Canada admits over 90,000 temporary foreign workers each year. Temporary workers help fill Canada’s labor shortage. Most temporary workers require work authorization, but some do not.
Requirements:
To apply for a Canada work permit, you must meet the following general requirements:
Receive a job offer from a Canadian employer in a qualifying occupation;
Obtain a positive Labour Market Impact Assessment (your employer must do this)
Satisfy an immigration officer that you will leave Canada at the end of your authorized period;
Show that you have enough money to support yourself and any accompanying family members for the duration of your stay in Canada;
Prove that you have no criminal history or any serious medical conditions.
Please note that the Canada Work Permit is a temporary work permit which will allow you to work in Canada for a specific period of time. If you wish to work in Canada on a more permanent basis, you will need to go through the Canada immigration process. However, a Canada work permit can be the first step in the immigration process for you if you wish to remain in Canada indefinitely. There are many options for immigration to Canada for foreign workers. You may click on one of the immigration options at the top of this page to read more about these options. Many of the immigration programs, such as the skilled worker immigration programs or business immigration programs, require you to have prior work experience so you may qualify for one of these programs now or you may apply for the Canada Work Permit and then apply for immigration once you have completed the requirements for the immigration program you wish to participate in.
Special Categories of Workers
Some workers have additional specific requirements that they must meet before they are eligible for a Canada work permit. The following occupations have their own special requirements:
Information Technology Workers
Live-in Caregivers
Business People
Work Permit FAQ
You may only apply for a Canada work permit from within Canada if you meet the following specifications:
you have a valid study or work permit in Canada, or your spouse or parents have a study or work permit in Canada;
you have a Canada work permit for one job but want to apply for a Canada work permit with a different employer;
you have a temporary resident permit that is valid for six (6) months or more, or
you are in Canada because you have already filed for permanent residence from inside Canada
Before you can apply for your Canada work permit, you must have an offer of employment from a Canadian employer and your potential employer must apply for and obtain a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). If your employer has already obtained a positive LMIA, they must provide you with this letter in order to begin the process of your Canada work permit application. Canadian Employers who wish to hire foreign workers to fill shortages in their company should call our office for more information on applying for and obtaining an LMO. If you are a foreign worker with a job offer and are unsure about the next step in your Canada work permit application process, you may call us to assist you in obtaining all the necessary documentation for your Canada work permit.
As we are not a placement agency, we cannot assist you in finding a job in Canada. You must find and apply for a job on your own before you can request a Canada work permit. We recommend that you come to Canada for a visit to see what options are available in the area that you are interested in living and working. If you have already been to Canada and have had no luck finding a job or if you are unable to come to Canada for any reason, you may also look for jobs on any of the following job-search websites:
HRSDC Job Bank – www.jobbank.gc.ca
Monster.ca – www.monster.ca
Workopolis.com – www.workopolis.com
If you are interested in coming to Canada for an initial exploratory visit and you require a Canada visitor visa, we can help you with that. Find out if you require a visa to enter Canada and see if you qualify for a Canada visitor visa either by clicking on the link to the Canada visitor visa page or contacting one of our qualified immigration consultants.
If you are married or in a common-law relationship and are applying for or have obtained a Canada work permit with a job offer from a Canada employer, your spouse may be eligible to apply for an ‘open’ work permit. An open work permit authorizes the foreign worker to work anywhere within Canada without the restriction of working for a specific employer. You may apply for an open work permit for your spouse at the same time as you apply for your Canada work permit as long as you have a job offer. In some cases, you may also be required to apply for a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) for yourself, your spouse and/or any dependent children who you plan to bring with you into Canada. To find out whether you need a TRV, contact us to speak with an immigration consultant.
Dependent children who are accompanying you to Canada may qualify to study in Canada and/or may be able to obtain an open work permit in Canada. If a study or work permit is required, your children will need to complete all the necessary forms and submit them along with your Canada work permit application in order to be considered eligible to live, work, and/or study in Canada. For more information about bringing your dependents to Canada with you and to find out whether your children will require a study permit to attend school in Canada, contact one of our immigration consultants or take our free assessment.
Foreign students who are studying at a Canada institution with a Canada student visa (study permit) may be eligible to work in Canada, either on or off-campus. In the majority of cases, a Canada work permit is required for international students who wish to work in Canada. If you are currently studying in Canada and would like to also work in Canada, you may read more about working and studying in Canada or call us to find out whether you need a Canada work permit and/or to begin your application process.
You may need to undergo a medical examination prior to attaining your Canada work permit if you wish to work in facilities where it is important to protect public health such as health services, childcare, primary or secondary education; or you are coming to work in an agricultural occupation; or you are seeking to enter Canada to work for a period greater than six (6) months and you have lived in a designated country or territory for six (6) consecutive months during the one-year period immediately preceding the date of your seeking entry.
If a medical examination is required, you will be informed by an immigration officer who will send you instructions on how to proceed.
Additional Information
Canadian Employers
Canadian employers who wish to fill immediate skills and labour shortages may hire a temporary foreign worker for the position. As an employer you must meet the following basic requirements before hiring a foreign worker:
You must demonstrate that you have made reasonable efforts to find and employ Canadian citizens and/or permanent residents for the position being offered.
You must provide the foreign worker with a genuine job offer and proper working conditions including paying the foreign worker the prevailing wage for the position offered.
You must apply for and receive a positive Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) from Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC).
There are many options for Canadian employers looking to hire foreign workers for either temporary or permanent work in Canada. Can-Am Immigration can assist Canadian employers in obtaining a positive LMIA and getting a Canada work permit for foreign workers. Additionally, if you have temporary foreign workers to whom you wish to offer full-time employment, we can assist you in the immigration process for these workers. If you are a Canadian employer who wishes to hire foreign workers, click here for more information.
Work Permit Options
There are several different categories for foreign workers who wish to apply for a Canada work permit.
Foreign workers with a job offer from a Canadian employer with a positive Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) may apply for a Canada work permit.
If you are currently working in Canada for a Canadian employer and have a job offer from another employer, you must apply for a new work permit to extend your stay and change conditions in Canada.
If you are working for a Canadian company with a foreign office outside of Canada and your employer requests to transfer you to an office within Canada, you may apply for a Canada work permit as long as your Canadian employer obtains a positive LMO to hire foreign workers.
International students who have graduated from a Canadian institution may qualify for an open work permit under the Post-Graduation Work Permit Program. If you are a student who wishes to work and study in Canada, you may apply for a Canada work permit as well.
In any of these cases, a Canada work permit is required before you may legally begin working in Canada. However, the route by which you must obtain your Canada work permit may vary depending on the situation. To prevent any errors on your work permit application, we recommend you speak with an immigration consultant to assess the best way to start the process of your Canada work permit application.
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Our certified legal representatives can assist you with all of your immigration needs. Call us today for answers to any of your immigration questions or take our free online assessment to see if you qualify for any of the available Canada Immigration Programs.
