Key Takeaways

  1. Canada uses a dual system where a work permit, issued by IRCC, is required along with a visa or eTA for entry.
  2. There are employer-specific work permits, which require an LMIA, and open work permits available for those with family or educational ties.
  3. The process involves steps from obtaining a positive LMIA to submitting a work permit application and undergoing biometric and medical tests.
  4. Special provisions exist for U.S. and Mexican citizens under CUSMA, with clear details on processing times and associated fees.

Canada is a vast country, the second-largest in the world in terms of area, and yet it has a relatively small population of just 41.695 million people. This leaves a wide space for opportunities and in recent years, the Canadian has been trying to close that gap by aiming to attract as many as 500,000 immigrants per year. While this includes the relatives of Canadians coming from other countries, it also focuses on foreign professionals. Industries like IT, healthcare, and engineering are continuing to expand in Canada.

With an aging population, the country is looking abroad to find the talented professionals required to support this growth. With an excellent quality of life, high salaries, and lots of employee benefits in Canada, employment in this country can be very attractive. If you want to move to Canada to work, however, you’ll likely need a work permit to help you join the labor market successfully. This process can be complicated but in this article, we’ll help to simplify things for you. We’ll discuss the different types of work permits possible in Canada, how to obtain one, and the duration and cost of this process.

What You Need to Know About Canada’s Work Visa System

Different countries use different systems to allow foreign nationals to enter their borders and seek work opportunities. While some countries, like the US for example, use a single work visa system that allows people to enter and practice their vocations legally, Canada uses a dual system.

Here’s how it works:

Canada Work Permit

The Canadian government department, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), processes applications for work permits. A Canada work permit is a document that officially states that you have permission to work in Canada. 

While this is normally delivered to you as a paper document, it will also be linked to your passport so IRCC can easily access the document when you arrive at a Canadian border. Work permits are normally valid for just one to two years and can’t be given for a period longer than the validity of the applicant’s passport.

Canada Work Visa

If your application for a work permit is approved, you’ll also be issued a visa to enter Canada. This is a separate document that is only used to allow you to travel to Canada. The visa will be a sticker that will be placed in your passport (if you’ve applied through a Canadian consulate abroad). You’ll usually receive a type W-1 visa that identifies you as a worker. Citizens from visa-exempt countries like the US will not need visas to enter Canada.

Canada eTA

When your work permit is approved, you may instead receive an eTA or electronic travel authorization. This is not a physical document but an authorization to enter Canada that is connected to your passport number. When you reach a Canadian border, immigration officers will scan your passport and see your eTA which gives you permission to enter the country.

Types of Work Permits in Canada

If you want to work in Canada, there are two general types of work permits you could be eligible for. You’ll need to have either a job offer from a Canadian employer or some other connection to the country, such as family or education links.

Employer-Specific Work Permit

An employer-specific work permit is one granted to an applicant based on a job offer from a Canadian employer. This type of work permit gives you permission to work for that employer in a specific place and for a set time period. It’s important to recognize, however, that the employer doesn’t “sponsor” the work permit in any way as they do in some other countries. They don’t need to pay fees for the work permit and may not control the holder’s passport as they may be able to do elsewhere.  

This kind of work permit usually requires the employer to first obtain a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) from the federal Department of Employment and Social Development Canada. If the LMIA is positive, this means that a foreign worker is needed for the position they’re hiring for and that no Canadians are available to fill it. However, some types of employees with special skills or from certain countries are exempt from LMIAs. These exemptions can be very useful for employers as obtaining an LMIA can generally take anywhere from one to eight weeks, depending on the type of position being assessed.

To apply for an LMIA, an employer will need to:

  1. Assess whether to apply for a high-income or low-income LMIA stream based on the wage to be paid to the worker and the province in which they will work.
  2. Fill out an application form for the LMIA.
  3. Provide supporting documents (business license, Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) tax documents, recruiting advertisements, etc.).
  4. Pay the LMIA processing fee of 1,000 CAD per position required (unless exempt).

Open Work Permit

Open work permits generally allow the holders to work anywhere in the country and for any compliant employer. Some open work permits may include restrictions to the province or types of employment possible, however. These are typically granted only to eligible:

  • Immediate family members of temporary work permit holders
  • Dependent family members of applicants for permanent residency
  • International students recently graduated from designated institutions 
  • Spouses or partners of current international students
  • Refugees

You can apply for an open work permit from either inside or outside of Canada. Because it’s open, you don’t need to have an offer of employment or an LMIA from an employer to apply.

