Connect with us
Connect with us
Could you be an answer to Canada’s skill and labour shortages? If you are a foreign national looking to work in Canada temporarily, find out if you’re eligible. Suppose you are; then you probably need a work permit.
Most Canadian temporary work permits and visas are processed under the Temporary Foreign Workers Program and the International Mobility Program.
There are essentially two work permit categories in Canada: Open work permits and Employer-specific or Closed work permits, both prescribing conditions applicable to all holders regardless of the work permit type.
You can apply for a Canadian work permit from overseas, within Canada, or at a Canadian port of entry.
We’re sharing this guide to inform you of the work permit streams available and help you discern which best applies to you.
A Canadian open work permit is not job-specific, allowing foreign nationals to work for any employers in Canada for a specific period. By definition, you don’t have to submit the following requirements upon application:
*Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) issued by Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC), or
*Proof of a job offer and payment of compliance fee made by an employer through the Employer Portal.
There are two kinds of open work permits:
*An unrestricted work permit allows eligible foreign nationals to work in any job for any employer anywhere in the country.
*An occupation-restricted work permit limits the type of work you can engage in and your work location depending on your work permit classification or medical status.
Your particular situation may determine whether or not you can apply for an open work permit in Canada. To illustrate, here are a few qualifying situations:
You are an impoverished student and are now unable to support the costs of your education
You are a refugee with a pending claim, a protected person or family member under an invalid removal order, and must work to sustain your basic needs.
You currently hold an employer-specific work permit and are the victim of abuse or at risk of being abused in your present job in Canada, seeking to be allowed to change to an open work permit for protection.
Several other basic factors are considered to ascertain your eligibility for an open work permit application. It’s in your best interest to know what they are and any recent changes they have undergone.
Do you want a personalized consultation about Canadian work permit eligibility criteria? Get a FREE assessment with one of our licensed immigration consultants; click here.
Suppose you are the spouse or common-law partner of a skilled foreign worker temporarily employed in Canada, an international student, . You may also apply for an open work permit in Canada, subject to application requirements if:
*You live in Canada with your spouse or partner and are being sponsored under the Family Class
*You hold a Canadian temporary resident permit valid for at least six months, which you must maintain until you receive an approved open work permit before you can work.
If you're interested about the Spousal Open Work Permit, you're at the right place. Contact us and get a FREE assessment! Fill out our form, click here.
Canada’s Post Graduation Work Program (PGWP) gives international students greater access to essential full-time work experience in the country by leveraging their Canadian educational credentials.
With a post-graduate work permit, you can work for any employer anywhere in Canada. Moreover, you can apply for permanent residency through the Express Entry system and earn extra points towards your Comprehensive Ranking System score, raising your advantage over other applicants.
The PGWP Canada eligibility criteria, exceptions, and application process are essentially the same whether you're applying within Canada or overseas.
PGWPs are valid for between eight months to three years.
The average processing time for PGWPs is 80 to 180 days. While waiting for your PGWP, you may work in Canada, provided you applied before your student permit expired.
Do you need any support in terms of your PGWP application? Contact us now! Click here.
A young foreign national can obtain a work permit through the International Experience Canada (IEC) stream. The IEC is founded on bilateral agreements between Canada and partner countries.
The IEC Canada applies a randomized draw system to select work permits for approval. Your chances of being picked depend on the quota allotted for each program in your country.
There are three IEC pools:
*Working Holiday for an open work permit
*Young Professionals for an employer-specific work permit
*International Co-op (Internship) for an employer-specific work permit.
Apart from general IEC requirements, the eligibility criteria, application process, and work authorization vary depending on the participating countries’ program requirements.
If your country is a non-participant in the IEC program, you can apply through a Recognized Organization.
Say you’re already working in Canada and have applied for permanent residency. You want to continue working while awaiting the results of your application. You could do this by applying for a Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP) if you applied to one of the designated permanent residence programs.
Suppose you're the holder of an employer-specific or closed work permit. In that case, you’re allowed to work according to the conditions specified in your work permit, such as the employer’s name, the duration of your employment, and, if applicable, your designated work location.
Closed Work Permits are subject to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) requirements, depending on which of the specialized applications you pursue.
An employer who wants to hire you through the TFWP must first secure an LMIA from the Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) before hiring. You have to submit a positive LMIA and a copy of the employer’s Offer of Employment to Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) when you apply for a closed work permit.
A positive LMIA ascertains there are no Canadian citizens or permanent residents who can fill in the job position, thus validating the need to hire you. A negative LMIA means that a Canadian citizen or permanent resident should fill the vacancy.
If you're looking for help regarding your LMIA application, at INGWE we are ready to support you! Fill out our form and get a FREE assessment, click here.
Many Canadian employers earnestly aim to be globally competitive.
The IRCC and ESDC jointly established the Global Talent Stream (GTS) -- a two-year pilot program to help employers recruit highly-skilled international talent to meet the goal.
The GTS falls under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program. Employers applying to the stream must acquire a positive LMIA and comply with other category-specific requirements before they officially hire a foreign national.
One of the benefits of hiring through the GTS is that employers can expedite the process through the Global Skills Strategy, getting it done in two weeks, provided you’re applying from outside of Canada.
Suppose you’re a foreign entrepreneur or investor intending to start a new business or buy an existing business in Canada. What do you do if available federal programs don’t square with your particular requirements or are too complicated for your business purposes? Consider the Owner-Operator or Business Operator LMIA Work Permit for Foreigner Entrepreneurs option -- the simplest and fastest way to obtain Canadian PR.
To qualify, you must satisfy requirements related to verifiable business and management experience, business control, and your business’s desired impact on Canada’s economy and comply with LMIA requirements.
Are you a foreign farm or agricultural worker with the skills and experience needed to address labour shortages in Canada’s agricultural sector? If so, the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program (SAWP) may be your pathway.
The SAWP operates within bilateral agreements between Canada and the participating countries.
An employer who wants to hire you must meet eligibility criteria to qualify for SAWP. For one, you must be a citizen of a participating country recruited by your government.
The normal work permit processing time for applications filed outside of Canada is 60 days, and for work permit extensions filed in Canada, 120 days.
We can help you efficiently navigate the work permit application process in Canada! Let the experts guide you. Get a FREE assessment with one of our licensed immigration consultants; click here.
It's not very easy. A Canadian work permit involves several options, requirements, and detailed processes. Finding the right path for you can overwhelm you if you're doing it alone.
Let our dedicated experts at INGWE Immigration Inc. help you manage the task more easily and efficiently. Get a FREE assessment now; click here.
