Canadian Work Permits & Visas
In each year, Canada issues about half a million work permits to temporary foreign workers around the world.
Canada is a prime destination for foreign nationals seeking employment who want to immigrate permanently to the country.
Is it possible for anyone to work in Canada?
There are some foreign nationals who are exempt from needing a work permit in Canada.
The majority of candidates will need a Canadian job offer with a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) in order to apply for a work permit. Foreign workers may apply for a work permit without an LMIA under certain circumstances. You may qualify for this if you are a recent graduate from a Canadian Designated Learning Institute (DLI) or if you are married to a Canadian citizen with a work or study permit.
A work permit applicant must also meet the following requirements:
- ✅When their work authorization expires, show their intent to leave
- ✅Make sure they have sufficient funds to support themselves and their families in Canada
- ✅Are not inadmissible to Canada for criminal or medical reasons
- ✅Employed by an eligible company
- ✅They are able to provide any documents required to prove their eligibility for entry into Canada
Obtaining a Canadian work permit:
Canadian work permits vary greatly depending on what type of work permit a person is seeking. International students in Canada are often automatically permitted to work part-time as part of their study permit authorization.
For most closed work permit applications, a foreign national must have a job offer from a Canadian employer supported by a Labour Market Impact Assessment. For those who are exempt from the LMIA or do not require a work permit, it is important to be aware of the unique documentation they must submit. There are two types of Canadian work permits: closed (restricted) and open ones.
Unless they change their work permit, foreign nationals with closed work permits must remain with the same employer.
What can I do with a Canadian work permit?
Depending on what kind of work permit you are eligible for, restrictions may also apply to them. Work permits specify what restrictions apply to them. Aside from the type of work you can do, where and with whom you can work, and the length of time you can work, conditions may also apply. The possibility of sexual exploitation in a business is illegal for all work permit holders.
For an evaluation of your immigration options if you are currently working in Canada and would like to stay permanently, complete our free assessment form.
Can I include my family in my work permit application?
You may be able to bring your spouse and dependent children to Canada if you apply for an employer-sponsored work permit.
Children under the age of 18 may attend Canadian educational institutions without a separate study permit. Your spouse or partner may also qualify for an open work permit, allowing them to work for any employer in Canada.
How do I apply for a work permit?
Our office will be happy to assist you with scheduling a consultation if you need help figuring out which type of work permit you will need.
What documents am I required to submit when applying for a Canadian work permit?
You will need to provide the following documents, depending on the type of Canadian work permit you are applying for:
- ✅An applicant’s completed application form
- ✅Proof of Canadian citizenship (if applicable)
- ✅(If applicable) Proof of family status
- ✅Impact on the labour market (if applicable)
- ✅If applicable, a written offer of employment
- ✅Curriculum vitae/resume
- ✅Marriage certificate (if applicable)
- ✅(If applicable) the Québec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ)
- ✅Proof that you meet the job requirements is required
- ✅Valid passport copy
- ✅Education credentials
- ✅Medical exam results (if requested)
- ✅Proof of one’s ability to stay in Canada and return home
- ✅Government fees
- ✅Recent passport-sized photos
- ✅Biometrics are required for Canadian work permits
Candidates applying for work permits from within Canada are exempt from providing biometrics at the moment. Candidates outside of Canada are still required to provide biometrics once they receive biometrics instruction letters.
Police clearances are required for Canadian work permits
Your initial application may require you to provide a police clearance certificate. This document may be part of your application checklist.
Applicants for work permits may be required to provide a police clearance certificate from any country where they have lived for more than six months.
Canadians must undergo a medical exam to obtain a work permit
Foreign nationals applying to work in Canada may be required to take a medical exam, depending on how long they plan to stay, where they have lived, and what they plan to do.
With some exceptions, a medical exam is unlikely to be required if you intend to work in Canada for less than 6 months. You will need a medical examination if you intend to work in a job involving close contact with people or if you are an agricultural worker who has traveled abroad.
If you plan to work in Canada for more than six months, you will need to take a medical exam:
- ✅Visiting one of the countries listed on Canada’s ‘Find out if you need a medical exam’ page for at least six months.
- ✅In the above-mentioned link, you will come into close contact with the people listed
- ✅On the Find a Panel Physician page of the IRCC, you can find a panel physician near you.
An applicant has the option of taking an upfront medical exam. This involves contacting the panel physician directly and taking the exam before submitting the work permit application. IRCC officers will contact you if you do not submit your medical exam results with your application, and they will provide you with instructions on how to complete the exam.
Work permit photo requirements in Canada
The IRCC requires foreign nationals to submit a passport-sized photo to apply for a Canadian work permit.
How long will it take for my work permit application to be processed?
Depending on the type of permit and the applicant’s country of residence, a work permit application may take a few weeks to several months to process.
How long will it take for my LMIA application to be processed?
Two types of LMIA applications are available: a standard LMIA and a simplified LMIA. A simplified LMIA is only available in the province of Quebec. Regular LMIAs are processed on a case-by-case basis, with processing times varying greatly from applicant to applicant. Regular LMIA applications typically take five months to process.
When an employer is eligible for Canada’s Global Talent Stream, the simplified LMIA is completed for Quebec employment within two to three months.
What is the success rate of work permit/LMIA applications?
The success rate of work permit/LMIA applications cannot be determined since each application is handled on a case-by-case basis. It is expected that an applicant’s application will be approved if they meet the requirements of the LMIA. However, each officer has their own discretion when deciding whether or not to approve a work permit application.
Can you tell me what the status of my work permit application is?
If you submitted a paper-based application, you can link it to an online IRCC account to check the status of your application.
An application for a work permit is denied
Work permit refusal is devastating. It is possible to receive a work permit refusal for a number of reasons. If it is unclear why your application was rejected, you may be able to get a better idea if you apply for GCMS notes, and you can address the officer’s concerns if you decide to reapply. It is common for work permits to be refused for the following reasons:
- ✅It wasn’t clear to you that you could perform the tasks you intended;
- ✅The officer was not convinced that you would return home at the end of your authorised stay in Canada;
- ✅Your work permit application does not meet the requirements
How can my spouse and dependents be included in my work permit application?
If you apply for a closed Canadian work permit, your spouse may be eligible for an open work permit.
If your spouse is eligible, they will need to apply online for their own work permit.
How do I activate my work permit?
Activating your work permit depends on where you apply and how you do it.
Activating your work permit after applying from within Canada
IRCC will issue you an approval letter if your application is approved after applying for a work permit within Canada. If you applied online, the letter will appear in your account. If you submitted a paper-based application, the letter will arrive in your mail. As soon as your approval letter is received, your physical work permit will arrive by mail. You will be able to work in Canada immediately after receiving your permit.
After applying from outside Canada, how do you activate your work permit?
You will receive a letter with instructions on how to obtain your physical work permit from the Canadian port of entry (POE) if your application is approved after you apply from outside of Canada. The instruction letter will appear in your online account if you applied online, while the letter will be mailed to you if you applied in person.
Activating your work permit after applying at the port of entry
A work permit may be available at the point of entry into Canada for some applicants. When you apply for a work permit at the border, you must provide documents proving your eligibility. If approved, the officer will print the work permit right away. This work permit can be used immediately.
