Change Employer on a Work Permit in Canada: Rules & Interim Work Authorization

1. Can You Change Employers on a Canadian Work Permit?

Whether you can change employers without first obtaining a new work permit depends primarily on the type of work authorization you hold.

There is an important distinction between:

• an open work permit, which generally allows employment with different employers; and
• an employer-specific work permit, which normally restricts employment to the employer and other conditions identified on the permit.

If you hold an employer-specific work permit and want to work for another employer, you generally need to apply for a new employer-specific work permit.

However, eligible workers already in Canada may be able to request temporary authorization from IRCC to begin the new employment while the new work permit application is being processed.

For the broader Canadian work authorization framework, see the Work Permit Canada: Requirements & Complete Guide .

2. Open Work Permit vs Employer-Specific Work Permit

The first step is identifying the type of work permit you hold.

Employer-specific work permits can contain conditions concerning the employer, occupation, location and period of authorized employment.

For a detailed explanation of employer-specific permits, see the Employer-Specific Work Permit Canada guide .

For open permits, see the Open Work Permit Canada guide .

3. Work Permit Conditions Under Canadian Immigration Law

Canadian immigration law allows officers to impose specific conditions on a temporary resident's authorization to work.

Under section 185 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations, those conditions can concern:

• the type of work;
• the employer;
• the duration of work for any one employer;
• the location of the work;
• the times and periods of work; and
• other conditions authorized by the Regulations.

This is why an employer-specific work permit holder cannot simply treat a new employment contract as replacing the conditions imposed by IRCC.

Those immigration conditions remain legally relevant until they are changed through a new authorization or an applicable exemption.

4. When Do You Need a New Work Permit?

An employer-specific work permit holder generally needs to apply for a new work permit when changing employers.

A new or changed permit may also be required where there is a substantial change involving:

• the occupation;
• the employment duties;
• wages or employment conditions;
• the work location; or
• another condition imposed on the existing permit.

IRCC currently instructs employers that a temporary worker should apply to change the conditions of their permit as soon as possible where the occupation, wages or conditions are changing substantially or the worker is changing employers.

The appropriate application depends on the worker's current status and the legal basis for the new employment.

5. What Must the New Employer Do?

Before the worker submits the new employer-specific work permit application, the new employer generally needs to complete the employer-side immigration process applicable to the position.

There are two principal possibilities.

LMIA-required employment

Where an LMIA is required, the employer generally needs a positive Labour Market Impact Assessment before the worker can rely on it for the new work permit application.

LMIA-exempt employment

Where the employment falls under an applicable International Mobility Program exemption, the employer may need to:

• submit an offer of employment through the Employer Portal;
• pay the employer compliance fee, unless exempt; and
• provide the worker with the offer of employment number required for the work permit application.

The fact that the worker is already in Canada does not eliminate these employer-side requirements.

See the LMIA Work Permit Canada guide and LMIA-Exempt Work Permit Canada guide .

6. IRCC Changing Employers Public Policy

IRCC currently maintains a temporary public policy that can help eligible temporary foreign workers already in Canada change jobs or employers more quickly.

Without this facilitation, an employer-specific work permit holder who needs a different employer-specific permit would ordinarily need to wait for the new permit before beginning the new employment.

The public policy allows qualifying applicants to request exemptions that can authorize them to begin the new employment while IRCC processes the related work permit application.

The current policy was signed on March 4, 2025 and replaced the earlier COVID-19 changing-employer public policy.

As of September 2026, the current policy remains in effect until revoked by the Minister.

7. Why Does the Changing Employers Process Exist?

IRCC recognizes that employment relationships can end or change before a worker's Canadian work permit expires.

The current public policy expressly recognizes circumstances that can include:

• taking a new role with the same employer;
• being laid off;
• workplace conflict or incompatibility;
• seeking better compensation; or
• pursuing professional growth with a different employer.

The process is therefore not restricted to workers who have been dismissed or laid off.

Its purpose is to reduce the period during which an eligible worker already in Canada must wait before beginning qualifying new employment.

8. Who Can Request Interim Authorization to Change Employers?

The current public policy contains specific eligibility requirements.

Among other requirements, the foreign national must:

• be physically in Canada with valid temporary resident status;
• meet the applicable in-Canada work permit application requirements under paragraph 199(a) or 199(b) of the Regulations;
• have submitted a qualifying new or renewal employer-specific work permit application;
• still be waiting for a decision on that application;
• intend to work for the new employer and/or in the new occupation specified in the work permit application;
• request the public-policy exemption through the method identified by IRCC; and
• request that the exemption apply until a decision is made on the work permit application.

The worker must also continue to satisfy all other applicable immigration eligibility and admissibility requirements that are not exempted by the public policy.

