Moving out of Canada after requesting a work permit extension is nothing unusual. This means a person has the right to travel outside the country once they apply for a work permit extension. However, they must remember a few primary things once they’re back in Canada. In a few instances, people will need to return to the country not as temporary residents but as visitors. Furthermore, this might sometimes lead them to miss out on working in Canada if they move out of the country for travel.
Moving out of Canada after requesting a work permit extension
Below are three situations that might occur when a person returns to Canada after submitting their work permit extension application. The first two situations refer to applicants who have not yet received a work permit extension approval.
Returning to Canada as a visitor
Applicants who have applied to extend their work permits may have permission to return to Canada as a visitor. However, they will not have permission to resume work until they receive a final decision on the work permit extension.
During this period, the work permit extension applicants must demonstrate before an IRCC officer their ability to be financially self-reliant in Canada.
Applying for a fresh work permit
The work permit extension applicants might need to submit an application for a new work permit upon returning to Canada. This might happen when they reach the port of entry. However, IRCC hasn’t yet specified whether these applicants will have permission to resume their work in Canada immediately. Here, it is the situation if one applies for a new work permit at the port of entry. The immigration department might or might not ask them to wait to work until they get a final decision on the application.
Returning to Canada as a worker
In a few cases, IRCC officers will also verify whether the applicant acquired their work permit extension while they were not in Canada. If they were issued the work permit extension while they were outside Canada, they get permission to come back as a worker.
Eligibility requirements for work permit holders while returning to Canada
Work permit holders must fulfill certain requirements while having permission to depart and return to Canada without limitations. They must possess a Temporary Resident Visa, an Electronic Travel Authorization, and a permit.
However, IRCC also claims that possessing an eTA or a visa in addition to a work permit doesn’t necessarily indicate that you will be permitted to be back in Canada.
Visitor visas and eTAs
Canada’s temporary residents have different re-entry eligibility requirements based on their individual circumstances. This implies that visa-exempt countries’ residents have separate eligibility criteria, while visa-required countries have separate requirements.
Requirements of visa-exempt countries
Visa-exempt countries’ residents must demonstrate a work permit, a valid passport, and an eTA to return to Canada. According to the immigration department, eTAs are only essential for those seeking to travel by air. In short, temporary residents don’t require an eTA if they’re coming here via bus, train, boat, car, or cruise ship. IRCC also confirms that an applicant receives an eTA once they get approval for an initial work permit. Their letter of introduction includes several details about the applicant.
Visa-required countries and their requirements
Residents from visa-required countries must display that they have a valid work permit and visa to come back and work in Canada. However, those who come back directly from the United States, St. Pierre, and Miquelon will not need valid visas. If there are unique situations like the expiry of a resident’s visitor visa or their validity applied to their single entry, they will need to re-submit a visitor visa application.
Additionally, visa-required country residents can access a valid visitor visa for Canadian travel until the expiry. A visitor visa will permit a person to come to Canada via air, bus, train, boat, or car.
eTAs from specific visa-required countries’ citizens
IRCC states that qualified citizens of a few visa-required countries must receive an eTA after the renewal of their work permit. The eTA holds a validity of five years or until the expiry of the applicant’s passport. Residents of visa-required countries who have acquired eTAs must use them only when traveling to or from Canada via air when going to the final location.
If you seek information on how to begin your Canada immigration application process, you can talk to our MakeHomeCanada experts at 1-800-979-0509, or you can drop us an email at [email protected].
