Canada offers over 100 different work visa options for international talent and employers.

Canada runs two main work permit programs: the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) and the International Mobility Program (IMP).

The key difference between the TFWP and other programs is the Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA), which tests the job market.

Navigating Canada's work permit options can be tricky, but we're here to help. With over 45 years of experience, Cohen Immigration Law is a leading Canadian immigration firm.

To schedule a free phone consultation with one of our work permit lawyers, please fill out our contact form.

Do You Need a Canadian Work Permit to Work in Canada?


Work Permit Types in Canada

In Canada, there are two main types of work permits:

  1. Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP):

    • Requires a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA).
    • Employers must prove that hiring a foreign worker will not negatively impact the Canadian job market.
  2. International Mobility Program (IMP):

    • Does not require an LMIA.
    • Includes work permits available through free trade agreements, like the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA), and other LMIA-exempt categories.

Work Permit Categories:

  • LMIA Required:

    • Employers need to get an LMIA before a foreign worker can apply for a permit.
  • LMIA Exempt:

    • Certain permits do not require an LMIA, such as those under CUSMA or for specific situations like company transfers.
  • CUSMA:

    • Allows workers from the US and Mexico to work in Canada without an LMIA.
  • Company Transfers:

    • Permits employees to move from a company’s international office to its Canadian branch without an LMIA.
  • Business Visitors:

    • Business travelers can work in Canada without a work permit if they meet certain conditions.
  • Post-Graduation Work Permits:

    • Allows international students to work in Canada for up to three years after graduation.

Considerations for Different Scenarios:

  • If You Have a Job Offer:

    • Check out our Work Permit Services to get guidance on obtaining the necessary work authorization.
  • If Your Job Offer is in Quebec:

    • You’ll need to get a CAQ (Certificat d'acceptation du Québec) and follow Quebec-specific requirements.
  • If You’re from Mexico or the US:

    • You might qualify for a CUSMA work permit, which simplifies the process.
  • If You Want to Hire a Foreign Worker:

    • We can help with the best approach for hiring foreign staff, including whether you need an LMIA or if there are quicker options like intra-company transfers.
  • If You’re a Tech Worker:

    • Look into the Global Talent Stream for fast-tracking your work permit.
  • If You Work in TV and Film:

    • Work permits for this industry do not require an LMIA.
  • If You’re an Entrepreneur:

    • Explore the Entrepreneur Start-Up Visa Program or intra-company transfer options.
  • If You’re Self-Employed:

    • Some programs allow self-employed individuals to work in Canada. We can help assess your eligibility.
  • If You’re a Recent Graduate:

    • You might be eligible for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP), which helps gain Canadian work experience.
  • If You’re Job Hunting:

    • Use our resources to find a job in Canada or get help with your job search.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA), and how can you get one?

What is a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA


In order to hire a foreign worker in Canada, Canadian companies must first receive approval from Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC), sometimes known as a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). Employers in Canada are required to prove that there are no Canadian citizens or permanent residents who are now available to fill the post and that hiring a foreign worker won't, in most situations, have a negative effect on the local labor market. Usually, to prove there were no qualified Canadian candidates for the position, the vacancy is advertised on numerous different websites. The government will closely scrutinize an LMIA because it is such a thorough and difficult process, therefore it must be done correctly.

How do you get a work permit in Canada?

How do you get a work permit in Canada?


Work permits are handled by two federal departments in Canada. The department of Employment and Social Development Canada will examine the LMIA application and decide whether to approve it or not if a labour market impact assessment is necessary.

The Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada department is in charge of the work permit application procedure (IRCC). You submit a work permit application to IRCC following the approval of an LMIA. You can also apply to IRCC for a work permit if an LMIA is not required. You have the legal right to carry out temporary employment in Canada thanks to the work permit

To apply for a work permit, what is required?

To apply for a work permit, what is required?

According to the work permit stream they are applying under, applicants must meet both general standards that are applicable to all applicants and particular requirements. The following papers must be sent to IRCC as part of your work permit application if, for instance, you are applying under a work permit stream that calls for an LMIA:
  • one for a job offer
  • contract of employment
  • the LMIA document
  • an LMIA number
Generally speaking, all candidates must show they'll depart Canada when their work permit expires, they have enough money to sustain themselves financially in Canada, they don't represent a risk to public health and safety, and they won't work for ineligible firms or engage in any illegal activity.

How long does it take to process a work permit in Canada?

How long does it take to process a work permit in Canada?


The duration of the processing time depends on a variety of variables, including whether a Labour Market Impact Assessment is necessary, the work permit stream you are applying under, and the nation where the worker is presently residing. For estimates, use the immigration processing time calculator on CanadaVisa.com.

How can your Canadian work permit be renewed?

Canadian work permit be renewed


You must submit a fresh application at least 30 days prior to the expiration of your current work permit if it is about to expire or if you need to amend the terms of it. Your work permit cannot be extended past the date on which your passport expires.

What is an open work permit? A closed work permit—what is it?

What is an open work permit? A closed work permit



An open work permit allows a foreign employee to work for any Canadian employer. When requesting an open work permit from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, foreign nationals are not required to present a Labour Market Impact Assessment or a job offer.

With closed work permits, an employee can only work for an employer who has a positive LMIA and a job offer for them. If a foreign worker decides they will no longer work for this company, they must request to have the terms of their work permit changed in order to continue to be able to lawfully work in Canada.

A post-graduation work permit: what is it?

post-graduation work permit: what is it


International students who have completed an approved program of at least 8 months of full-time study at a Designated Learning Institution are eligible for the PGWP (DLI). The PGWP aims to give overseas students the opportunity to earn professional work experience that they can later utilize to qualify for a Canadian immigration program. 

