Work Permit
Have a Canadian job offer? Begin work in Canada.
A job offer from a Canadian employer is not enough on its own. As a foreign national, you also need a work permit before you can legally start the job. Which permit, and how you get it, depends on your history, your employer and your longer plans in Canada. That is where we come in.
Permit types
Four ways in. Which one is yours?
The right permit depends on your history, your employer and your plans. These are the four main routes we work with every week.
Postgraduate Work Permit
If you completed an eligible program at a Canadian institution, the post graduation work permit is your one time bridge from student to worker, and often the first real step toward permanent residence.
Bridging Open Work Permit
Already applied for permanent residence and waiting on the decision? A bridging open work permit keeps you working legally in Canada while your PR application is in process.
Labour Market Impact Assessment
The classic employer route. Your Canadian employer obtains a positive Labour Market Impact Assessment through the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, and that approval carries your work permit application.
LMIA-Exempt Work Permit
Some positions and applicants qualify for a work permit without any LMIA at all, through international agreements, intra company transfers and other categories. It is worth a professional read before you rule it in or out.
The bigger picture
A work permit is often the first step to permanent residence.
One of the best parts of becoming a temporary foreign worker in Canada is that it opens many paths that can lead towards permanent residence for you and your family. We plan the work permit with that destination in mind.
Questions
Work permit questions we hear most.
I have a Canadian job offer. Can I start working?
Not yet. A job offer from a Canadian employer is not enough on its own. As a foreign national you must also apply for a work permit before you are authorized to begin work with your Canadian employer.
Which work permit is right for me?
It depends on your history, your employer and your plans. The four main routes are the post graduation work permit, the bridging open work permit, the LMIA based permit and the LMIA exempt permit. Naming the right one is what the consultation is for.
What is a bridging open work permit?
If your application for Canadian permanent residence is in process, a bridging open work permit may let you keep working in Canada while you wait for the decision.
Does a work permit lead to permanent residence?
Becoming a temporary foreign worker in Canada opens many paths that can lead toward permanent residence for you and your family, from Express Entry to provincial nomination. We plan the permit with that destination in mind.