Canada Work Permit Requirements

Eligibility

If you want to obtain a Canadian work permit, you’ll first need to find out if you’re eligible to receive one. People eligible for open work permits generally have family or educational connections to Canada, as listed above. For employer-specific work permits, however, your eligibility is based on what you can offer Canada and how your employment would affect the Canadian labor market. 

The average salary in Canada and in each province helps to determine whether workers are offered high or low wages.  In high-income stream cases, your eligibility is based on your professional qualifications. To pass an LMIA, your potential employer will need to demonstrate that the skills you possess are in demand in Canada or are unique and can’t be found at all in the country. For example, you may be a surgeon that would be very much needed in Canadian hospitals.

In low-income stream cases, eligibility is generally assessed based on whether or not Canadians are available and willing to perform the job that you’re being offered. For example, you may be applying to work in a fruit-picking job that requires hard labor and pays low wages, so it is not a desirable job for Canadians.

Required Documents

To apply for a work permit in Canada, you’ll need to provide the following:

  • Application for a work permit
  • Job offer letter
  • Valid passport 
  • Two photos
  • LMIA approval, including a copy of the LMIA or an offer of employment number (for LMIA-exempt workers) 
  • Educational and professional certificates, if required, to prove your qualifications
  • Proof of family relationship (if applicable)
  • Proof of graduation from a Canadian institution (if applicable)

Other documents that might be required only for certain types of jobs include:

  • Results of a language proficiency test (like IELTS) 
  • Medical exam results

Application Process for a Canada Work Permit

Thanks to the clear and complete information provided publicly by the government, applying for a work permit in Canada can be a simple process. These are the steps typically involved in the procedure (open work permit applicants would start at step three):

  1. Employer files for LMIA (if not exempt).
  2. Upon receipt of a positive LMIA, the employer extends a formal job offer to the worker.
  3. The worker files a work permit application with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
  4. The worker attends biometric and medical tests (if required).
  5. If approved, a work permit and visa or eTA are issued to the worker.

Processing Time and Costs

Everyone interested in a Canada work permit naturally wants to know how long it will take and how much it will cost. The short answer is that both of these factors vary.

Typical processing time

Processing time varies by permit type and depends on where you’re applying from. For example, an application for a normal work permit from inside Canada currently takes 125 days on average to process. To apply for the same work permit takes only 49 days from Australia, 84 days from Russia, and up to 140 days from India. 

The Global Talent Stream is a way to expedite this process reserved for “ unique, specialized and highly skilled temporary foreign workers.” In these cases, Employment and Social Development Canada (EDSC) tries to process applications within just ten working days.

Cost breakdown

Cost ItemAmount (CAD)
Application Fee$155 for all work permits + $100 for open work permit holders
Biometric Fee$85 for face and fingerprint scans
Medical Exam Costs (if applicable)Approximately $150 for a standard medical exam
Total CostBetween $240 and $490

Work Permit Extension and Renewal

It’s possible to extend your work permit if your employer wants you to continue in your job. If you want to change employers, however, you need to apply for a new work permit though it’s possible to do this while still in Canada. In the case of an open work permit holder, you can extend it as long as you still meet the eligibility requirements to work in Canada. 

The fee to apply for a work permit extension is $155, and an additional $100 for open work permits. You must apply to extend your work permit before the date of its expiry, though it’s recommended to apply at least 30 days before that expiry date. To reapply, workers can apply online. 

You simply need to provide the same documents required for an initial application (see above), replacing the application form with an application for an extension. In case your biometrics have expired (valid for ten years), you’ll also need to provide these again, along with the $85 fee.

Special Pathways for U.S. and Mexican Citizens

Because of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), Canada has a special labor relationship with Mexico and the US. This leaves several special pathways available to make obtaining work permits easier for citizens of these countries who might be attracted by a Recruitment agency in Canada or a Canada Employer of Record, including:  

CUSMA (Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement)

Based on the CUSMA, Canada provides streamlined processes for some professionals. Some CUSMA categories, such as traders, investors, professionals, intra-company transferred executives or managers, and specialized knowledge workers, are exempted from LMIA requirements. This can save weeks to months of waiting for LMIAs to be produced and can help Americans and Mexicans do business efficiently in Canada.

To be eligible, US and Mexican nationals must provide proof of their qualifications, professional licenses, investments, or at least one year of total employment in the past three years with their transferring company. 

