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Work permit

Temporary Residents

General information

Basic requirements

Conditions the applicants must meet
when applying for a work permit

Intention of leaving Canada
Demonstrate ties to the home country to return by the end of authorized work in Canada
Financial requirements
Enough money to cover all reasonable expenses during the stay in Canada and to return to home country
Employability
Have relevant documents to prove the identity and qualifications for the job offered
Field of work
Not intend to work for an ineligible or sex-related businesses
Family members requirements
No criminal records or immigration-related convictions
Admissibility requirements
Not inadmissible on grounds of security, violating human or international rights or organized criminality
Categories of Work Permit
Restricted WP - LMIA Required
Any occupation that are not prohibited which requirements defined by the wage above or below the median wage, but not below provincial minimum wage
Agricultural and Seasonal Agricultural stream
In-home caregiver for children, seniors or persons with certified medical needs
Global Talents in designated occupations or being referred designated referral partners

Employers are required to submit Labour Market Impact Assessment application, work permit is restricted to region, sector, occupation and employer

Restricted WP - No LMIA required
Business visitors or potential investors, no job offer required
Professionals, job offer required
Intra-company transferees for multi-national companies
Traders and investors

Most are required a job offer from a Canadian employer, expertise or work experience in designated occupations
The issuance is based on international agreements between Canada and other countries, the validity will be between 1 to 3 years and some are renewable
Restrictions on region, employer, occupation and other conditions.

Open Work Permit
Spouse and common-law partner of international students or temporary foreign workers who are studying or working in Canada
International students graduated from an eligible program of 8 months or more
Spouse or common-law partner of Canadian or Permanent Resident who resides in Canada and is being sponsored
Work permit holders who submitted their Permanent Resident application by the expiry date of the current work permit
International Experience Canada (Working Holiday Visa) for citizen in certain countries
Open work permit for vulnerable workers
Hong Kong residents graduated from at least a 1 year post-secondary program within the last 5 years Pilot

No restrictions on industry, region, employers and occupations unless prohibited

Authorized occupations to work without a work permit

These occupations may enter Canada for short-term work

Public speakers

News reporters

Media crews

Military personnel

Foreign government officers

Business visitors

Foreign representatives

Performing artists

Examiners and evaluators

Expert witnesses or investigators

Emergency service providers

Pending decision on work permit renewal

On-campus employment

Off-campus work

Transition to work permit

Registered Indians

Religious leaders

Short-term students in a foreign health care program

Convention organizers

Athletes and team members

Crew

Civil aviation inspector

Aviation accident or incident inspector

Judges, referees and similar officials

Application process

Process timeline of work permit application
and how to maintain the legal status while in Canada

Application submission
Stage 1

Submit the application online to IRCC when all the minimum requirements are met and qualified for at least one category.

Biometrics collection
Stage 2

Receive a request from IRCC for biometrics collection at visa application centers to verify identity and admissibility.

Medical examination
Stage 3

Receive a request from IRCC for a medical examination with panel physicians to provide proof of the health conditions.

Decision
Stage 4

Application approved, the passport is required from IRCC to have a counterfoil visa attached to it and ready to come to Canada.

Entry into Canada
Stage 5

Have a short discussion at the port of entry with CBSA about personal information and eligibility and receive the work permit.

Extend the work permit
Stage 6

Comply with conditions on the work permit, extend to maintain the legal status or leave Canada by the expiry date of the permit.

Eligible applications inside Canada or at the port of entry may be exempt from biometrics collection and/or medical examination.
Applicants who maintain their work permit conditions, are eligible and have applied for the extension by the expiry date of existing work permit may continue to work under implied/maintained status until a decision is made.

