Canada is one of the most desired destinations for immigrants. It is because of the quality lifestyle and working/living conditions that Canada provides. And if you’re planning to work in Canada, here’s a guide you should read.

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Table of Contents

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:

You must also:

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?

You can only apply for a work permit from inside Canada if you:

are currently in Canada and have a valid study or work permit, or your spouse or parents have a study or work permit,
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

How Long Will It Take to Receive My Work Visa After Completing My Work Visa Application?

The Work Permit processing time completely depends on the completion of your application and the office you applied at. We have found that it can take between 1-27 weeks to process a Canadian Work Permit.

Employer Extends Temporary Job Offer

The employer must send a copy of the positive LMIA along with a detailed ‘job offer letter’ to the foreign skilled worker.

Canadian companies are required by CIC to prepare a formal employment contract or what our industry refers to as the ‘Job Offer Letter,’ which must include:

Job title for the position
Job description
Requirements for the temporary position
Details about start and end dates
Specifics about the salary
The name and address of the employer

Canada Service Agency will ensure that the job offer is legit and real. Once the Canadian immigration department has confirmed the job offer with an LMIA, then the CIC will grant employment authorization for the company’s future employees to work in Canada. Once the LMIA is granted, the Canadian employer can extend a temporary job offer to the foreign skilled worker.

Step 3: Foreign Skilled Worker Applies For a Work Permit

Once you have your LMIA and ‘Job Offer Letter’ squared away, you then can apply for a Canadian Temporary Work Permit. If the employer that is hiring you is in the province of Quebec, then you may also need to obtain a Certificat d’acceptation du Québec (CAQ)in order to work temporarily in Quebec. In some cases, when applying for a temporary foreign worker permit, you will be required to attend an interview with a visa officer. If the visa officer is satisfied that the foreign worker’s employment will not adversely affect employment in Canada for Canadians and that the foreign worker qualifies for the position, then a Canada Work Permit will be issued.

Note: In some cases, applicants from certain countries will be required to undergo medical examinations.

Step 4. Get Issued a Canadian Temporary Work Permit

A Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) officer will issue the Canadian Temporary Work Permit at the point of entry when the skilled foreign worker arrives in Canada. Depending on the foreign worker’s country of citizenship, a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) may also need to be obtained in order to enter Canada.

Work Visas for Business and Corporations

If you are interested in sending your employees to Canada, you should look into applying for the Intra-Company Transfer ICT Canada Visa. Applying for an Intra-Company Transfer visa allows the company and employee to avoid applying for an LMIA since this is an LMIA-exempt work permit.

What are the Requirements for the Work Permit?

In order to be eligible, you must fall into one of the above categories, and you must also meet the following criteria:

You are currently in Canada
You have a valid temporary Work Permit, and it is set to expire within four months.
You have received a positive decision on your permanent resident application under an economic class, Federal Skilled Worker, Canadian Experience Class, or the Federal Skilled Trades Program.
You have made an application for an Open Work Permit.

This ‘open work permit’ is a significant program in Canadian immigration and allows applicants to work during the processing of their PR applications.

Electronic Travel Authorization Form Required

Visa-exempt foreign nationals who fly to or transit through Canada need an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA). Exceptions include U.S. citizens and travelers with a valid Canadian visa. Canadian citizens, including dual citizens, and Canadian permanent residents cannot apply for an eTA.
Important: If you are stateless or if you are traveling with a travel document issued to non-citizens, such as a foreign passport or a refugee travel document, you need to apply for a visa to visit or transit through Canada.

Canadian Working Visas for Skilled Americans

Are you a citizen of the USA who wants to work in Canada? If so, you can fast track your way to working in Canada via NAFTA. Americans are applying for a Canadian work permit in record numbers and, if applicable, you should take advantage of this opportunity! The Canadian economy is strong and is taking in many U.S. Citizens looking for work. The good news is that we have the NAFTA Agreement. NAFTA makes getting a Canada work visa for Americans and Mexicans much easier. What is required is a job offer from a Canadian company in a field listed in the NAFTA agreement, proof of qualifications including work experience and education, as well as citizenship.

Canadian Family Visas

There are alternative ways to make sure that family members that wish to be together can migrate together. Some family members such as spouses and/or dependent children can be included during the initial Canada work visa application for new immigrants to Canada. Other family members such as grandparents must be sponsored by Canadian citizens and permanent residents. Under the Express Entry program, dependent family members of the work visa applicant are also granted permanent residence in Canada. They can enjoy all the same rights to live, work, and study in the country. The Express Entry program helps connect family members of the recipients of Canadian work visas with the rest of country.