Traders and investors can receive work permits for an initial duration of one year. Professionals receive three years and executives and skilled workers can be allowed to work for the duration of their contracts or the validity periods of their passports.

Intra-Company Transfers (ICT)

ICT employees from various countries can have their LMIA requirements waived, including those from Colombia, Chile, the EU, Peru, South Korea, and the UK, in addition to Mexico and the US. These typically include executives, senior managers, and specialized knowledge workers.

  • Employees transferring from U.S. companies to Canadian branches must have worked for the company for at least one year and hold US citizenship.
  • They must also show evidence that the hiring enterprise is or will be doing business in Canada or the US.
  • For specialized knowledge workers, this specialized knowledge must be proven to be held by the workers and not by other workers in Canada.

ICT employees can work in Canada for as long as their travel documents and employment contracts last.

Pathways to Permanent Residence

While holding a work permit doesn’t entitle you to permanent residence status in Canada, it may be a useful step toward this goal. Several other programs offer pathways to permanent residence in Canada, which may help you avoid the need for a work permit, including:

Express Entry

Express Entry is essentially a pool that skilled workers can enter to apply for permanent residency in Canada. Applicants are given points based on their age, education, work experience, and more. Those with the top scores are invited to apply for permanent residency through three programs:

  • Canadian Experience Class – Open to skilled workers who have gained at least one year of work in Canada. Even if they worked remotely or were managed through Canada PEO Services rather than their employer directly, they must be able to prove that they lived and worked physically in the country.
  • Federal Skilled Worker Program – Available to skilled workers with foreign work experience, usually as managers or supervisors and holding degrees.  
  • Federal Skilled Trades Program – For workers who have been in skilled trades for at least five years and have a minimum of two years of work experience in their trades.

Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP)

Each province or territory in Canada has its own needs for immigration and may target groups such as skilled workers, business people, or students. Applicants who meet the requirements can contact a province or territory and request a nomination.

From there, they can be entered into selection pools for either Express Entry or normal permanent residency applications. With a nomination, your chances of being accepted increase.

Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) Program

Students who graduated from designated institutions in Canada in the past two years can apply for PGWPs to temporarily stay and work in Canada.

The PGWP can last for up to three years or as long as your passport’s validity. After working in Canada for a minimum of one year, PGWP holders are eligible to apply for permanent residency. 

Bonus: Which Canada Work Permit is Right for You?

Trying to figure out what kind of Canadian work permit is the right choice? Answer these quick questions to find out which type is right for you:

The quiz consists of 5-6 questions that cover eligibility, job type, nationality, and other criteria, and based on your responses, it suggests one of the following options.

  • Employer-Specific Work Permit (LMIA required)
  • Open Work Permit (spouse, postgraduate, special category)
  • CUSMA Work Permit (for U.S. and Mexican citizens)
  • Intra-Company Transfer
  • Express Entry (if seeking permanent residency)
Question Options
What is your nationality? Options: U.S. Citizen, Mexican Citizen, Other
Do you have a job offer from a Canadian employer? Yes / No
Is the job offer part of an international transfer within your company? Yes / No
Are you a recent graduate from a Canadian institution? Yes / No
Are you applying as a spouse of someone working or studying in Canada? Yes / No

Secure Your Canadian Work Visa and Start Your Dream Job Today!

Canada is an attractive country for immigrants and workers from around the world. To work in the country, however, it’s necessary to obtain a work permit. With a standing job offer, you may be eligible for an employer-specific work permit. 

If you have educational or family connections in Canada, you may be able to obtain an open work permit that lets you choose where you choose. While there are special pathways to speed the process along for North Americans and some other nationals, it’s always best to start the application process well ahead of time and seek expert advice so your work in Canada isn’t delayed.

Frequently Asked Questions

This depends on the type of work permit you hold. If you hold an open work permit, you’re free to change employers and work locations in much the same way as a Canadian citizen can. 

However, if you hold an employer-specific work permit, you must apply for a new work permit if you wish to change employers. This can be done while still in Canada and holding your current work permit.

Most work permits in Canada are issued for up to one or two years and never longer than the validity period of your passport. However, if your employment contract will continue and you still meet all the requirements, you may be able to extend your work permit. There is no limit to the number of extensions possible except for the limitation of your passport’s validity.

If you hold a valid Canadian work permit, your close relatives (spouse, children under 21, parents, grandparents, uncles, aunts, nieces, or nephews) may apply for dependent visas to enter Canada. This can allow them to study in the country or apply for open work permits so they can work for any employer.