Most foreign nationals need a work permit to work in Canada. In order to work in Canada, in most cases foreign nationals must first obtain a work ​permit. This authorization may be “open” or “closed” depending on the type of permit.

In addition, some foreign nationals must apply for an entry visa prior to coming to Canada.  In order to obtain a work permit in Canada, you must usually have pre-arranged employment from an employer authorized to hire you. If you are accompanying a spouse or common-law partner to Canada you may be eligible for a spousal work permit. 

Type of work permits: 

Intra-Company Transfers

This program allows foreign workers employed with a company overseas to work in Canada if the business has a branch or location in Canada or is in the process of setting this up. This program is in place to allow for the movement of workers in order to facilitate business operations without the requirement of getting a Labor Market Impact Assessment (LMIA).

Requirements: 

• Have a minimum of one-year full-time work experience at the foreign company;
• Provide existing proof showing the linkage between the Canadian business and foreign business as well as between themselves;
• Fall into one of three categories: Executives with senior authority and decision-making, Senior managers whose principal duties are to manage the business and employees, and workers with specialized knowledge, pertaining to the company’s products, services or possess expertise in a special area.

International Experience Canada (IEC)

This program is designed for applicants whose country of citizenship has a mutual agreement with Canada. Each country has different requirements but some of the most common ones are as follows:

• Be between the ages of 18 and 35 (inclusive):
• Have a minimum of CAN$2,500 to help cover your expenses in Canada;
• Have health insurance for the duration of your stay;
• Have, before departure, a round-trip ticket or demonstrate that you have the ability to pay for your return ticket home.

If your country does not have an agreement with Canada, you may be able to use a Recognized Organization to apply. The different program streams are:

• Working Holiday: This stream allows the participant to fund their vacation with temporary work in Canada and is considered an open work permit. The program is designed for individuals that; don’t have a job offer yet, individuals wanting to work for more than one employer or location in Canada during their travels.
• Young Professionals category: This category is an employer-specific work permit. It allows individuals to gain Canadian professional work experience while working for the same employer at the same location in Canada.
• International Co-op Internship: This stream will allow individuals to gain valuable overseas work experience related to their field of study. The work permit is employer-specific and designed for students, that are registered at a post-secondary institution, have a job offer for a work placement or internship in Canada, same employer and location and are required a work placement or internship to complete their studies.

The Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP)

The TFWP lets employers hire foreign workers to fill temporary labour and skill shortages. A positive LMIA will show that there is a need for the foreign worker to fill the job you are offering and that there is no Canadian worker available to do the job. After a positive LMIA is obtained and the employer has been approved, the worker will need to apply for a Work Permit which will then give them the right to come to Canada to work legally.

Spousal Work Permits

This visa program has been created to allow spouses/partners of people working/studying in Canada to have their spouse or partner with them in Canada and gives them the ability to work. The Open Work Permit is generally granted for up to 2 years so the holder of the permit is allowed to work for any employer without having to go through the process of getting approvals for a particular job. This is a great opportunity for the person who is accompanying their spouse or partner in Canada to gain valuable Canadian work experience which could qualify them for permanent residency. 

Requirement: 

 If the Applicant wishes to accompany someone who is studying in Canada:

• Their spouse/partner must be on a valid study permit.
• Be enrolled and attend school as a full-time student.
• Be studying at an eligible Post-Secondary Institution.
• Be medically admissible and have a clean criminal record.

If the Applicant wishes to accompany someone who is working in Canada:

• Their spouse/partner must be on a valid work permit.
• Their spouse/partner must be working in a high-level skilled job as per Canadian Government Regulations.
• Their spouse/partner must have a valid work permit of at least 6 months.

NOTE: This program is also available to holders of Post Graduate Student Work Permits but there are additional requirements.

Post-Graduate Work Permit 

Canada is a great place for education. There is a number of students who are choosing to study in Canada, many wish to be able to take that new diploma/degree and use it in the Canadian workforce. As the Canadian government is looking to retain talent that has already been trained locally, a Post-Graduate Open Work Permit is available, which is a first step to the Canadian Experience Class path to Permanent Residency. The Permit itself can be offered up to the length of the program but with a maximum duration of three (3) years and only IF you have not previously been issued a Post-Graduation Work Permit following any other program of study.

Requirement: 

• Must be 18 years old at the time of application.
• Must be currently holding a valid study permit.
• Must have graduated from an approved educational institution where you have studied full-time for at least 8 months prior to the application (900 hours).

• You have 90 days after your school issues your final marks to apply for a post-graduation work permit.

NAFTA Work Permit

Under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), there is a provision to give professionals in about 60 categories expedited entry into Canada without a need for Labour Market Impact Assessments (LMIAs). Once you get an offer from a Canadian employer, you simply apply for a work permit from Canadian Immigration. You can apply for the NAFTA Work Permit at the port of entry.

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