9. Workers Who May Benefit From the Public Policy

The current public policy identifies several groups expected to benefit from the measure.

Employer-specific work permit holders

A worker can still hold a valid employer-specific work permit but need to move to another employer or occupation.

Workers on maintained status

A worker may be authorized to continue working while a new work permit application is pending but remain bound by the conditions of the expired employer-specific permit.

Certain work-permit-exempt workers

A foreign national who was authorized to work without a work permit may need an employer-specific work permit for the new employment.

The public policy does not remove the requirement to satisfy its specific eligibility conditions.

10. How to Change Employers Before the New Work Permit Is Approved

The process has two distinct immigration steps.

1. Obtain the qualifying new job offer.
2. Complete the required employer-side LMIA or LMIA-exempt process.
3. Submit the new employer-specific work permit application.
4. After submitting the work permit application, send the changing-employer request to IRCC through the web form.
5. Include the required priority code and information.
6. Wait for IRCC to confirm that the requested work authorization has been granted.
7. Begin the new employment only when legally authorized.
8. Continue monitoring the underlying work permit application until IRCC makes the final decision.

For the general application process, see How to Apply for a Work Permit in Canada .

11. What Is PPCHANGEWORK2020?

IRCC currently instructs eligible workers requesting changing-employer authorization to use the priority code:

PPCHANGEWORK2020

The code is included in the IRCC web-form request after the new employer-specific work permit application has been submitted.

The request identifies information including:

• the existing or previous work permit;
• the existing employer or occupation;
• the new employer;
• the new occupation and NOC code;
• confirmation that the new work permit application was submitted; and
• the request for consideration under the changing-employer public policy.

12. Can You Start the New Job Immediately After Sending the Web Form?

No.

Submitting the new work permit application and sending the changing-employer web form do not, by themselves, mean that the worker may immediately begin the new job.

The worker should wait until IRCC provides the applicable authorization to begin the new employment.

Until that authorization is received, the worker must comply with the work authorization that currently applies to them.

Beginning unauthorized employment can create immigration consequences and can affect future work permit eligibility.

13. What if Your Existing Employer-Specific Work Permit Is Still Valid?

A valid employer-specific work permit remains subject to its conditions until it expires or the worker receives another legal authorization.

If the worker wants to move to another employer, the usual sequence is:

• secure the qualifying new employment;
• complete the required employer-side process;
• apply for the new employer-specific work permit;
• request interim authorization if eligible; and
• wait for authorization before beginning the new job.

The worker does not need to wait for the existing permit to expire before applying for the new employer-specific permit.

14. Changing Employers While on Maintained Status

Maintained status can preserve a worker's authorization after the existing work permit expires when a qualifying extension or change application was submitted before expiry.

However, maintained-status work authorization normally continues under the conditions of the expired work permit.

For an employer-specific permit, IRCC currently describes those continuing conditions as the same:

• employer;
• job; and
• work location.

This means maintained status does not itself authorize the worker to move to the new employer.

The changing-employer public policy can be important in this situation because an eligible worker may request authorization to begin the new employment before IRCC decides the work permit application.

For a complete explanation, see Canada Work Permit Extension .

15. Changing Employers After Losing Your Job

Losing the job connected to an employer-specific work permit does not automatically cancel the worker's temporary resident status, but it also does not create authorization to work for another employer.

IRCC currently instructs an employer-specific work permit holder who loses the related job and wants to continue working in Canada to:

• obtain a new qualifying job offer;
• apply for the required new work permit while remaining in Canada; and
• stop working until authorized to begin the new employment.

If eligible, the worker can request authorization under the changing-employer public policy instead of necessarily waiting for the final work permit decision.

16. Can You Change Employers if You Quit Your Job?

The changing-employer process is not restricted to workers who were terminated by their employer.

IRCC's current public policy recognizes that a worker may want to change employment for reasons including:

• workplace incompatibility;
• better compensation;
• professional advancement; or
• another employment opportunity.

A worker can therefore voluntarily leave an employment relationship, but must still have legal authorization before performing work for the new employer.

Employment-law obligations relating to notice, contracts or workplace rights are separate from immigration authorization.

17. Changing Jobs With the Same Employer

A change within the same company can still create a work permit issue.

An employer-specific permit can restrict the worker not only by employer but also by occupation and other employment conditions.

A substantial change in:

• occupation;
• job duties;
• wages;
• work location; or
• other employment conditions

can require a change to the work permit even where the legal employer remains the same.

The current changing-employer public policy expressly contemplates a worker taking on a new role with the same employer where a new work permit is required.

18. Changing Work Location on an Employer-Specific Permit

Work location can be a condition imposed on an employer-specific work permit.

