies (e.g.) Ontario, am I allowed to live/work from in (e.g.) New Brunswick? I suppose I'm asking from both an federal immigration perspective (i.e. will federal immigration have a problem with it) and a provincial perspective (e.g. would New Brunswick say no to my getting provincial healthcare because my visa specifies Ontario)?

 

[Copingwithlife]

Hello,

My basic question is: My work visa says I can work within Canada — but does that mean I have to?

A bit of context: I have a Canadian work visa that is still valid for several more years. I recently received word that my Australian working holiday visa, issued right before the pandemic and which I thought was forever lost to time, can be reactivated and I can spend a year there.

I have permission from my employer to work remotely. What I'd like to do is to move to Australia for a year and continue working remotely for my Canadian employer from there. I'm unsure, however, about whether I'm allowed to do this. After all, it would make me an Australian tax resident for that year, which I'm not sure Canada would like — in their eyes, I'll essentially have taken a job from a Canadian (my visa is under CUSMA so my employer didn't have to perform an LMIA) then upped and left, taking the salary but not contributing the taxes. (Then again, not using the social services… but still.)

Am I right to be worried, or is this 100% allowed (if maybe frowned upon)? When I move back to Canada after a year abroad, can I simply tell the border agent the truth, that I was working for the Canadian company from Australia, and they'll be cool with that?

Thanks for any advice you can offer!

Your employer in Canada doesn’t magically get to stop deductions , nor do you.It doesn’t work that way. Your employer wants to contact the CRA to see if you’d be exempt . If they don’t and it’s later found they should have been remitting taxes . You’re looking at interest , penalties, and a possible exam . Their payroll department should know that one doesn’t magically become exempt . It’ll trigger a compliance review if not backed up with a reason found in either the ITA or tax treaty



“Income tax deductions
If an employee carry-out services for you outside Canada, you may have to deduct income tax from that employee's remuneration. The employee may be entitled to a foreign tax credit in Canada for taxes paid in the foreign jurisdiction. If so, the employee can request a letter of authority. If you are not sure if you should deduct income tax, call 1-800-959-5525.”

 

[Meann Lovino]

My working Visa expired Planning to have a vacation outside Canada on April 8, 2023 its may fault because i did not notice the expiration before I book ticket,but my visa will expire on April 1,2023. currently my Permanent Residence application is on process, can I renew my visa 1 and half months before the expiration and how long it will takes to be approved so that I will not re book or continue vacation and will return to canada with visa document and working permit .

 

[scylla]

My working Visa expired Planning to have a vacation outside Canada on April 8, 2023 its may fault because i did not notice the expiration before I book ticket,but my visa will expire on April 1,2023. currently my Permanent Residence application is on process, can I renew my visa 1 and half months before the expiration and how long it will takes to be approved so that I will not re book or continue vacation and will return to canada with visa document and working permit .

Don't post the same question repeatedly.

 

[scylla]

Thanks for the quick reply. Applying this to a domestic level: Do you know whether this is the same for working from different provinces within Canada (esp. one that are different to my visa's stated work province)? For example, if my visa specifies (e.g.) Ontario, am I allowed to live/work from in (e.g.) New Brunswick? I suppose I'm asking from both an federal immigration perspective (i.e. will federal immigration have a problem with it) and a provincial perspective (e.g. would New Brunswick say no to my getting provincial healthcare because my visa specifies Ontario)?

This is different because you are working in Canada. Generally you need to work in the province specified on your work permit.

 

[thejackson5]

This is different because you are working in Canada. Generally you need to work in the province specified on your work permit.

Thanks for the help. What if you live in another province to that in which you work? For example, suppose you work in Gatineau but live in Ottawa (and thus have your residential address in Ontario). Would that be permitted in the eyes of CIC? And would Ontario likely deny you an OHIP card because your work has to be in Québec?

 

[moscatojuices]

Hello,

My basic question is: My work visa says I can work within Canada — but does that mean I have to?

A bit of context: I have a Canadian work visa that is still valid for several more years. I recently received word that my Australian working holiday visa, issued right before the pandemic and which I thought was forever lost to time, can be reactivated and I can spend a year there.

I have permission from my employer to work remotely. What I'd like to do is to move to Australia for a year and continue working remotely for my Canadian employer from there. I'm unsure, however, about whether I'm allowed to do this. After all, it would make me an Australian tax resident for that year, which I'm not sure Canada would like — in their eyes, I'll essentially have taken a job from a Canadian (my visa is under CUSMA so my employer didn't have to perform an LMIA) then upped and left, taking the salary but not contributing the taxes. (Then again, not using the social services… but still.)

Am I right to be worried, or is this 100% allowed (if maybe frowned upon)? When I move back to Canada after a year abroad, can I simply tell the border agent the truth, that I was working for the Canadian company from Australia, and they'll be cool with that?

Thanks for any advice you can offer!

This guy lol!

You better be careful the next time you go into a mall dude. All the food stores you past are going to be so offended that you didn't order for them, and will note your biometrics down to deny you service next time.