How to apply for a Canada work visa will depend on which visa option you are eligible for. Each work permit has its qualifications, terms of validity, and restrictions. It’s important to remember that working in Canada can be a great way to immigrate to the country.
A work permit is a legal document that enables a foreign national to work while present in Canada. About 500,000 temporary foreign workers receive work permits from Canada each year from all over the world. Canada is a top choice for many foreign nationals looking for employment opportunities. For those looking to immigrate permanently to Canada, working there is a significant first step.
READ ALSO: Jobs That Do Not Require a Work Permit in Canada
By 2028, Canada is expected to have 21.3 million more workers than it does today. Suppose you’d like to do so via a Canadian work permit and wish to live and work there. You should be aware that you have a variety of possibilities. Aiming to welcome more than 1.2 million immigrants over the next three years, Canada is desirable to relocate. As we mentioned above, it’s good to note that working in Canada can also be a great way to immigrate to Canada. Continue reading to find out how! This article contains a complete overview of the Temporary Work Visas for Canada, the visa types, and details about each.
Who is Eligible to Work in Canada?
With a few exceptions, the majority of foreign nationals need a permit to be able to work in Canada.
Most applicants will need a Canadian job offer accompanied by a Labour Market Impact Assessment to apply for a work permit. With certain exceptions, foreign workers may apply for a work permit without an LMIA or a job offer. A recent graduate from a Canadian Designated Learning Institute (DLI) or the spouse of someone already possessing a work or study permit in Canada is two examples of this.
Candidates who qualify to apply for a work permit must also meet the following eligibility requirements:
- Demonstrate their intent to leave once their work authorization expires; and
- Prove they have sufficient funds to support themselves and their family in Canada and to return home; and
- Are not criminally or medically inadmissible to Canada; and
- Plan to work with an eligible employer; and Can you provide any requested documents that may prove their eligibility to enter Canada
How to Obtain Canada Work Permit
There are two ways through which you can get a Canada work permit:
- Through Temporary Work Visas
- Through Permanent or Immigrant Work Visas
The first class of visas entitles you to temporary employment for no more than six months in Canada. People who move to Canada because they have found suitable employment are granted the second category of visas. This essay will concentrate on an overview of temporary work visas.
What is the Canada Temporary Work Visas?
A Temporary Resident Visa and a Work Permit are combined to form a Temporary Work Visa for Canada. With a TRV, you can only stay in Canada for six months or less. However, with a Work Permit for Canada, you can work at your current job and look for new employment.
Depending on the type you hold, this work visa for Canada will expire after a few months or years. This implies that you can apply for a renewal or leave Canada after your Canadian work visa expires. With all extensions combined, the most period you can work temporarily in Canada is four years.
However, depending on your place of origin and the visa type, that may only be true in some situations. After your visa expires, you cannot continue living and working in Canada because you risk being deported. You won’t be able to apply for a permit to Canada again.
How to Apply for the Right Canadian Work Permit
Here are three steps to apply for the right Canadian work permit.
1. Choose a visa that works for you.
Selecting between an open work visa and an employer-specific work visa is one of the most important considerations when applying for a visa. As the employer-specific permit is less involved, most foreign nationals seek to obtain this visa, affecting your options and the application process.
The differences are:
- Open work permit – you will be able to work for any employer within Canada, and you are exempt from needing a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA).
- Employer-specific work permit – this permit will allow you as a foreign national to work under certain conditions, which will be stated on the permit.
Below are programs that allow you to obtain an open work visa
Post-Graduation Work Permit
International students who have graduated from a Designated Learning Institution (DLI) may apply for an open work visa using the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP). The PGWP’s duration can range from one to three years, depending on how long the graduate’s program was.
Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program Spousal Permit.
You qualify for an open work permit if you are the spouse of an Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program applicant.
Programs that allow you to obtain an employer-specific work visa
Global Talent Stream
The government created the Global Workers Stream (GTS) as a service to assist Canadian employers in gaining access to highly trained international talent and expanding the Canadian workforce. Processing for this program can take as little as two weeks.
Agricultural Stream
For a period of 24 months, foreign nationals may work as foreign temporary laborers under the Agricultural Stream. Your employer is responsible for covering the cost of your travel to and from Canada, as well as your housing needs and health insurance.
2. Check if you eligible to move to Canada
Depending on where you are from, you may have additional requirements as a foreign national. No matter what kind of Canadian visa you are looking for, there are some conditions that you must fulfill. As follows:
- Prove to an officer that you’ll leave Canada when your work permit expires;
- Show that you have enough money to take care of yourself and any family members during your stay in Canada and to return home;
- Obey the law and have no record of criminal activity (IRCC may ask applicants to give 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, regularly, offers striptease, erotic dance, escort services or erotic massages; and
- Give the officer any other documents they ask to prove the applicant can enter the country.
3. Submit the application
Your application can be submitted online to Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). Again, the types and quantity of forms required will depend on your country of origin.
As previously stated, numerous factors can affect a work visa applicant’s ability to travel to Canada successfully. However, Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants (RCICs), authorities on Canadian immigration and the associated procedure collaborate with CanadianVisa.org.
READ ALSO: Top 10 Best Jobs In Canada for Foreigners without Experience
An RCIC can tell you precisely which forms to fill out, which documents you need, and which visa you are eligible for—even if you know how to apply for a Canada work visa. This will significantly improve your chances of success and streamline the visa application process.
How Much Does a Canadian Work Visa Cost?
Meanwhile, the table below shows how much it costs to get a Canadian work visa.
How Working in Canada Can Lead to Immigration?
You can qualify for some immigration programs, like the Canadian Experience Class, by working in Canada. One of three programs included in the Express Entry system is this one. Foreign nationals with Canadian work experience are eligible to apply to become permanent residents of Canada under the CEC. You must have worked in Canada for at least a year in order to be eligible for this program.
Benefits of the Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
- You don’t need proof of settlement funds; and
- Applications can be processed in as little as three to four months.
Canada Work Visa Extension
If your Work Visa is about to expire, you have two options: you can apply to extend it until it does so or leave the country once it has done so (six months or less). You must apply for a visa extension at least 30 days before the expiration date if you want to extend your work visa.
You can only apply for a work visa extension if:
- You sign a new work contract with your employer AND
- Your employer gets a new Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA); OR
- Your employer pays for the employer compliance fee and submits a new employment offer
You have two options for applying for the extension of your work permit: online or on paper.
You must register on the IRCC website to submit an online application. You may find application forms, document checklists, and application instructions there. To apply on paper, download the application package, complete all the states, print and sign them, gather all the required documentation, pay the costs, and submit the application package to the address provided.
The necessary documents and forms for a work permit extension
Forms
- Application to Change Conditions, Extend my stay or Remain in Canada as a Worker (IMM 5710)
- Use of a Representative (IMM 5476)
- Authority to Release Personal Information to a Designated Individual (IMM 5475)
- Statutory Declaration of Common-law Union (IMM 5409); if applicable
Documents
You will need the same documents as for a Visitor Record (see above). However, you will also need additional documents such as:
- Copy of the Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) and a copy of your job offer letter from your prospective employer. (If you have one)
- If your employer has not obtained a LMIA, include a copy of the Offer of Employment number your employer gives you.
- Photocopy of signed employment contract. (For a live-in caregiver)
- A Certificat d’acceptation du Québec (CAQ) issued by the Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Diversité et de l’Inclusion (MIDI); if working in Quebec.
- Proof of health insurance for the duration of your stay. (If participating in the International Experience Canada (IEC) program)
- Academic standing – photocopies of transcripts from your last two study periods or letter from the institutional registrar. (For students)
- For provincial nominees:
- Proof of nomination.
- Offer of employment from someone in your province.
- Statement from your province identifying your job and employer along with the details of your job (payment, working conditions, the nature of the job). The statement must also reveal that your employer needs you and that the job offer will provide economic benefits.
Documents required for work permit extension for spouses/common law partners
Spouse/common-law partners of open permit workers
- Employment contract/job offer of the primary foreign worker’s current employer which confirms his/her employment.
- Copy of the primary foreign worker’s last three payslips
- Copy of the primary foreign worker’s work permit
Spouse/common-law partners of full-time students
- A valid enrollment letter of the student from a Canadian educational institution.
- Copy of the student’s study permit.
Documents required for work permit extension for refugee claimants
- Proof you are unable to support yourself without social welfare.
- Proof you referred your refugee claim to the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB)
FAQs
Furthermore, here are some of the most frequently asked questions on how to apply for Canada work visa.
What are the costs for a work visa to Canada?
You must pay the application fees when you apply for a work permit and a visa. The cost of the work permit is $155 Canadian. You will need to pay this cost once more for each application for an extension that you submit. The cost to apply for an Open Work Permit is $100 CAD.
Can I Travel with Dependents on a Work Visa for Canada?
A work visa holder in Canada is permitted to include his immediate family in the application. Your spouse or common-law partner and your minor children are allowed to travel with you to Canada. You must also have their supporting documentation for your application to be considered a family application.
Am I eligible to apply for permanent residence with a work visa for Canada?
With a temporary work visa for Canada, you cannot apply for permanent residence; however, while you are there, you can apply for permanent visas, such as:
- Class with Canadian Experience
- Program for Provincial Nominees
- Program for Live-In Caregivers.
To qualify for one of these visas, you must meet the requirements. Although there is no assurance that you will be accepted for them, the application processes will go more smoothly if you are already employed in Canada.
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