🇨🇦 Canada’s Game-Changing Update: How Foreign Workers Can Start a New Job Without Waiting

If you’re a foreign worker in Canada, the rules just tilted in your favor. The Canadian government has introduced a temporary public policy that’s making job changes faster, easier, and far less stressful.

For years, switching jobs meant you had to wait for your new work permit to be approved before you could start. That delay could stretch for weeks, leaving workers without income and employers short-staffed. Now, that’s changing.

What’s New in the Policy

Under the new rules, eligible foreign workers in Canada can start their new job while their work permit application is still being processed. This applies whether you’re moving to a different employer, changing roles with your current one, or taking on a new opportunity entirely.

You’ll benefit from this update if:

• You’re on maintained status — meaning you’ve already applied to renew your work permit before it expired and can keep working under certain conditions.
• You have a valid work permit tied to a specific employer, but need to move to a new role or employer due to layoffs, career growth, better pay, or other circumstances.
• You’re work-permit exempt for your current role but need a permit for a new job.

The Only Requirement

To take advantage of this fast-start rule, you must have already submitted a work permit application (either for a renewal or a new permit) and be waiting for a decision.

If you meet this condition, you can start working for your new employer without losing time or income.

Why This Matters

Canada’s economy relies heavily on temporary foreign workers to fill crucial labor and skill gaps. But unexpected changes — like layoffs, workplace conflicts, or better career opportunities — have always posed a challenge.

Before this change, you’d have to sit idle until your new work permit was approved. Now, you can get to work right away, while Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) completes the paperwork in the background.

Who Can Benefit

This policy applies to temporary foreign workers already in Canada under either:

• The Temporary Foreign Worker Program
• The International Mobility Program

If you’ve secured a new job offer that meets the requirements of one of these programs, you can start without the wait.

What This Means for Employers

Businesses hiring foreign workers from within Canada won’t face weeks of delay before new employees can join. That means faster hiring, less disruption, and more stability for operations.

For official policy details, visit: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship.html

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