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Regulation 185 — Specific conditions — visitors, workers, students

Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations r 185 Canada Compilation: 2026-03-17 Verified: 2026-05-23

Text of provision

An officer may impose, vary or cancel the following specific conditions on a temporary resident:

(a) the period authorized for their stay;

(b) the work that they are permitted to engage in, or are prohibited from engaging in, in Canada, including

(i) the type of work,

(ii) the employer,

(ii.1) the duration of the work for any one employer,

(iii) the location of the work,

(iv) the times and periods of the work, and

(v) in the case of a member of a crew, the period within which they must join the means of transportation;

(c) the studies that they are permitted to engage in, or are prohibited from engaging in, in Canada, including

(i) the type of studies or course,

(ii) the educational institution,

(iii) the location of the studies, and

(iv) the times and periods of the studies;

(d) the area within which they are permitted to travel or are prohibited from travelling in Canada; and

(e) the times and places at which they must report for

(i) medical examination, surveillance or treatment, or

(ii) the presentation of evidence of compliance with applicable conditions.

Plain English

Regulation 185 allows officers to impose specific conditions beyond the general conditions in r 183. Specific conditions may include:

  • restrictions on the type of work or employer (e.g., employer-specific work permits);
  • restrictions on location (e.g., limited to a province or region);
  • restrictions on the field or level of study;
  • requirements to report to an officer; and
  • health insurance requirements.

Practical effect

Employer-specific work permits (closed work permits) restrict the holder to working for the named employer in the named occupation and location. Open work permits — held by International graduates, spouses of certain permit holders, and others — impose no employer restrictions.

Study permits are subject to the condition that the holder remain a full-time student at a designated learning institution (DLI), maintain satisfactory academic standing, and not change their level or institution without authorisation.

Information only. Nothing on this page is immigration advice or legal advice. Only an authorised representative (RCIC or immigration lawyer) may give immigration advice in Canada.

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