Hello, I came to Canada for vacations and now I'm worried because I can't go back to Mexico due virus Covid-19 so, I wanna know if I can apply for a work permit here in Canada even if Im here under a visitors permit. Things In México are getting worst day by day and I think i can work here for a few months until everything comes to normally. I have a degree in marketing and im doing my master in business administration, however im willing to perform any activity available.
Work permit if you are in Canada already
- Thread starter alexcape
- Start date
It would be extremely difficult next too impossible to convert a visitor visa to work authorization. Adding , Air Canada is still flying to Mexico , so there are flights to your country
You’d need an employer to post the position to see if any Canadian can do the work prior to hiring a foreigner , that costs $1000, and takes 4-6 months
And with the current unemployment situation in the country , chances are extremely remote
The virus isn’t a reason to circumvent the normal rules to seek work authorization
As said above, it is unfortunately very difficult to secure a work permit.
You would need to start by finding an employer in Canada who is willing to give you a job offer. That employer would then have to obtain an approved LMIA. This process typically takes 4-6 months to complete and involves advertising the job for at least a month to prove no Canadian could be found for the role. It will likely be difficult to prove this given all of the recent job losses due to COVID unless you have extremely specialized skills / capabilities. If the LMIA is approved, you would then be able to apply for a closed work permit tied to that specific employer.
So while technically possible, extremely difficult. If you want to try, first step is to find an employer willing to give you a job offer and go through the LMIA process.