Canada Work Permit is issued to applicants who meet the specific eligibility requirements. People need to apply for a Work Visa only after getting a job offer or an employment contract from a Canadian employer. The employer must obtain from ESDC (Employment and Social Development Canada) an LMIA (Labour Market Impact Assessment), which permits them to recruit foreign skilled workers for occupations that cannot be filled in by citizens or permanent residents of Canada.
As one of the world’s leading economies, Canada is a perfect destination for individuals seeking to work abroad. The Canadian Work Permit Visa is the best route for foreign nationals who are willing to migrate to Canada permanently. Typically, applicants need to have a job offer in hand to apply for a Canada work permit. With our end-to-end overseas career solutions, Y-Axis can help you find a job and apply for a Canadian Work Visa.
*Searching for jobs in Canada? Find the right one with the help of Y-Axis job search services.
Irrespective of the work permit you are applying for, there are certain eligibility requirements you must meet. These include:
Identify your occupation's National Occupational Classification (NOC) code. This code helps determine eligibility for specific immigration programs.
Step 1: Choose the Right Program
Explore Immigration Programs: Research and choose the most suitable immigration program for your profile, such as the Express Entry system, Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), or specific streams like the Atlantic Immigration Pilot.
Step 2: Obtain a Job Offer
Secure a Job Offer: Obtain a valid job offer from a Canadian employer. The employer may need to obtain a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) from ESDC to prove the need for a foreign worker.
Step 3: Gather Required Documents
Collect Necessary Documents: Gather essential documents, including identification, educational qualifications, proof of work experience, language proficiency test results, and a valid job offer letter.
Step 4: Apply for the type of work visa
If you are applying for a work permit, you must create an online profile detailing your skills, work experience, education, language proficiency, and other relevant information.
Step 5: Submit the Application
Submit Online Application: Complete the online application form and submit all required documents through the appropriate immigration portal. Pay the necessary fees.
Step 6: Biometrics and Medical Examination
Provide Biometrics: Attend a biometrics appointment at a designated location.
Undergo Medical Examination: Complete a medical examination by an approved panel physician. Results are submitted directly to the immigration authorities.
Step 7: Wait for Processing
Await Processing: Be patient while your application is processed. Processing times can vary based on the type of work permit and the immigration program.
Step 8: Receive the Canada Work Permit
Receive Work Permit Approval: Once approved, you'll receive your Canada Work Permit. Review the details, including the type of work, locations, and duration.
Step 9: Settle in Canada
Arrive in Canada: Arrive in Canada before or on the date specified on your work permit. Ensure compliance with the conditions outlined in your permit.
Step 10: Consider Permanent Residency
Explore Permanent Residency: If interested, explore pathways to permanent residency in Canada, such as Express Entry's Canadian Experience Class or Provincial Nominee Programs.
Canada Work Permit processing time varies from 2-3 months for overseas applicants. Because it depends on the type of work permit you choose to apply for. The government of Canada allows immigration for family members under the dependent work permit category.
You may be entitled to take your spouse and children to Canada if you obtain a job offer from a Canadian employer and have an open work permit. Your children will be eligible to attend Canadian educational institutions without having to get separate study permits. Your spouse will also be able to apply for an open work permit to work in Canada.
Type of Canada work visa | Fees |
Work permit (including extensions) – per person | $155.00 |
Work permit (including extensions) – per group (3 or more performing artists) | $465.00 |
Maximum fee for a group of 3 or more performing artists applying at the same time and place | |
International Experience Canada | $161.00 |
Open work permit holder | $100.00 |
Restore your status as a worker | $355.00 |
Restore your status ($200) and get a new work permit ($155) | |
Students | |
Study permit (including extensions) - per person | $150.00 |
Restore your status as a student | $350.00 |
Restore your status ($200) and get a new study permit ($150) | |
Inadmissibility | |
Temporary resident permit | $200.00 |
Biometrics | |
Biometrics – per person | $85.00 |
Biometrics - per family (2 or more people) | $170.00 |
Maximum fee for a family of 2 or more people applying at the same time and place | |
Biometrics - per group (3 or more performing artists) | $255.00 |
Maximum fee for a group of 3 or more performing artists applying at the same time and place |
There are 1 million jobs in Canada lying vacant for 3 months. The table below gives information about the top in-demand occupations in Canada, along with the average salaries.