Success factors

Crucial elements affect the decision

Settlement fund
Age
Language
French
Canadian work experience
Education
Job position
Work experience
Management experience
Admissible
Letter from employer
Occupation in Canada
LMIA
Field study in Canada
Community referral letter
Employer supports
Farm experience
Job offer
Business proposal
Education in Canada

Entitlement

Common advantages for temporary foreign workers and their family members to come to Canada

Benefits
Benefits

Access to high-quality modern public health care as same as Canadian

Advantages to immigrate
Advantages to immigrate

Eligible and/or have additional points in federal or provincial immigration programs

Medical
Medical

Access to high-quality modern public health care as same as Canadian

Family-friendly
Family-friendly

May apply work permit or study permit for spouse, common-law partner or children

Working conditions
Working conditions

Fully protected under federal and provincial employment laws and regulations

Specific requirements

Important requirements the applicant should note

  • Work permits in Canada include the Restricted Work Permit which only authorized the holders to work for a specific employer, region and occupation AND Open Work Permit allows the holders to work without any restrictions except prohibited occupations.
  • Open Work Permit holders must leave Canada by the exipry date of the work, and Restricted Work Permit holders must stop working if their conditions are changed (region, employer, occupation), unless eligible or maintained before the expiry date
  • Accompying spouse or common-law partner and dependents may eligible to apply for work and study permit

Immigration Ineligibility

  • Change the initial purpose of entry
  • Have committed a crime, depends on the seriousness of the conviction
  • Have been, are or will be engaging in organized crime
  • Have been, are or will be engaging in any activities or organizations that are against Canada, contrary to Canada’s interests or endanger the lives or safety of persons in Canada
  • Have a health condition that is dangerous to public health, public safety or may cause excessive demand on health or social services
  • Unable or unwilling to financially support yourself and accompanying family members
  • Have an immigration application refused for misrepresentation in the past 5 years
  • Have been deported for failing to comply with any immigration act or regulation
  • Failed to prove the qualifications to perform main duties listed in the employment contract

Open work permit

  • International students graduated from an eligible program of 8 months or more
  • Spouse and common-law partner of international students or temporary foreign workers who are studying or working in Canada
  • Spouse or common-law partner of Canadian or Permanent Resident who resides in Canada and is being sponsored
  • Work permit holders who submitted their Permanent Resident application by the expiry date of the current work permit
  • International Experience Canada - Working Holiday Visa
    • Only available to citizens of Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Ukraine, United Kingdom.
    • Between 18 to 35 years old
    • Create the profile online, prepare supporting documents and submit a completed application after being invited
  • Open work permits for vulnerable workers - International Mobility Program
  • Temporary public policy for Hong Kong residents who graduated from at least a 1 year post-secondary program within the last 5 years

Restricted Work Permit – LMIA Required

Eligible employers are required to submit Labour Market Impact Assessment application

  • Temporary Foreign Worker Program (Low-wage, High-wage, Agricultural, Seasonal Agricultural)
  • Global Talent Stream
  • Quebec Facilitated LMIA

Restricted Work Permit – Job Offer Required

Under International Mobility Program (IMP), exempt from LMIA requirements, for citizens from countries which Canada has a trade agreement with, including categories such as:

  • Business visitors or potential investors, no job offer required, valid for 6 months and cannot be extended
  • Professionals and Technicians under designated occupations, job offer required, valid up to 3 years and can be extended
  • Intra-company transferees in multi-national companies, job offer required, valid up to 3 years and can be extended
  • Traders and investors, job offer required, valid up to 1 year and can be extended

Each country is qualified for some or all streams noted above. Trade agreements of which Canada is a member:

  • CUSMA: US, Mexico
  • FTA: Chile, Peru, Columbia, Korea, Panama
  • CETA: European Union (Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden)
  • CUKTCA: United Kingdom, Northern Ireland
  • General Agreement on Trade in Services
  • CPTPP (Vietnam, Australia, Brunei, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore)

Regulatory occupations authorized to work without a work permit

  • Public speakers
  • News reporters
  • Media crews
  • Military personnel
  • Foreign government officers
  • Business visitors
  • Foreign representatives
  • Performing artists
  • Examiners and evaluators
  • Expert witnesses or investigators
  • Emergency service providers
  • Pending decision on work permit renewal
  • Short-term students in a foreign health care program
  • On-campus employment
  • Off-campus work
  • Transition to work permit
  • Registered Indians
  • Religious leaders
  • Convention organizers
  • Athletes and team members
  • Crew
  • Civil aviation inspector
  • Aviation accident or incident inspector
  • Judges, referees and similar officials