Canada offers opportunities to visitors, students, workers and immigrants, but foreign nationals do not automatically have the same rights as Canadian citizens or permanent residents.
Here are five things foreigners may be prohibited from doing or may need specific authorisation to do in Canada:
1. Work without authorisation
A visitor cannot simply take up employment in Canada because they have a valid visitor visa or eTA.
In most cases, foreign nationals need a work permit before they can legally work in Canada. Working without authorisation can result in removal from Canada, a possible five-year ban on returning and problems with future immigration applications.
2. Vote in federal elections
Foreign nationals who are neither Canadian citizens nor permanent residents cannot vote in Canadian federal elections.
Elections Canada states that voting in federal elections is not permitted for individuals who are neither Canadian citizens nor permanent residents.
3. Run as a candidate in a federal election
Foreign nationals also cannot contest a Canadian federal election.
Under Canada’s election rules, only Canadian citizens who meet the applicable requirements can be candidates for federal office.
4. Freely buy residential property
Non-Canadians are generally prohibited from purchasing residential property under Canada’s Prohibition on the Purchase of Residential Property by Non-Canadians Act.
However, there are important exceptions. For example, certain temporary residents who meet specific conditions can buy a property, while protected persons and some people purchasing with Canadian spouses or common-law partners are also covered by exceptions.
The rules are therefore more accurately described as a restriction on residential property purchases by non-Canadians, rather than an absolute ban on every foreign national buying every type of property.
5. Work or study outside the conditions of your permit
Foreign nationals who come to Canada as workers or students must comply with the conditions attached to their immigration status.
For example, a person holding a study permit cannot simply abandon the conditions of their permit and engage in unauthorised work. Similarly, a foreign worker must respect the conditions attached to their work authorisation.
Violating immigration conditions can have serious consequences, including affecting future applications.
Vanguard News
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