Work permit process

To work in Canada, the majority of foreign nationals require a work permit. If you’re not sure if you need a work permit, you can find out here.

Type of work permit

Work permits are divided into two categories.

Employer-specific work permit

Employer-specific work permits allow you to work in Canada under certain limitations, such as

• the name of the specific employer you can work for,
• the length of time you can work,
• the place where you can work (if applicable)

Your company must provide you with one of the following items before you apply for an employer-specific work permit:

• Employment contract
• Labour market impact assessment (LMIA)
• For LMIA-exempt employees a number is assigned to an offer of employment. Your employer must use the Employer Portal to obtain this number.

If your company does not require the use of the Employer Portal,

If your employer does not need to use the Employer Portal to submit a job offer, they must nevertheless provide you with a written offer.

Open work permit

An open work permit allows you to work for any employer in Canada, with the exception of those who routinely offer striptease, exotic dancing, escort services, or erotic massages and are classified as ineligible on the list of employers who have failed to comply with the restrictions.

An open work permit is only available in certain circumstances as follows:

You may be eligible for an open work permit if you:

• are an international student who graduated from a designated learning institution and are eligible for the Post-Graduation Work Permit Program
• are a student who’s no longer able to meet the costs of your studies (destitute student)
• have an employer-specific work permit and are being abused or at risk of being abused in relation to your job in Canada
• applied for permanent residence in Canada
• are a dependent family member of someone who applied for permanent residence
• are the spouse or common-law partner of a skilled worker or international student
• are the spouse or common-law partner of an applicant of the Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program
• are a refugee, refugee claimant, protected person, or their family member
• are under an unenforceable removal order
• are a temporary resident permit holder
• are a young worker participating in special programs

Source: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/work-canada/permit/temporary/work-permit.html#centred-popup10

If you’d like to bring your family,

While you work in Canada, your spouse or common-law partner, as well as any dependant children, may be eligible to work, study, or live with you.

Schedule a consultation with us to begin the process of obtaining your work permit.