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Getting a work permit on my tourist visa!

aida_me

Newbie
Dec 4, 2019
3
0
hi, everyone I am a bachelor student in software engineering in Iran and I also have a tourist visa of Canada for the next five years. I will be visiting my relatives in Vancouver next summer but I also was wondering is there a way to do an internship there too? I don't want to break any rules so is there a way to get a work permit on my tourist visa or should I just forget about the internship.
thanks
 

k.h.p.

VIP Member
Mar 1, 2019
8,810
2,249
Canada
I would likely forget about the internship, unless you had an LMIA and offer letter that you could use as a starting point for a work permit.

You cannot simply convert a tourist visa to a work permit.
 

aida_me

Newbie
Dec 4, 2019
3
0
Do u mean that even if i get the offer letter and the LMIA I would have to apply for a job permit and i will lose the tourist visa if i get it?
 

k.h.p.

VIP Member
Mar 1, 2019
8,810
2,249
Canada
Even if you got an offer letter and an LMIA you would need to apply for a work permit. It should not invalidate your TRV, but I will caution you that I don't believe it will be possible to get an LMIA for an internship. Will they truly not be able to find any Canadian unwilling to intern?
 

bellaluna

VIP Member
May 23, 2014
7,379
1,769
Yeah, unless you have very rare, special knowledge, you’re not going to find an employer willing to get an LMIA for a software engineering internship in Vancouver for a work permit for you.

If your goal is to leave Iran for good, it’s better off focusing on immigrating through Express Entry.