Have you applied for a work permit and now you’re wondering if you can travel to Canada as a visitor before your work permit is approved?
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s long processing delays has caused many of our clients to ask if they are able to enter Canada as a visitor before their work permit is approved.
Entering Canada as a Visitor with Future Intentions

We all know that change is the only guarantee in life. That’s why it’s common for someone’s intentions to change after they initially come to Canada. For example, you might enter Canada as a visitor with the eventual goal of applying for a work permit, study permit, or permanent residency.
To successfully navigate a change in circumstances/intentions/goals, it’s important to be honest and transparent with immigration officials. If you’re not, you might be found guilty of misrepresentation.
Misrepresentation and its Consequences
Misrepresentation occurs when an individual provides false information or withholds important information that can lead an immigration officer to make an error in their decision making. Misrepresentation can occur during an application process or any interaction with immigration officials, such as in person at an airport or land border crossing.
Misrepresentation can result in severe penalties, including being banned from entering Canada for 5 years.
Case Law Summary: 2022 CanLII 87123
In the case of 2022 CanLII 87123 (CA IRB), the Immigration and Refugee Board dealt with a situation involving misrepresentation by a visitor to Canada who later applied for a work permit.
The applicant had entered Canada as a visitor and applied to extend their stay as a visitor 5 months later, on the pretense of a “family visit”. However, between the initial entry and the application to extend, the applicant attended job interviews and a potential employer applied for authorization to hire the applicant. The applicant did not declare their future intent to work in Canada when they applied to extend their stay as a visitor. Consequently, when they applied for a work permit 3 months later, the application was refused and the applicant was found inadmissible to Canada for misrepresentation.
How to Avoid Misrepresentation
When entering Canada as a visitor, it’s important to disclose any future intentions you may have regarding work or permanent residency applications when asked.
It’s also necessary to convince an immigration officer that you will respect the conditions of your stay as a visitor. Here are our recommendations to successfully enter Canada as a visitor if you have a pending work permit application:
- Express intent to respect conditions: Most visitors are not authorized to work in Canada. Demonstrate your knowledge of this condition, express your intent to respect the condition and communicate a well thought out plan of your activities for your intended stay.
- Show proof of funds: Show proof that you have enough money to support yourself during your stay. Ideally, you have prepared a budget, or at least have a clear idea of your anticipated expenses and can show access to sufficient funds to cover these expenses.
- Demonstrate intent and willingness to leave: Express your intent and willingness to leave Canada at the end of your authorized stay. An immigration officer needs to be convinced you will leave within your authorized stay, including if your work permit is expired. A return flight home and other professional, social and family ties outside Canada help.

Here's a practical example to illustrate how to handle this situation:
Case Study: Entering Canada as a Visitor with a Pending Work Permit Application
Our Client left Canada after applying to extend their work permit. Their work permit still wasn’t approved when they returned to Canada so they entered as a visitor.
Upon arrival, our client explained to the immigration officer at the airport that they had to leave Canada due to unforeseen circumstances but had a pending work permit application. They clearly stated their intent to seek re-entry to Canada as a visitor and their commitment not to work until their new work permit was granted.
To support their case, our client provided proof of funds to show they could support themselves without working and expressed intent to respect the conditions of their stay as a visitor.
Their honesty and the supporting documentation convinced the immigration officer that they would comply with the conditions of their stay and not begin working until they received a new work permit. As a result, our client was allowed to enter Canada as a visitor while their work permit application was pending.
TL;DR
Entering Canada with multiple intentions is possible when handled correctly. Keep these tips in mind to avoid being found guilty of misrepresentation:
- Be Honest: Always be transparent about your intentions and explain your situation clearly to immigration officials.
- Respect Conditions: Adhere to the conditions of your current status in Canada. If you’re a visitor, do not work or study without the appropriate permits.
- Provide Evidence: Show that you have a clear plan and the means to support yourself during your stay.
Written on September 11, 2024 by Brooke Finlay