New Business Immigration Measures: What Your Workers Need to Know

Flexibility of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) Comes Into Effect

Some companies may see a reduction in the time associated with the TFWP. The requirements for external posting and demonstration of recruitment efforts in the province of Québec have been made more flexible for some specific occupations. This will allow companies to be exempted from external advertising and demonstrate their hiring efforts for low-skilled or unskilled occupations (D-level) which are currently affected by the labour shortage in Québec.

This measure was part of the three TFWP flexibility measures announced on August 4 in an agreement between the governments of Canada and Quebec.

Mandatory Vaccination for all Travellers Entering Canada

Since January 15, 2022, certain groups of travellers, who were previously exempt from entry requirements, are required to be fully vaccinated with one of the vaccines approved for entry into Canada. These groups include:

• People travelling to reunite with family (unvaccinated children under the age of 18 will retain their exemption if they are travelling to reunite with an immediate or extended family member who is a Canadian, permanent resident, or a person registered under the Indian Act);
• International students 18 years of age and over;
• Professional and amateur athletes;
• Persons with a valid work permit, including temporary foreign workers (except those working in the agriculture and food processing industry); and
• Essential service providers, including truck drivers.

Unvaccinated or partially vaccinated foreign nationals are only admitted to Canada if they meet the limited exceptions criteria.

International Experience Canada: The Program is Finally Reopened 

For companies looking for young workers, as of January 13, 2022, candidates from many participating countries can submit profiles for the popular Working Holiday and Young Professionals programs.

IEC is a work permit program that allows youth from participating countries to come to Canada to work and travel. For eligibility criteria, please refer to the list of requirements and exemptions.

Canadian Cross-border Truckers: COVID-19 Vaccines Still Mandatory

As of January 15, 2022, truck drivers crossing into Canada from the United States must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. To qualify as a fully vaccinated traveller and enter Canada, foreign truck drivers must:

• Have received at least two doses of a vaccine accepted for travail, a mix of two accepted vaccines;
• Or at least one dose of the Janssen/Johnson & Johnson vaccine;
  – Have received their second dose at least 14 full days before they enter Canada;
• Have submitted all required COVID-19 information into ArriveCAN.

Please note that the United States also requires vaccination for truckers entering their territory.

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Our mission is to help you understand the implications that such changes may have in your current operations and your global mobility planning.