A worker should therefore check the actual permit before moving to another worksite, city or province for employment.

Whether a new permit or change-of-conditions application is required depends on:

• the conditions printed on the permit;
• the underlying LMIA or LMIA exemption;
• the nature of the location change; and
• whether the proposed employment remains consistent with the authorization already granted.

A change in work location should not be assumed to be purely an employment-contract issue.

19. Changing Employers With an Open Work Permit

A valid open work permit generally allows the holder to change employers without applying for a new work permit each time.

However, open work permits can still contain restrictions.

The worker should review the permit for conditions affecting:

• particular occupations;
• employment requiring an immigration medical examination;
• prohibited employers or industries; or
• other conditions imposed by IRCC.

Open work permit holders do not normally need to use the changing-employer public policy merely to move between employers where their existing open authorization already permits the new work.

20. Changing Employers Because of Abuse or Risk of Abuse

A separate immigration measure exists for certain employer-specific work permit holders who are experiencing abuse or are at risk of abuse in relation to their employment in Canada.

Eligible workers may apply for an open work permit for vulnerable workers.

This measure is intended to help qualifying workers leave an abusive employment situation and find other work.

It should be distinguished from the ordinary changing-employer public policy.

A worker facing abuse should assess the vulnerable-worker provisions directly rather than assuming the ordinary employer-change process is the only available option.

21. International Experience Canada and Employer Changes

International Experience Canada participants should not assume that the general changing- employer rules apply in exactly the same way to their IEC work permit.

IRCC specifically instructs IEC participants to check whether they are eligible to change employers under the IEC rules before using the changing-employer process.

This is particularly relevant to IEC categories that issue employer-specific rather than open work permits.

The worker should first determine whether the IEC program permits the requested employer change and what documentation is required.

22. Documents for a New Employer Work Permit Application

The documents required depend on whether the new employment is LMIA-required or LMIA-exempt and on the worker's individual circumstances.

Common documents can include:

• passport;
• current work permit;
• new employment offer or contract;
• positive LMIA, where required;
• Employer Portal offer of employment number, where required;
• evidence supporting the applicable LMIA exemption;
• evidence that the worker meets the occupational requirements;
• immigration medical examination evidence, where applicable; and
• other documents identified by IRCC for the particular application.

The changing-employer web-form request is an additional step and does not replace the supporting documents required for the work permit itself.

See the Canada Work Permit Documents Checklist .

23. Fees When Changing Employers

Changing employers normally involves a new employer-specific work permit application.

The applicable IRCC work permit processing fee therefore applies unless the applicant falls within a fee-exempt category.

Depending on the new employment route, the employer may also have costs associated with:

• an LMIA application; or
• the employer compliance fee for an LMIA-exempt Employer Portal submission.

Employer-side fees and worker-side immigration fees should not be confused.

For current work permit and biometrics fees, see Canada Work Permit Fees and Biometrics .

24. What Happens After IRCC Gives Interim Work Authorization?

If IRCC grants the requested public-policy exemption, the eligible worker can begin the new employment according to the authorization provided while the related work permit application remains pending.

The exemption applies until:

• IRCC makes a decision on the work permit application; or
• the work permit application is withdrawn.

The interim authorization does not guarantee that the underlying work permit will ultimately be approved.

The worker must continue to satisfy all immigration requirements that have not been specifically exempted.

25. What if the New Employer Work Permit Is Refused?

Interim authorization under the changing-employer public policy does not predetermine the final work permit decision.

If IRCC refuses the underlying work permit application, the interim public-policy authorization tied to that pending application ends.

The worker must then determine whether another legal authorization permits continued work.

The next steps depend on:

• the refusal reason;
• the worker's current immigration status;
• whether another work permit application is available;
• whether restoration is relevant; and
• whether the decision raises a legal or procedural issue.

For refusal strategy, see Canada Work Permit Refusal: Reasons, Reapplication & Next Steps .

26. Why You Should Not Start the New Job Without Authorization

Working for a new employer contrary to the conditions of an employer-specific work permit can constitute unauthorized work.

Canadian immigration law generally requires a temporary resident to refrain from working unless the work is authorized by the Regulations or the applicable work permit.

Non-compliance can affect:

• current temporary resident status;
• future work permit eligibility;
• future temporary residence applications;
• permanent residence applications where immigration history is relevant; and
• other immigration proceedings.

Section 200 of the Regulations also contains restrictions relevant to foreign nationals who have engaged in unauthorized work or failed to comply with certain previous permit conditions, subject to specified exceptions.

27. Is the Changing Employers Process Permanent?

As of September 2026, the streamlined process is still based on a temporary public policy rather than a permanent changing-employer provision embedded in the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations.

