Work in Canada

Canada is a very large country with a diverse employment base. From farm work to tech jobs, the Canadian labour market offers something for just about everyone – but with few exceptions, you’ll need a work permit before you can legally live and work in Canada.

Steps to Getting a Work Permit in Canada

Each month, tens of thousands of foreign nationals are granted work permits enabling them to participate in the Canadian labour market. Whether you are currently on a visitor visa in Canada or looking to come to Canada, you most likely need to apply for a permit before you can work. Usually, the first step towards getting a work permit is receiving a job offer, although some work permit options do not require a job offer (which we will cover momentarily).

Many online resources can help you find a job in Canada; Job Bank and Indeed are two of the most popular. However, many Canadian jobs are never advertised and are instead accessed through networking and other informal means. One way to access this hidden market is through contacts you may know in Canada; leveraging social media networking sites like LinkedIn is another way.

Step 1: Employer Completes an LMIA

Before a Canadian employer can hire a foreign worker, they must complete a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) demonstrating that hiring a foreign worker will not negatively affect Canadian workers. Prospective employers will often do this before posting a job listing, but if you find a job that you would be a great fit for, you can also call a potential employer and ask if they would be interested in completing an LMIA.

Step 2: Employer Extends a Job Offer

Once a prospective employer has their LMIA, they can formally offer you a job. Armed with this accepted offer, you can begin the process of applying for your work permit.

Step 3: Apply For your Canada Work Permit

You can complete your work permit application online, making sure you have all relevant documentation ready. Depending on your situation, you may need:

• Labour Market Impact Assessment
• Offer of employment
• CV (resume)
• Proof you meet the experience and educational criteria for the job
• Passport
• Proof of funds

If you are bringing a spouse or children will be required to provide additional documentation. We can help you gather all the required documents and assemble your work permit application.

Step 4: Work permit is issued

Provided that there are no errors or omissions in your application, the final step is the approval and insurance of your work permit!

Types of Canadian Work Permits

The proceeding example refers to closed-work permits for non-LMIA exempt employers, but there are many other types of Canada work permits, including open work permits, which do not require a job offer. Other Canadian work permit options include:

• Open Work Permit – not tied to a specific employer
• Bridging Open Work Permit – when transitioning between immigration statuses
• Post Graduate Work Permit (PGWP) – open to certain graduates of Canadian designated learning institutions.
• International Experience Canada (IEC) – allows residents between 18 and 35 from participating countries to visit and work in Canada for up to 2 years.
• Owner-Operator Work Permit – work permit for self-employed individuals.

This is just a sampling of Canada’s various work permit options. If you would like to learn more about the options available to you, our consultants would be happy to assist.