Last Updated on January 24, 2024 by Michael Tijani
“Work permit” as the name implies is a document issued by the Canadian government that gives immigrants living in Canada the go-ahead to source and apply for jobs in the Canadian territory. The document is issued to immigrants upon meeting certain requirements that qualify the immigrant’s efficiency. In this article, you will learn everything there is to know on how to get a Canada work permit, the documents, and the application process.
Over the years, Canada has consistently remained a destination of choice for immigrants graving for greener pastures, opportunities, and an environment where they can put their skills to use while earning some good figures annually.
Yes, Canada is a land filled with loads of opportunities. According to the country’s supplementary information for the 2023-2025 Immigration Levels Plan, the Canadian government aims to welcome a total of 465,000 new permanent residents in 2023, 485,000 in 2024, and 500,000 in 2025. Filled workers take up a large percentage of these numbers which is to complement the steadily declining domestic workforce needed in the country.
Some of the positions needed to fill by these immigrants include; Truck drivers, classroom teachers, plumbers, caregivers, artisans, locksmiths, Fruit Pickers, etc.
So, if you’re already skilled in any of the listed professions and have successfully migrated to Canada, all you need to do next is to apply for a work permit in Canada. The work permit grants you legal rights to take on any job you are skilled in for a period of time.
How to Apply for a Canadian work permit
The Canadian authorities issues work permits to two categories of workers these include; temporary, and permanent, workers. There is also a permit for those who wish to start up a business in the country. This makes the application process and requirements differ from case to case depending on the type of worker and the permit you require.
To start with, there are two (2) types of work permits available for immigrants in Canada they are;
Employer-Specific Work Permit
The Employer-Specific Work Permit also known as the “Closed Work Permit” is a type of work permit that is specifically for/from a specified employer. This means that immigrants with this type of permit must have received a job offer from a verified Canadian employer who must have gotten the Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) document. Such immigrants can only work with this employer throughout their stay in Canada. Most times, these types of work permits are often processed before entry into the country. The employer details, job title, job description, salary, and duration of employment are some of the information that is included in the Employer-Specific Work Permit.
Open Work Permit
The Open Work Permit on the other hand gives immigrants the flexibility of sourcing and working for their preferred employer.
Requirements needed for a Canadian Work Permit
As earlier stated, the Canadian government issues temporary and permanent work permits to foreign nationals wishing to take on a job in the country. As an immigrant, you are required to first apply for a temporary work permit and renew it for some time maybe one or more years before you are eligible to apply for a permanent work permit.
Below are the essential requirements you need in the Canadian work permit application process.
- Applicant must provide a written letter confirming the job offer from a verifiable Canadian employer.
- Applicant must provide a copy of the LMIA document and the LMIA number.
- Applicants must provide at least 2 recent passport-size photographs.
- Applicants must have a valid international passport with a validity of more than 6 months from the date of arrival.
- Applicants must provide certificates of qualifications.
- Applicants must provide a medical examination Certificate from a registered hospital.
- Application fee.
- Applicants must either provide a Certificate or any proof of their work experience.
- Applicant must provide Proof of funding.
- Applicant must provide Language test results (if necessary).
For applicants traveling with their families:
- You are required to provide the family information form
- You are also required to provide a copy of your marriage certificate and child’s birth certificate (if a spouse or dependent child/children are also traveling)
Canadian Work Permit Application Process
For those applying for the Employer-Specific a.k.a Closed work permit, we strongly advise that you make necessary inquiries to be sure that your potential employer has applied and received the Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) document. The (LMIA) is a document issued by the Canadian government to employers in Canada who may need to hire a foreign worker.
A positive LMIA often indicates that there is a need for a foreign worker to take up the said job. It will also show that there is no Canadian worker or permanent resident that is available to do the job.
Upon confirming the above requirement, you can then proceed to apply for the Canadian temporary work permit.
Fees
Kindly note that applying for a Canadian work permit isn’t free. There are two types of fees you will be required to pay these are; the application fee and the biometric fee. Below is the breakdown of the process to help you understand even better.
For Individual Applicants:
- The Application Fee cost a total of -CA$ 155
- While the Biometric Fees are – CA$ 85 (for one person) and CA$ 170 (for a family with at least two members)
Group Applicant (at least 3 applicants:
- Application Fees – CA$ 465
- Biometric Fees – CA$ 255
These fees are payable either online or at the Visa Application Centre.
Frequently Asked Questions
How fast can I get a Canadian work permit?
Typically, the process takes up to about 30 business days (approximately 6 weeks).
Can I get a Canadian work permit without a job offer?
Yes, but this is only applicable to the open work permits which do not require the applicant to have either a job offer or a positive Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA).
Conclusion
In this article, we talked about what a Canadian work permit is, the types of work permits available, the necessary documents you must have to aid your application, and the application process. This must have given you all the information you need so if you are sure you have met all the necessary criteria, head over to the Canadian official website through this LINK to apply in the category that best suits you.