Occupation | Average Salary range in CAD |
Sales Representative | $52,000 to $64,000 |
Accountant | $63,000 to $75,000 |
Engineering Project Manager | $74,000 to $92,000 |
Business Analyst | $73,000 to $87,000 |
IT Project Manager | $92,000 to $114,000 |
Account Manager | $75,000 to $92,000 |
Software Engineer | $83,000 to $99,000 |
Human Resources | $59,000 to $71,000 |
Customer Service Representative | $37,000 to $43,000 |
Administrative Assistant | $37,000 to $46,000 |
Canada has seven types of work permits and different types of visas through which candidates can apply to work. These work permits are:
Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) is essential for candidates who want to migrate to work in Canada. A positive LMIA report helps to enter the local job market of Canada. Candidate needs to apply through Employment and Social Development Canada and Service Canada.
With an open work permit, you can work for any employer in Canada except for those companies that do not comply with labor requirements or are involved in services like escort services, erotic massage, or exotic dancing.
An employer-specific work permit, as the name suggests, is a permit that allows you to work for a specific employer. While the employer-specific work permit pertains to a single employer, the open work permit can come with certain conditions that will be written on it. These include:
Holders of the following visas can apply for an Open Work Permit:
Conditions for the open work permit:
IEC, commonly referred to as International Experience Canada, allows applicants to travel and work in Canada for up to 2 years. There are 3 types of work and travel experiences in Canada, namely:
Canada issued a record number of 608,420 work permits in 2022. This is a huge opportunity for foreign workers seeking to make a better life. Under the Canada Work Permit Visa, you can:
Y-Axis is the immigration consultant of choice for serious applicants for Canada immigration. Our thorough process and end-to-end support ensure you take the right action at every step. We help you with:
Talk to us to evaluate your chances and make an informed decision.
CANADA FSTP | CANADA IEC | CAREGIVER |
CANADA GSS | CANADA PNP | H-1 B HOLDERS |
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To apply and to be eligible for a Canadian work visa, you need to have a valid job offer from an employer. If you have a job offer, it gets easy to apply for a work permit.
You must meet the following requirements to get a work visa:
You can apply for a work permit once you secure a Canadian job offer. Your employer will then apply for an LMIA, and if your employer does not need LMIA then they can submit the employment offer on the Canadian government's employer portal.
Canada work visa steps are:
In order to be eligible you must have:
To get a job visa you must apply for a work permit at a Canadian visa office or from IRCC
This requires you to have the eligibility:
Other things to note:
Yes, you can move to Canada on a work visa. This will make the candidate eligible to live and work in Canada.
Once you have a work permit, you can apply for a permanent residence through immigration program like the Canadian Experience Class.
You must meet the following requirements:
You can also apply through skilled workers stream and this is open to professionals, skilled workers streams, and to those with a provincial nomination
Canadian work permit is a legal document that makes a foreign national eligible and permits to have employment. Securing a job will make a candidate eligible for a work permit. Many work permits are issued by Canada to temporary foreign workers all over the world and working in Canada is a prime destination and excellent step for those seeking to immigrate permanently to the country.
Getting a Canadian work visa is not hard, and it depends on the candidate’s qualifications. If the candidate has the required skills and qualifications, a job offer, in the field which is in demand, language proficiency, work experience and other factors will increase the chances of getting a work visa.
Once you have a job offer, you will be eligible for having a work visa. With a work visa you can live and work in Canada for the specified duration of time in your permit.
Moving to Canada through a sponsored work visa involves having a Canadian employer sponsor your application. The employer must demonstrate a genuine need for a foreign worker, and you should meet the eligibility criteria set by the Canadian immigration authorities.
