How can you convert a tourist/visitor visa into a work permit?

If you are not a citizen or permanent resident of Canada, you will need to apply for a tourist or guest visa. A Canadian tourist visa is not the same as a work permit in Canada. A tourist visa is valid for up to six months and a minimum of three months. If you wish to study or work in Canada, you must first get a temporary resident visa. A work and study permit will only allow you to work or study, whilst a visitor’s visa will provide you with more options, although with some restrictions.

The visitor visa holders will be allowed to use some of the perks, such as

• • One can hunt for work and, if successful, convert the visitor’s visa into a work permit. Employers frequently want to meet with prospects in person before hiring them. Finding a work can become easier this way.
  • One can enter, live, and travel anywhere in the country. 
  • If your destination is not Canada, you can go to other regions of the world. 
  • To study in Canada, you must apply for a study permit. However, if the institution is not a Designated Learning Institution (DLI) and the course is completed within 6 months, you can study on a visiting visa.
  • You will complete the course before the expiration of your visiting visa. 
  • You can even apply to prolong your stay in Canada; on average, a visiting visa allows you to stay for 6 months, but you can petition to extend your stay in Canada.
  • Apply for a work permit while on a visitor’s visa; searching for a job on a visitor’s visa was previously not possible, but it is now. Until February 2025, the candidate is not forbidden from looking for work. 
  • Engage in business activities; While a work permit is normally required to work in Canada, a visiting visa allows you to engage in commercial operations that are not directly related to the Canadian labor market.
    • • You can go to a company site.
      • Buy goods or services from Canada.
      • Attend a business event to interact with others. 

However, some practices are forbidden under the visiting visa, such as

Stay Permanently in Canada

If you are on a visitor visa, you cannot stay in Canada for a defined period and must return when the period on the visa expires.

Work in Canada

Without a work permit, you cannot work in Canada or engage in any type of commercial activity. 

Studying in Canada

You cannot enroll in any designated learning institutes (DLI) that last more than 6 months or are part of a lengthier program. You cannot apply for a study visa while you are a guest, but you can apply for a tourist visa to work permit or study visa if you have a family member who has a valid study visa or Work Permit.