How to Apply for a Work Permit in Canada

Co-authored by Timothy Morson

Last Updated: February 5, 2023 References

If you want to work in Canada, you’ll need to get a work permit before you go. For the most part, applying for a work permit can be done online. However, you can also submit a paper application if you prefer. To apply, you’ll need a few things including a job offer, a passport, and your application fees. Applications can take up to 8 weeks to process, so make sure to start your application as soon as you can.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Checking Your Eligibility to Work in Canada

1
Secure a job with a Canadian company if you don't qualify for an open permit. In most cases, you will need a job offer from a Canadian company before you can apply for a work permit.^{[1]
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Expert Source

Timothy Morson
Canadian Immigration Specialist
Expert Interview. 26 January 2021.} Your employer will sponsor your work visa and provide you with documentation and credentials to complete your application.^{[2]
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- When your employer extends you an offer of temporary employment, they must also include a copy of their positive Labor Market Impact Assessment (LMIA).^{[3]
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- In some cases, such as if employment is executed under the terms of an international agreement like NAFTA, a LMIA may not be necessary. Ask your employer if you need a copy of their LMIA to complete your work permit application.^{[4]
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  Expert Source
  
  Timothy Morson
  Canadian Immigration Specialist
  Expert Interview. 26 January 2021.}
2
Check the qualifications for an open work permit if you don’t have a job. Open work permits are difficult to get. If you qualify, though, this permit affords you the right to work in Canada for almost any company. To qualify for an open work permit, you must meet a basic qualification, as well as some additional criteria. Basic qualifiers include:^{[5]
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- Permanent resident status in Canada
- Dependent family member status of a permanent Canadian resident
- The spouse or common-law partner of an international student or skilled worker
- An international student no longer able to meet the cost of your studies
- A refugee, protected person, or their family member
- A temporary resident permit holder
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Review the general eligibility requirements to make sure you qualify. All foreign employees seeking any type of Canadian work permit must meet some basic requirements. Some requirements, such as health and security, may include checks like a physical exam and a background screening during the permit application process. Requirements include:^{[6]
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- Being in good physical and mental health
- Having no record of criminal activity
- Having enough money to provide for yourself and your family while in Canada
- Not being dangerous to Canadian security
- Not planning to work for an employer in the field of sexual services, including striptease
- Not planning to work for a company that is ineligible to accept foreign workers

Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Starting Your Application Online

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Scan your documents to create digital copies for the online portal. Before you start the application process, make sure you have high-quality scans of all the documents you need to get a Canadian work permit. These documents will vary slightly depending on the country from which you enter, but in general, you will need:^{[7]
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- A valid passport
- Two passport-sized photos
- Evidence that you meet employment requirements
- Your job offer letter
- A Certificat D’Acceptation du Quebec, if your job is in Quebec
2
Register your account for an online application. If you have a Canadian bank, you may be able to use your banking information to log in for your application through the Sign-In Partners program. Otherwise, you will need to register for a GCKey.^{[8]
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- The registration process to create your GCKey is short. You just need to provide a username and password and register some basic information about yourself.
- Banking Sign-In Partners include BMO Financial Group, Alberta Treasury, Affinity Credit Union, CIBC, Desjardins Group, National Bank of Canada, RBC, Scotiabank, Tangerine, and TD Bank Group.
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Follow the application step-by-step. Once you have a login, log into the online application system at http://www.canada.ca. The application takes you through the process step-by-step. You will also be able to upload scans of your documents through your online application.^{[9]
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- For the application process, you will need your personal contact information, your passport information, information about your job provided by your employer, and information for anyone helping you qualify for an open work permit, if applicable.
- If you are applying for an open work permit, select “Open Work Permit” for question 1 of the IMM 1295 form, and leave questions 2-6 blank.^{[10]
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Mail in your application if you cannot apply online. Online applications are preferred, but paper applications are still accepted if you cannot fill out the forms online. Complete and mail in your documents, along with the Application to Change Conditions or Extend Your Stay in Canada (From IMM 5710) and the Document Checklist (Form IMM 5556) to:
- Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada - Work Permit
  CPC-Vegreville
  6212 - 55th Avenue, Unit 555
  Vegreville, AB
  T9C 1X6

Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Completing Your Application

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Pay your application fees online. After you submit an online application, you must pay 3 fees: the application fee, the processing fee, and the biometrics fee. The processing fee is paid when you submit your application.The application and biometrics may be paid through a separate online form, located at http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/fees/index.asp.
- Fees must be paid online using a credit or debit card.
- The fee for a work permit is $155 CAD. For an open work permit, you must pay an additional $100 CAD on top of the work permit fee. The biometrics fee is an additional $85 CAD.^{[11]
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Complete your biometrics at a visa application center. Biometrics including fingerprints and a digital photo for identification are currently required for visa applicants from Europe, Africa, and the Middle East, and will soon be required for all visa applicants. To submit your biometrics, make an appointment with an approved Visa Application Center (VAC).^{[12]
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- An approved list of VACs can be found at http://www.canada.ca.^{[13]
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- United States applicants can visit Application Support Centers across the country. You need to make an advanced appointment with the Centers, just like with the VACs.
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Get a medical exam if you’re teaching or working in medicine or agriculture. Jobs that require you to work in close contact with other people, including teaching, patient and elder care, and most medical professions, require a physical exam. In addition, agricultural workers from certain countries are also required to get an exam.^{[14]
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- The list of countries for agricultural examinations can be found online at http://www.canada.ca.
- Your own doctor will not be able to perform the exam. Instead, you will need to find a panel physician. You can find your nearest panel physician online by searching under the Medical exams link on the Immigration and Citizenship page of https"//www.cic.gc.ca. Depending on where you are, your nearest physician may be in another country.^{[15]
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Expert Q&A
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Question

How do I qualify for an intra-company transfer?

Timothy Morson
Canadian Immigration Specialist
Timothy Morson is a Canadian Immigration Specialist and a former Canadian Diplomat. With over 30 years of experience, Timothy specializes in Canadian immigration programs, immigration management, employer compliance, and international mobility. He holds a BA in Political Science from Concordia University and an MA in Journalism from Western University. Timothy is accredited by the Immigration Consultants of Canada Regulatory Council (ICCRC), Immigration Quebec, and is a member of the Order of Chartered Administrators of Quebec (Adm.A). He works to help people and companies around the world achieve their immigration goals.

Timothy Morson

Canadian Immigration Specialist

Expert Answer

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Intra-company transfers are for upper management positions or highly specialized professionals within the company. Just because I've worked for ABC Inc. in the United States for the last five years and ABC Inc. wants to send me to the Canadian office, doesn’t mean that I will be transferred under the intracompany transferee program unless I have some highly specialized knowledge about the way the company operates or the company's product. That's the only way that a specialized person will be able to get an intracompany transfer work permit.
Question

How can I find a job in Canada?

Timothy Morson
Canadian Immigration Specialist
Timothy Morson is a Canadian Immigration Specialist and a former Canadian Diplomat. With over 30 years of experience, Timothy specializes in Canadian immigration programs, immigration management, employer compliance, and international mobility. He holds a BA in Political Science from Concordia University and an MA in Journalism from Western University. Timothy is accredited by the Immigration Consultants of Canada Regulatory Council (ICCRC), Immigration Quebec, and is a member of the Order of Chartered Administrators of Quebec (Adm.A). He works to help people and companies around the world achieve their immigration goals.

Timothy Morson

Canadian Immigration Specialist

Expert Answer

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There are the usual ways of looking for work, like LinkedIn and other job platforms, but in Canada there's also what's known as the Job Bank which is a government of Canada website where employers may or may not advertise positions that they want to fill. Generally speaking, employers that are looking to hire foreign workers are required to advertise on the Job Bank. So that's one place for prospective applicants to look for jobs. There are also provincial government job websites where jobs that are available in a certain province, for example, in Quebec, can look for jobs.
Question

How can I increase my chances of getting hired by a Canadian company?

Timothy Morson
Canadian Immigration Specialist
Timothy Morson is a Canadian Immigration Specialist and a former Canadian Diplomat. With over 30 years of experience, Timothy specializes in Canadian immigration programs, immigration management, employer compliance, and international mobility. He holds a BA in Political Science from Concordia University and an MA in Journalism from Western University. Timothy is accredited by the Immigration Consultants of Canada Regulatory Council (ICCRC), Immigration Quebec, and is a member of the Order of Chartered Administrators of Quebec (Adm.A). He works to help people and companies around the world achieve their immigration goals.

Timothy Morson

Canadian Immigration Specialist

Expert Answer

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Do general research to find out what the up and coming occupations, professions, or trades are that are in short supply. Try to focus your job search on employers who are looking to fill a labor need because there are shortages in that profession. Job hunters have to be very sharp and strategic because an employer is not simply going to hire anybody. They're going to do their homework. It costs them a lot of money to hire a foreign worker.