A work permit or authorization to work without a permit is required in order for a foreign national to be allowed to work in Canada under either of the following programs:
- the Temporary Foreign Worker Program
- Employers must obtain a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) to hire foreign workers to fill temporary labour and skill shortages. The LMIA verifies that there is a need for a temporary worker and that no Canadians are available to do the job.
- the International Mobility Program (IMP)
- The IMP lets employers hire temporary workers without an LMIA. Exemptions from the LMIA process are based on both of the following:
- the broader economic, cultural or other competitive advantages for Canada
- the reciprocal benefits enjoyed by Canadians and permanent residents
- The IMP lets employers hire temporary workers without an LMIA. Exemptions from the LMIA process are based on both of the following:
Find out if you need a Work permit to work in Canada
Types of work permits required to work in Canada:
Eligibility requirements for all applicants
There are specific requirements you need to meet depending on where you are when you apply for your work permit.
But regardless of where you apply or which type of work permit you apply for, you must:
- prove to an officer that you will leave Canada when your work permit expires
- show that you have enough money to take care of yourself and your family members during your stay in Canada and to return home
- obey the law and have no record of criminal activity (we may ask you to give us a police clearance certificate),
- not be a danger to Canada’s security
- be in good health and have a medical exam, if needed
- not plan to work for an employer listed with the status “ineligible” on the list of e mployers who failed to comply with the conditions
- not plan to work for an employer who, on a regular basis, offers striptease, erotic dance, escort services or erotic massages, and
- give the officer any other documents they ask for to prove you can enter the country
Eligibility requirements if you apply from outside Canada
Anyone can apply before they enter Canada. However, there may be visa office requirements that you need to meet depending on what country or territory you’re applying from. Make sure you follow the instructions for how to apply.
Eligibility requirements if you apply from inside Canada
You can only apply for a work permit from inside Canada if:
- you have a valid study or work permit
- your spouse, common-law partner or parents have a valid study or work permit
- you’ve graduated from a program at a:
- Canadian university
- community college
- CÉGEP
- publicly funded trade/technical school, or
- other eligible school
- you have a temporary resident permit that is valid for six months or more
- you’re waiting on a decision on an application for permanent residence from inside Canada
- you made or will make a claim for refugee protection
- you’ve been recognized as a convention refugee or protected person by the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada
- you’re allowed to work in Canada without a work permit but you need a work permit to work in a different job, or
- you’re a trader, investor, intra-company transferee or professional under NAFTA
Eligibility requirements if you apply when you enter Canada at a port of entry (POE)
We recommend that you apply for your work permit before you travel to Canada. However, you can apply for a work permit when you enter Canada if:
- you don’t need a visitor visa to come to Canada
AND - you’re applying for an open work permit, or
- your employer has completed all of the required steps for your employer-specific work permit
You may need to take a medical exam before you come to Canada. Find out if you need one.
Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program
If you’ll be working in the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program, you’re not eligible to apply for a work permit at a POE.
Please note that information contained in this article is purely extraced from Canadian Immigration web page and is for informative purposes only. For a detailed evaluation of your case , Please contact us @ youdeserveimmigration@gmail.com
Amy Dhatt
RCIC (Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant)