Work Visa

WORK PERMIT

A work permit is mandatory for most foreign nationals to work in Canada. An employer-specific work permit allows you to work for a specific employer, while an open work permit allows you to work for any listed eligible employer in Canada. You can apply for a work permit from outside Canada as well as from within Canada, and the eligibility requirements vary as per each of the situations. If applying from outside Canada, you will be issued a port of entry letter of introduction, and upon verification of this letter, your work permit will be issued at the port of entry on the day you arrive in Canada.

LMIA - Closed Work Permit

Whenever intending to hire a foreign worker, a Canadian employer needs to justify that no pre-existing Canadian (citizen or PR) qualifies for the job vacancy available and that it can be fulfilled only by a foreign worker.

It is the responsibility of every Canadian employer to procure this LMIA document (formerly known as Labour Market Opinion – LMO) before they proceed with a foreign hire.

The Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) is responsible for the process of assessing and verifying an offer of employment. This is primarily to ensure that there is no negative impact on the Canadian labour market.

It is generally observed that obtaining a positive LMIA has higher chances if it is located in major Canadian cities. A specialized position with a high salary has a brighter chance of a positive LMIA.

LMIA - Exempt Employer Specific Work Permit

The International Mobility Program lets you hire temporary foreign workers without an LMIA. We need to check the LMIA exemption code that matches the respective job posting.

If you hire a temporary foreign worker through the International Mobility Program, you need to

pay an employer compliance fee
submit an offer of employment form through the Employer Portal

This must be done before the temporary foreign worker you want to hire can apply for a work permit.

PGWP (Post Graduate Work Permit)

A PGWP is valid anywhere between 8 months to 3 years, depending on the course duration. The immigration officer, upon verifying your supporting documents for the course completed, will determine the validity of your PGWP.

A PGWP will allow you to work full-time or part-time for any employer in Canada, thus helping you gain valuable Canadian work experience that may benefit you in the long term if you want to consider Canadian Permanent Residence. The PGWP also gives you temporary legal status to be employed in Canada.

However, it is important to note, your PGWP cannot be extended beyond its validity, unless otherwise there is a public policy issued by the government and if you fall into that criteria.

Apart from the generous opportunities that Canada offers its International Students, the most promising advantage of studying in Canada is the Post Graduation Work Permit (PGWP), issued upon completing a post-graduate program at a Designated Learning Institute (DLI).

Spousal Open Work Permit

A spousal open work permit allows the spouses or family members of skilled workers in NOC skill types 0, A, B approved to work in Canada for a minimum of 6 months, or spouses of foreign students at college or university to work for any eligible Canadian employer. There are specific criterias to be fulfilled around this type of work permit.

Bridging Open Work Permit

A bridging open work permit in Canada refers to a special type of work permit that allows eligible individuals to continue working while their application for permanent residence is being processed. It serves as a bridge between the expiration of their current work permit and the final decision on their permanent residency application. The bridging open work permit allows individuals to maintain their status and continue working in Canada until a decision is made on their application for permanent residence.