Can I Work With A Visitor Visa In Canada
Do you want to work in Canada with a visitor visa? You’re not alone. Many people want to work on a visitor visa and there are thousands of companies hiring foreign workers. But is it easy to work while on a visitor visa? And, can you work while on a visitor visa?
Can I Work With A Visitor Visa In Canada
If you want to get a long term visa, then a visitor visa is not the visa you are looking for. If you work in Canada illegally, then you might face severe consequences. You are not allowed to work unless an employer applies for a work permit on your behalf. You cannot act as if you have the job in hand and apply for the working visa.
Following a strategy that I have found more and more beneficial to clients seeking work permits in Canada, I now often advise them to apply for a visitor visa.It is surprisingly common for many highly skilled workers seeking to immigrate to Canada to instead be approved for a mere visitor visa. This can happen when the applicant’s occupation does not fall into one of the Express Entry occupational categories, commonly referred as NOC 0 or A. Applicants who are invited to submit an application for permanent residence are advised that they must do so within two years of their approval date as temporary workers or visitors.
A visitor visa allows you to enter Canada and gives you temporary legal status in the country. However, you only maintain that status for as long as your visa is valid. You cannot legally stay in Canada on a visitor visa that is no longer valid.
Work in Canada
You need a valid work permit to work in Canada. A visitor visa does not allow you to work in the country. So, you need to make sure you don’t engage in any commercial activity where you directly enter the labour market of Canada during your stay as a visitor.
Apply for a work permit
While you can search for work on a visitor visa, you cannot apply for a work permit from within Canada if you do secure a job offer. You will have to return to either the country where you reside or the country of your origin and apply for the work permit at the appropriate Canadian visa office.
Study in Canada
As a visitor visa holder, you cannot study in Canada except under the specific conditions listed above. In all other cases, you need a study permit to legally study in Canada.
Apply for a study permit
You cannot apply for a study permit from within Canada on the basis of your status as a visitor. You will have to initiate the study visa process after returning to your country. One exception to this rule that allows a visitor to apply for a study permit from within Canada is if he or she has a family member holding a valid Canada study or work permit.