CANADA WORK PERMIT VISA

Canada Work Permit, or a Work Visa, is issued to eligible overseas individuals to work in that country for a specific time period.

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 gives them permission 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 great destination for individuals seeking to work abroad. The Canadian Work Permit Visa allows business people, permanent workers, temporary workers, students and others to work in Canada. Typically, applicants need to have a job offer in hand in order to apply for the work permit visa. With our end-to-end overseas career solutions, Y-Axis can help you find a job and apply for a Canadian Work Permit Visa.

CANADA WORK PERMIT VISA DETAILS:

In 2021, Canada granted permits to more than 400,000 overseas candidates. This is a huge opportunity for foreign workers seeking to make a better life. Under the Canada Work Permit Visa you can:

Work in Canada under the employer you have mentioned in your work permit application
Have the ability to apply for Dependent Visas to call your dependents
Earn in dollars
Travel across Canada
Apply for a PR visa at a later date

ELIGIBILITY FOR CANADA WORK PERMIT VISA:

Applicants need to show proof that they are eligible to take up the job offer. To apply for a Canada Work Permit from India, you need to meet certain requirements. Documents need to be submitted in either English.

The Canada Work Permit Visa is ideal for temporary workers, foreign graduates from Canadian universities, businessmen and others who need to work in Canada.

GENERAL ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

Give proof to an officer that you will move out of Canada on the expiry of your Work Permit
Have documents showing that you have enough funds to support yourself and your family during your stay in Canada
Have no record of any criminal activity and submit a police clearance certificate as proof
Are not a danger to Canada’s security
Must have good health and take a medical exam if required
Have no plans to work for an employer listed as ineligible by the government because they failed to comply with certain conditions
Have no plans to work for an employer who offers erotic dance, escort services, striptease, or erotic massages
Must be ready to provide any documents demanded by officers to qualify your entry to Canada

DOCUMENTS REQUIRED TO APPLY FOR CANADA WORK PERMIT VISA

A valid passport with a validity of more than 6 months from the planned date of arrival in Canada.
Two recent passport-sized photographs
Educational qualification certificates
Proof of professional qualifications, including work experience
Proof of having adequate financial resources to cover their expenses during their stay in Canada
Medical examination required to be done from registered hospitals.
Application fee

Applicants should also be able to convince immigration officials that they would return to their home country after the end of their employment.

Different types of work permits:

There are two types of work permits given by Canadian authorities- open work permit and an employer-specific work permit. An open work permit basically allows you to work for any employer. This visa is not job-specific, so applicants do not require the Labor Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) or an offer letter from an employer who has paid the compliance fee.

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.

The 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 which will be written on it. These include:

Type of work
Places where you can work
Duration of work

Holders of the following visas can apply for an Open Work Permit:

Temporary Work Permits for spouses
Post-Graduation Work Permit
Temporary Resident Permit
World Youth Program Permit
Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program Spousal Permit
Regular Open Work Permit
Bridging Open Work Permit

Conditions for the open work permit:

Proof of financial resources that can support yours and your family’s stay in Canada during the work permit validity
Proof that you have no history of a criminal record
Proof that you are in good health
Willingness to adhere to the conditions of your work permit even if you are given a restricted work permit
Meet eligibility conditions such as language skills, biometric data, and insurance

DIFFERENT TYPES OF WORK PERMIT

There are two types of work permits given by Canadian authorities- open work permit and an employer specific work permit. An open work permit basically allows you to work for any employer. This visa is not job-specific, so applicants do not require the Labor Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) or an offer letter from an employer who has paid the compliance fee.

The employer specific work permit as the name suggests is a permit that allows you to work for a specific employer.

