A temporary public policy was established on July 14, 2020, to exempt foreign nationals from certain requirements of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA) and the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (IRPR) if they meet certain conditions. The public policy has been extended to August 31, 2021. In addition, the eligibility criteria were expanded to include foreign nationals who were in Canada from January 30, 2020 to May 31, 2021 (meaning foreign nationals who entered Canada between these dates may be eligible). Applications received on or before August 31, 2021 may benefit from this public policy.

This public policy has 2 elements related to restoration objectives:

• Restoration [PP.A]
  The public policy provides an exemption from the requirement to apply for restoration within 90 days of losing temporary resident status for all foreign nationals (former workers, students and visitors) in Canada. The period of 90 days has been extended for foreign nationals who had valid temporary resident status on or after January 30, 2020 but whose status expired on or before May 31, 2021. They will have until August 31, 2021 to apply to restore their status.
• Interim work authorization [PP.B]
  The public policy allows former work permit holders with job offers to work while their restoration and work permit applications are being processed. If approved under this public policy, applicants may be authorized to start their employment while they await a decision on their restoration and work permit applications.

The public policy remains in effect until August 31, 2021. Eligible applications received on or before August 31, 2021 may benefit from this public policy.

There are currently no travel restrictions in place due to COVID-19 however this is always subject to change without notice.

For more information on travel restrictions affecting foreign nationals, consult:    

Travel restriction measures: COVID-19 program delivery

Employers across the Canadian economy are facing labour shortages, estimated to be as high as 1 million positions. Allowing international students to work more than 20 hours per week during academic sessions will help to temporarily fill these labour market needs.

Given subparagraph 186(v) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (the Regulations), a public policy is required to allow international students, including those authorized to study under section 189 of the Regulations, to work more than 20 hours per week off campus without a work permit during academic sessions, if they are so inclined. Those who avail themselves of this opportunity could gain valuable work experience in Canada, help sustain Canada’s economic growth, and have additional income available to defray the costs of their studies and stay in Canada.

This public policy, pursuant to section 25.2 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (the Act), will allow eligible foreign nationals who are studying full-time in Canada and who either hold a study permit or have applied to renew their study permit and are authorized to study under section 189 of the Regulations to work off‑campus without a work permit for more than 20 hours per week during regular academic sessions between November 15, 2022, and December 31, 2023, (or until this public policy is revoked, whichever comes first). To be eligible for this public policy, the foreign national’s study permit application must have been received by IRCC on or before October 7, 2022.

To assist in temporarily filling Canada’s labour market needs and help sustain Canada’s economic growth, international students who are eligible for this public policy and who are pursuing co-op placements and internships are included in the scope of this public policy.

As the hours worked in excess of 20 hours per week would be authorized, it would not negatively impact the student’s eligibility for subsequent study permits, work permits, and other immigration applications, provided they resume working no more than 20 hours per week off‑campus without a work permit during regular academic sessions after this public policy expires on December 31, 2023, or is revoked, whichever comes earlier.

I hereby establish that there are sufficient public policy considerations that justify the granting, in accordance with section 25.2 of the Act, exemptions from the requirements of the Regulations listed below to foreign nationals who meet the conditions set i the full public policy.

Highly skilled foreign nationals coming to Canada for short periods of time bring important economic benefits while having a limited impact on the labour market. Facilitating the entry of these workers through work permit exemptions will remove financial and administrative barriers for Canadian employers, improve the competitiveness of Canadian knowledge economy firms, and incentivize additional economic activity within Canada.

Similar to economic employers, Canadian degree granting institutions and affiliated research institutions sometimes require highly specialized foreign researchers for short periods of time to produce world class research. Canadian institutions are in competition with top tier research institutions from around the world to attract foreign researchers with rare and highly specialized expertise. Enacting facilitative measures via this policy will assist Canadian institutions in the recruitment of top tier researchers and increase the number of opportunities for Canadian researchers to collaborate with top tier foreign researchers.

Therefore, I hereby establish that there are sufficient public policy considerations that justify granting, in accordance with section 25.2 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act exemptions from the requirements of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (Regulations) listed below to foreign nationals who meet the conditions set out below.

Based on public policy considerations, delegated officers may grant an exemption for 15, 30 or 120 consecutive days from the requirements of the Regulations identified below to a foreign national seeking to enter Canada if:

1. The foreign national
   1. intends to perform work – in an occupation that is listed in Training, Education, Experience and Responsibility (TEER) Category 0 or 1 of the National Occupation Classification, as defined in section 2 of the Regulations – for up to 15 consecutive days; and
   2. has not been granted an exemption under this public policy in the last six months;
2. The foreign national
   1. intends to perform work – in an occupation that is listed in TEER Category 0 or 1 of the National Occupation Classification, as defined in section 2 of the Regulations – for up to 30 consecutive days; and
   2. has not been granted an exemption under this public policy in the last 12 months; or
3. The foreign national
   1. after having received an offer from a publicly funded Canadian degree granting institution, or their affiliated research institution, intends to perform work as a researcher for up to 120 consecutive days;
   2. has a significant role to play or value to add to the research project;
   3. when seeking to enter Canada, on the request of an officer, produced a written confirmation from the institution, which includes the description and duration of the work, and
   4. has not been granted an exemption under this public policy in the last 12 months.

Provisions of the Regulations for which an exemption may be granted:

• Section 183(1)(b) – The condition to not work unless authorized by Part 9 or 11 of the Regulations.
• Section 196 – The requirement to be authorized to work in Canada by a work permit or the Regulations.
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Foreign nationals eligible under this public policy are subject to all other legislative admissibility and selection requirements not exempted under this public policy.

This public policy takes effect on the day on November 16, 2022.
This Public Policy supersedes the Public Policy facilitating entry into Canada for short term work signed on June 12, 2017.