In most cases foreign nationals require a work permit to work in Canada, although not always. Click here for a full list of occupations where a work permit is not required.

 

There are 2 types of work permit available in Canada -

 

1) Employer specific, or closed work permit, which lays out specific conditions such as the name and location of the employer and the permitted length of stay. 

 

2) Open work permit which allows the applicant to work for any employer in Canada, but is only available under very specific circumstances, such as being a dependent of a permanent residence applicant, or being the spouse of a worker or certain students. Contact us to find out whether you may be eligible for an open work permit.

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In most cases, an employer specific work permit is required, and the first step to acquiring this is for the applicant to contact prospective employers and secure an offer of employment. Once this is achieved, there is a 3-step process which begins with the prospective employer.

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• 1. The employer applies to Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) for a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). This is a mandatory document to show that they have a need for a foreign worker and to show that no Canadians or permanent residents could fill the role. Once a positive LMIA has been acquired, the employer can extend a temporary job offer to the foreign national.

• 2. With the copy of the LMIA, their job offer and their contract, the foreign worker can apply for an employer specific work permit.

• 3. If the application is approved, the foreign national is issued with a work permit.

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Get in touch today to find out more about working in Canada or to Book a Consultation