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Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations

r. 207 Applicants in Canada

  • PART 11 Workers
  • DIVISION 3 Issuance of Work Permits
  • Work Permits

Last verified: June 2026 · Source: justice.gc.ca

The law says

IRPR r. 207
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207 A work permit may be issued under section 200 to a foreign national in Canada who

  • (a)[Repealed, SOR/2017-78, s. 9]
  • (b)is a member of the spouse or common-law partner in Canada class set out in Division 2 of Part 7;
  • (c)is a protected person within the meaning of subsection 95(2) of the Act;
  • (d)has applied to become a permanent resident and the Minister has granted them an exemption under subsection 25(1), 25.1(1) or 25.2(1) of the Act; or
  • (e)is a family member of a person described in any of paragraphs (a) to (d).

Provisions this one cites

IRPA Authority

Amendment History (1)
  • SOR/2010-252, s. 3; SOR/2017-78, s. 9

Justice Laws is the authoritative version. If this copy and it ever differ, Justice Laws wins.

Sections numbered under r. 207

Each of these is its own section of the Regulations, numbered after section 207.

IRPR r. 207.1

Vulnerable workers

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What that means

A worker who is being abused at work can be issued a new permit that frees them from that employer. There must be reasonable grounds to believe you are being abused at work, or are at risk of it. The permit is open to workers who hold an employer-specific permit. It is also open to those who applied to renew one and are working under the automatic authorization while they wait. Your family members in Canada can get one too. For the worker, the usual bar for having worked without authorization or broken a condition does not apply. That waiver (r.200(3.1)) does not cover family members.

The law says

(1)A work permit may be issued under section 200 to a foreign national in Canada if there are reasonable grounds to believe that the foreign national is experiencing or is at risk of experiencing abuse in the context of their employment in Canada and if they

  • (a)hold a work permit issued under subparagraph 200(1)(c)(ii.1) or (iii); or
  • (b)previously held a work permit issued under subparagraph 200(1)(c)(ii.1) or (iii), have applied for a renewal of that permit under subsection 201(1) and are authorized to work in Canada under paragraph 186(u).

Family member of vulnerable worker

(2)A work permit may be issued under section 200 to a foreign national in Canada who is a family member of a person described in paragraph (1)(a) or (b).

Guides that explain this section

Canada Spousal Sponsorship 2026: Timeline, Cost & ProcessOpen Work Permit Eligibility: Who Qualifies in Canada?

Related regulations

IRPR r. 200Work permitsIRPR r. 206No other means of supportIRPR r. 207.1Vulnerable workers