Canadian Work Permit & Visa Process
Immigration Agents Specialized in Canadian Immigration Services
Once you've reviewed the information provided below to learn if you require a Canadian work permit in order to work in Canada. Then, fill out our immigration assessment form and we will get back to you to discuss your work permit eligibility.
COVID-19 Updates regarding Canadian Work Permits
Canada is still accepting work permit applications.
The following foreign workers are now allowed to cross the border into Canada by land or air:
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Temporary workers who hold a valid work permit or who are approved for a work permit but have not yet been issued the work permit
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IEC participants who have not yet activated their work permits must have a valid job offer in order to enter
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IEC participants who have already activated their work permits and were outside the country temporarily do not require a valid job offer in order to re-enter
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If you’re travelling by air, you need to follow all airline requirements and pass a health check conducted by airlines before you’re allowed to board your flight. Anyone who shows symptoms of COVID-19 will not be allowed to enter Canada by air.
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When you arrive in Canada, they will assess your health before you leave the port of entry. You must have a plan to quarantine for 14 days when you arrive in Canada. This is mandatory, even if you have no symptoms. If you don’t have a plan, you should not travel to Canada.
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Only people who provide essential services, for example, truck drivers who regularly cross the border to maintain the flow of goods, are exempt from the quarantine requirements.
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For more updates on the Coronavirus, visit our page on the impact the Coronavirus has had on Canadian immigration.
Canada Work Permits FAQ
What is a Canadian Work Permit?
A Canadian work permit is the permission to take a job within Canada if you are from a foreign country. You usually need a work permit to work in Canada. In some cases, you can work without a permit or job offer in Canada.
General Eligibility Requirements
No matter where you apply, you must:
⦁ prove to an officer that you will leave Canada when your work permit expires,
⦁ show that you have enough money to take care of yourself and your family members during your stay in Canada and to return home,
⦁ obey the law and have no record of criminal activity (we may ask you to give us a police clearance certificate),
⦁ not be a danger to Canada’s security,
⦁ be in good health and have a medical exam, if needed,
⦁ not plan to work for an employer listed with the status “ineligible” on the list of employers who failed to comply with the conditions,
⦁ not plan to work for an employer who, on a regular basis, offers striptease, erotic dance, escort services or erotic massages, and
⦁ give the officer any other documents they ask for to prove you can enter the country.
⦁ Global Skills Strategy applicants: You can only benefit from two-week application processing if you apply from outside of Canada.
Can You Turn a Work Visa into Permanent Residency?
If you are currently working in Canada and you have applied for permanent residence, you may be eligible for a bridging open work permit if your work permit will expire in four months or less. This means you can keep working while we make a decision on your permanent resident application. To qualify, you must have applied under the:
⦁ Federal Skilled Worker Program,
⦁ Canadian Experience Class,
⦁ Federal Skilled Trades Program,
⦁ Provincial Nominee Program,
⦁ Caring for Children Class, or
⦁ Caring for People with High Medical Needs Class.
⦁ currently be in Canada,
⦁ have valid status on a work permit that is due to expire within four months,
⦁ select “Open Work Permit” as the type of work permit when you complete your work permit application, and
⦁ pay the work permit processing fee and the Open Work Permit Holder fee.
Can I Apply for a Work Visa Outside of Canada?
Anyone may apply for a work permit before they enter Canada. In some cases, you must apply to a visa office outside Canada. This is usually true if you need a visa to enter Canada or if you need to have a medical exam before you come here.
Find out what type of work permit you can apply for and if you can benefit from the Global Skills Strategy’s two-week application processing. If you are applying for an open work permit, leave the employer section of the application blank.
Can I Apply for a Work Visa While I Am In Canada?
⦁ have graduated from a program at a
⦁ Canadian university,
⦁ community college,
⦁ CÉGEP,
⦁ publicly funded trade/technical school, or other eligible school,
⦁ have a temporary resident permit that is valid for six months or more,
⦁ have applied or been included in an application for permanent residence from inside Canada (you will have to pass certain stages in the main application process to be eligible for a work permit),
⦁ have asked for refugee status in Canada and are waiting for a decision from the Refugee Protection Division (RPD) of the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada,
⦁ have been recognized by the RPD as a convention refugee or protected person,
⦁ have had your refugee claim turned down by the RPD but you cannot be removed from Canada for reasons beyond your control
Application Stages Guide
1
Employer applies for Labour Market Impact Assessment
2
Employer extends Temporary Job Offer
3
Foreign Worker applies for Work Permit
4
Work Permit is issued
When you're ready to begin, fill out our immigration assessment form and we will get back to you to discuss your work permit eligibility.