CONDITIONS ON THE WORK PERMIT

While the employer specific work permit pertains to a single employer, the open work permit can come with certain conditions which will be written on it. These include:

Type of work
Places where you can work
Duration of work

JOBS THAT DO NOT REQUIRE A WORK PERMIT

There are certain jobs that do not require a work permit, here is their list:

Athlete or coach

Aviation accident or incident investigator

Business visitor

Civil aviation inspector

Clergy

Convention organizer

Crew member

Short-term highly skilled worker

Short-term researcher

Student working off-campus

Student working on-campus

Military personnel

News reporter or film and media crew

Producer or staff member working on advertisements

Performing artist

Emergency service provider

Examiner and evaluator

Expert witness or investigator

Family member of foreign representative

Foreign government officer or representative

Health care student

Judge, referee or similar official

Public speaker

Short-term highly skilled worker

Short-term researcher

Student working off-campus

Student working on-campus

WHEN YOU NEED A JOB TO GET A WORK PERMIT

Certain jobs in Canada require entry to the country only on a valid work permit. Two of these jobs are caregivers and agricultural workers. Caregivers who take care of the elderly, disabled of children need to have a work permit before taking up a job in Canada. The same goes for agricultural workers.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS TO APPLY FOR A WORK PERMIT FROM OUTSIDE CANADA

Irrespective of the work permit you are applying for, there are certain eligibility requirements you must meet, these include:

Provide proof to the immigration officer that you will leave Canada on the expiry of your work permit
Proof of financial resources that can support yours and your family’s stay in Canada during the work permit validity
Proof that you have no history of a criminal record
Proof that you are in good health and are willing to undergo a medical examination
Must prove that you are not a danger to Canada’s society
Willingness to adhere to the conditions of your work permit
Meet eligibility conditions such as language skills, biometric data, and insurance to prove that you can enter Canada

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS TO APPLY FOR A WORK PERMIT FROM INSIDE CANADA

In order to apply for a work permit from inside Canada, you must meet certain conditions. These include:

Having a valid study permit
Your spouse or common law partner or parents have a study or work permit
You are a graduate from a program at a Canadian University
You have a temporary residence permit that is valid for six months
You have made a PR application from inside Canada and waiting for a response
You have made or intend to make a claim for refugee protection
You have been recognized as a refugee by the IRCC
You are a trader, investor, under intra-company transfer or are a professional under NAFTA

DEPENDENT WORK VISA

The government of Canada allows immigration for family members under the dependent work permit category.

Bringing dependents on a work permit

You may be entitled to have your spouse and children join you in 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 so that they can work in Canada.

WHO CAN BE INCLUDED ON A DEPENDENT VISA?

Some members of a family such as a spouse or children can be included in the dependent visa application to Canada, whereas parents and grandparents must be sponsored by permanent residents or Canadian citizens.

The sponsors must promise to support and accompany the family member or relative for a period of 3 to 10 years to ensure that they are well-settled in Canada.

Family members eligible under Canada’s Dependent Work Permit are:

Spouse, spousal or common-law partners over the age of 16
Both parents and grandparents
Dependent children, including adopted children
Children under 18 whom you’d like to adopt
Siblings, nephews and nieces, children under 18, orphans and unmarried
Other relatives who reside in or outside Canada

Children are dependent on the following criteria:

Children younger than 22, unmarried or without a common-law partner
Children who have become a spouse / common-law partner before they reach the age of 22 and are highly dependent on parents for financial assistance
Children who are financially dependent on parents until they reach age 22 due to a certain physical impairment

DEPENDENT VISA APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

You will need to include the following to sponsor your family members for Dependent Visa for Canada

Recorded evidence of your financial condition and cash flow over the past 12 months to prove you are financially stable and capable to support your family.
If you are sponsoring a Canadian Dependent Visa for your child then he or she,

Must be younger than 22 years
Should be able to show that they rely on you financially
If your child is unable to earn his or her own money for some reason, either physically or mentally, then you can sponsor him after giving enough proof of the same
The child should be either your biological or adopted child

To prove your relationship, you will need to provide a birth certificate or adoption certificate
The child will need to undergo a medical and criminal test and may be prevented from entering the country if a criminal record or medical condition that is likely to be contagious or cause an epidemic has been found to be present.

DOCUMENTS REQUIRED TO APPLY FOR DEPENDENTS

Passport & travel history
Background documentation
Spouse/partner documentation including marriage certificate
Other proof of relationship
Completed application & consulate fees

Conclusion

Work and travel are now mainstream choices for young people. Almost a decade ago, the Canadian government changed its work visa policy to make it more appealing to younger Canadians. Now, more than ever before, working abroad is an option that many Canadians consider. While there are still challenges that limit the amount of job opportunities for international students, the numbers don’t lie: working abroad has become an integral part of Canada’s youth culture.

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