Work Permit
To work in Canada as a foreign worker you need, Canadian work permits, but there are exceptions.
There are two types of work permit
- Open Work permit: An open work permit allows you to work for any employer in Canada, except for an employer:
o who is listed as ineligible on the list of employers who have failed to comply with the conditions or
o who regularly offers striptease, erotic dance, escort services or erotic massage.
You can only get an open work permit in specific situations: The following list are individual who are eligible for an open work permit
o are an international student who graduated from a designated learning institution and are eligible for the Post-Graduation Work Permit Program
o are a student who’s no longer able to meet the costs of your studies (destitute student)
o have an employer-specific work permit and are being abused or at risk of being abused in relation to your job in Canada
o applied for permanent residence in Canada
o are a dependent family member of someone who applied for permanent residence
o are the spouse or common-law partner of a skilled worker or international student
o are the spouse or common-law partner of an applicant of the Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program
o are a refugee, refugee claimant, protected person or their family member
o are under an unenforceable removal order
o are a temporary resident permit holder
o are a young worker participating in special programs?
- An employer-specific work permit allows you to work according to the conditions on your work permit, which include:
o the name of the employer you can work for
o how long you can work
o the location where you can work (if applicable)
Most employer specific work permit needs LMIA (Labour market Impact Assessment)
To apply for a work permit you need the following
- 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.
Working in Canada is a great way to gain the experience needed to stay in Canada permanently.
LMIA (Labour Market Impact Assessment)
In most cases employers in Canada that wish to hire a foreign national are required to apply for a LMIA. The federal government department that oversees the LMIA process is called Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC). The purpose of the LMIA is to assess the impact of hiring a Temporary foreign worker on the Canadian job market.
A positive or neutral LMIA is issued by ESDC when it is satisfied that there is no Canadian citizen or permanent resident available to do the job. A negative LMIA is issued when it believes there are domestic workers available to do the job and hiring a foreign national will harm workers in Canada.
Once you receive a positive or neutral LMIA , you as a foreign national can apply for a work permit.
FTO Immigration Services can assist with the LMIA process, and the subsequent Work Permit Application. A positive LMIA is often required to obtain Permanent Residency in Canada under the Express Entry system.