IRCC's current Forward Regulatory Plan proposes amendments that would make the streamlined process permanent through the Regulations.

The proposal would allow qualifying temporary workers who have applied for a new work permit to begin the new job before the new permit is issued and would also address employer compliance during that period.

IRCC currently targets pre-publication of the proposed final amendments in the Canada Gazette, Part I, for Winter 2027.

28. Common Mistakes When Changing Employers

Starting the new job after receiving only the job offer

A job offer does not override the conditions of an employer-specific work permit.

Sending the web form before applying for the new work permit

The qualifying new employer-specific work permit application must first be submitted and remain pending.

Starting work immediately after sending the web form

The worker should wait for the applicable IRCC authorization before beginning the new employment.

Forgetting PPCHANGEWORK2020

IRCC currently instructs applicants to include this priority code in the changing-employer web form request.

Assuming maintained status permits the new job

Maintained-status work authorization normally continues under the conditions of the expired permit. It does not automatically authorize a different employer.

Ignoring the employer-side immigration process

The new employer may need a positive LMIA or an LMIA-exempt Employer Portal submission before the worker applies.

Assuming the process is only for laid-off workers

The current policy contemplates several reasons for changing employment, including better compensation and professional growth.

Treating the interim authorization as final work permit approval

IRCC must still decide the underlying work permit application.

29. Changing Employers Checklist

30. Changing Employers on a Work Permit FAQs

Can I change employers on a Canadian work permit?

If you have an open work permit, you can generally change employers while the permit remains valid, subject to any restrictions. If you have an employer-specific work permit, you normally need to apply for a new work permit before working for another employer.

Do I need a new work permit to change employers?

An employer-specific work permit holder generally needs a new employer-specific work permit when moving to another employer. Eligible workers in Canada may be able to request interim authorization to start the new job before IRCC makes the final decision.

Can I start working for the new employer while my permit is processing?

Potentially. IRCC's current changing-employer public policy allows qualifying workers to request authorization to begin the new employment while the related work permit application is pending.

Can I start the new job as soon as I submit the new work permit application?

No. Submitting the application alone does not authorize the new employment. If relying on the changing-employer process, you must request and receive the applicable IRCC authorization before starting the new job.

What is PPCHANGEWORK2020?

PPCHANGEWORK2020 is the priority code IRCC currently instructs eligible applicants to include in the web-form request for authorization to begin new employment while a qualifying work permit application is being processed.

Is PPCHANGEWORK2020 still valid in 2026?

Yes. IRCC's current changing-employer instructions continue to use the PPCHANGEWORK2020 priority code. The underlying public policy itself was replaced by a new changing-employment public policy signed in March 2025.

Can I change employers if I am on maintained status?

Maintained status does not itself authorize an employer-specific worker to begin working for a different employer. Eligible workers may, however, request authorization under IRCC's changing-employer public policy.

Can I change employers if my existing work permit is still valid?

Yes, you can apply for a new employer-specific work permit before the existing permit expires. You must still obtain authorization before beginning work for the new employer.

Can I change employers if I quit my current job?

Potentially. The changing-employer process is not limited to layoffs or termination. The current public policy recognizes circumstances including workplace incompatibility, better compensation and professional growth.

Can I change employers if I was laid off?

Yes, if you can obtain qualifying new employment and meet the requirements for a new work permit. Eligible workers may also request interim authorization to begin the new employment while IRCC processes the application.

Can I work for the new employer while waiting for an LMIA?

Not merely because the LMIA is pending. The employer-side requirements and the worker's qualifying work permit application must satisfy the applicable rules before the worker can rely on the changing-employer process.

Do open work permit holders need PPCHANGEWORK2020?

Normally no. A valid open work permit generally already authorizes the holder to change employers without applying for a new permit solely because of the employer change, subject to any conditions on the permit.

Can I change my occupation but stay with the same employer?

A substantial occupational change can require a new or changed work permit even where the employer remains the same. The conditions on the permit and the underlying LMIA or LMIA exemption should be reviewed.

Can I change my work location?

Work location can be a condition on an employer-specific permit. A significant location change may therefore require a new or changed permit depending on the existing authorization and the underlying work permit basis.

What if I am being abused by my employer?

Certain employer-specific work permit holders who are experiencing abuse or are at risk of abuse in relation to their employment may qualify for the separate open work permit for vulnerable workers.

What happens if IRCC refuses my new employer work permit?

Interim authorization under the changing-employer public policy ends when the underlying work permit application is decided or withdrawn. If the application is refused, you must determine whether another independent authorization permits continued work.

Is Canada's changing-employer process permanent?

As of September 2026, the streamlined process continues under a temporary public policy. IRCC has proposed regulatory amendments to make the process permanent, with pre-publication currently targeted for Winter 2027.