Foreign nationals wanting to extend their temporary resident status, apply for a study or work permit, or renew their study or work permit must apply online if they are doing so from within Canada
There are a few exceptions, however: Individuals with disabilities who are unable to apply online are exempt from this requirement, and natural disasters and system outages will also count as exceptions in which people may submit paper applications.
Applicants can submit paper or online applications from anywhere in the world, but the new rule applies to only those who are submitting their application from within Canada. There are a few programs, such as the Atlantic Immigration Pilot, that are exempt from this rule. For more information about the application process, please visit the Government of Canada website on applying for these permits.