Another Blow For In-Canada Workers: IRCC Tightens Reciprocal Work Permits

IRCC has quietly tightened another work permit pathway, and once again, people already living and working in Canada could face the harshest consequences.

Foreign workers applying for a reciprocal employment work permit through a multinational organization must now already have an employer–employee relationship with the organization abroad. In other words, starting employment only after arriving in Canada will no longer meet the reciprocity requirements.

Reciprocal employment work permits exist because Canadians and permanent residents receive similar opportunities to work abroad. The rationale is simple: Canada allows certain foreign workers to come here because Canadians benefit from equivalent international opportunities.