To apply for a Canadian work permit from your country, you need to follow these steps:
IELTS is mandatory for anyone if they are applying for Canada PR Visa. Your IELTS score will have a good influence on your CRS score in Express Entry. Thus, it is not possible to get the Canada Work Visa without passing in the IELTS test with the required bands.
An overseas worker applying for Canada Work Visa must collate all the required documents from the employer. They will also need the below forms and documents:
* Note: You must complete this form only if a Representative will conduct business on your behalf. It must also be completed by all dependent children above 18 years who will be using a Representative.
Canada Open Work Permit is offered to an overseas national only through one of the LMIA – Labour Market Impact Assessment exemptions. They can apply for the Open Work Permit at a port of entry outside Canada. The application can also be submitted after arrival to Canada according to the requirements of the program.
In most of the cases, the Open Work Permit fee has to be paid along with the Work Permit fee.
There are three categories of open work permits:
The unrestricted open work permit allows a foreigner to travel to Canada and work there on any job for any employer and at any place. In the occupation restricted open work permit the person can work for any employer but only in a specified job. With a restricted work permit, the individual can change the employer but not the place of work.
Canada Work Visa is offered to an overseas national who intends to work in Canada. They must not be a Canada PR Visa holder or Citizen. This is mandatory for working in Canada irrespective of the employer living in Canada or not.
Canada Work Permit application from India requires verification from the labour market in Canada. It is known as the LMO – Labour Market Opinion. The application for Work Visa can be submitted only after getting positive LMO.
The Canada Work Visa process involves 2 stages. In the first stage, the employer in Canada must get approval from the Government of Canada to hire overseas workers. In the second step, the designated employee must apply for obtaining the Work Visa after getting permission.
Yes, in most cases, they can work in Canada. They will need a work permit to work in the country. However, they must individually apply for the work permit. In some cases, they can also apply for an open work permit which allows them to apply for any job with any employer. The employer must get an LMIA to employ the person. The spouse dependent work permit will be processed in 1 to 3 months.
You can apply for spouse dependent work permit as soon as you get your study/work permit in Canada. You will get them approximately around 15 days from arrival.
he visa is not job-specific, so applicants are required to meet similar requirements as applicants for other types of job visas. These include not needing the Labor Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) or an offer letter from an employer who has paid the compliance fee. However not everyone is eligible for the open work permit visa.
Individuals including foreigners who need a job to support themselves
You get an approval letter – known as the Port of Entry (PoE) Letter of Introduction – stating that you are allowed to work in Canada.
This is not a work permit in itself, and will have to be presented at the PoE when you travel to Canada.
Once your work permit application is approved, you can travel to Canada with the PoE Letter of Introduction.
You will get your work permit in Canada at the PoE the day that you arrive in the country.
A Canadian work permit will specifically mention –
· The employer that you are allowed to work for,
· The employer that you can work for,
· How long can you work for, and
· Where can you work in the country.
A 9-digit Social Insurance Number (SIN) will be required for working in Canada and for accessing government benefits and programs.
You should be applying for a SIN – at the nearest Service Canada office – as soon as possible after arriving in Canada.
A common-law partner or spouse that intends working in Canada will have to apply for their own Canadian work permit. Usually, the spouse or partner will have to meet the same rules and requirements as the work permit holder.
The spouse or partner might be able to apply for an open work permit for Canada
Dependent children of the Canada work permit holder might apply to come with the individual to Canada. If they wish, such dependent children might apply for a study permit of Canada or a Canadian work permit
The Canada work permit is to be printed after the border services officer has checked the documentation, confirming that you can enter Canada.
In case of any mistake on the printed work permit, ask the border services office concerned.
To be able to stay on in Canada on a permanent basis after entering the country on a Canada work permit, the individual must qualify under any of the permanent resident categories available.
For example, the Express Entry system, Canadian PNP, Agri-Food Pilot, Atlantic Immigration Pilot etc.