You can submit your application to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada if you meet the requirements for the PGWP (IRCC). The length of your studies in Canada will determine how long your PGWP will ultimately be. A PGWP may last no more than three years. In general, a PGWP can only be obtained once. As soon as your PGWP expires,

My spouse or partner wants to work in Canada.

My spouse or partner wants to work in Canada.



If your spouse or common-law partner qualifies for an LMIA-required or LMIA-exempt work visa, they may submit an application. The Spousal Open Work Permit is one choice offered to Canadian citizens and permanent residents.

What is an Open Work Permit for the Spouse?

What is an Open Work Permit for the Spouse



While Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada processes an eligible person's spouse sponsorship application, they can get a temporary work permit through the Spousal Open Work Permit program (IRCC). The person who is awaiting sponsorship can work for any employer in Canada with this work permit.

Can I apply for a work permit if my goal is to immigrate to Canada?

Can I apply for a work permit if my goal is to immigrate to Canada


You may apply for a work permit separately or in conjunction with a request for permanent residence. "Dual intent" is a concept that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) acknowledges.

Is the number of work permits I can get in Canada limited at a specific quantity?

the number of work permits I can get in Canada limited at a specific quantity?


There are none, that's for sure. Each work permit has an expiration date. Some work permits can be renewed an unlimited number of times, whereas others, like the Post-Graduation Work Permit, can only be applied for once. If your work permit isn't renewable, you can apply for a permit under a different category for which you qualify.

Will my work permit be governed by restrictions?

Will my work permit be governed by restrictions?


Conditions will be included in your work permit, including those that are noted on the document itself.

Conditions might include what kind of job you can do, who you can work for as an employer, where you can work, and how long you can work if you have a closed LMIA-required work permit, for instance.

Other general terms that apply to all foreign workers include having to leave Canada at the conclusion of your employment.

While I'm living in Canada, can I extend my work permit?

While I'm living in Canada, can I extend my work permit?


You can apply to have your work permit extended while residing in Canada, provided that it is still in good standing.

When I arrive in Canada, can I apply for a work permit?

When I arrive in Canada, can I apply for a work permit?


However, some foreign workers may be eligible to apply for one once they arrive. IRCC strongly advises you to apply for your work permit before you travel to Canada.

At a Canadian port of entry (POE), applicants seeking work permits must fulfill the requirements listed below:

meet all other conditions for the work permit stream, be qualified for an electronic travel authorization (eTA), or be able to enter Canada without a visitor visa.

How is a job offer letter defined by the Canadian government?

How is a job offer letter defined by the Canadian government?


A Canadian company must give you a job offer letter outlining the specifics of your position, according to the IRCC. It is not the same as a "job offer letter" and is less specific than a contract. Instead, it describes your salary, job responsibilities, and employment terms. In order to apply for a Labour Market Impact Assessment, you must also attach a copy of your employment offer letter (LMIA). If a business wants to hire you but does not require an LMIA, they must post their offer of employment on the Employer Portal of the Canadian government. Following submission, the portal will produce a job offer number for the foreign employee.

To get a work permit in Canada, must I pass a medical examination?

get a work permit in Canada, must I pass a medical examination?


If they want to work in a position that involves the preservation of public health, some international workers must undergo a medical examination. These jobs include, for instance, those in the health care industry, child care, or elementary or secondary education.

Additionally, you might need to undergo a medical if you'll be working in agriculture and you previously resided in a designated country or territory, or if you want to work in Canada for longer than six months and you previously lived there for six consecutive months in the year prior to the date you plan to move there. countries and territories that have been designated

Does getting a work permit cost money?

To process work permits, the Canadian government often pays either workers and employers fees. On its website, IRCC provides a list of fees.

Pay the work permit processing fee if you have a work permit that is required by the LMIA.

Employees with work permits that are exempt from the LMIA must pay both the work permit processing charge and the open work permit holder fee at the same time.

An application processing fee is required of employers who require an LMIA. Employers who submit an offer of employment through the Canadian government's Employer Portal but do not require an LMIA still have to pay an employer compliance fee.

A POE letter: What is it?

POE letter: What is it? work in Canada


If your work permit application has been approved, IRCC will give you a "Port of Entry" (POE) Letter. Other names for the letter include "Correspondence Letter," "Introduction Letter," and "Introductory Letter." Although this letter does not serve as your work visa, it is significant still because you will need to present it to Canadian border agents when you enter the country.

How long are valid POE letters?

What you need to know about valid OPE letters


The "Permit validity" part of your POE letter will let you know how long the permit is valid for. If the validity date passes, a new application must be submitted.

Only participants in International Experience Canada (IEC) are often given validity periods of 12 months. If you underwent a medical examination, your POE Letter will be valid for 12 months or until the date when your medical examination expired (whichever of the dates is less).

Can I leave Canada with a work permit and then come back?

Can I leave Canada with a work permit and then come back?



Indeed, you can. Please remember that your work permit does not grant you permission to travel to Canada as it is not a valid travel document. It instead grants you permission to work in Canada. You require an electronic travel permission or a temporary residence visa in addition to your current work permit (eTA).

Can I work in Canada while I'm a student? If I'm studying in Canada, do I need a work permit?

Can I work in Canada while I'm a student? If I'm studying in Canada, do I need a work permit?


If enrolled full-time, students do not require a work visa. Without the need to apply for a separate work permit, study permits will automatically authorize the holder to work off-campus for up to 20 hours per week during the academic session and full-time during specified breaks. The bearer of a study permit must be enrolled in a designated learning institution for at least six months of academic, vocational, or professional training that results in a degree, diploma, or certificate (DLI).

International students must be registered and enrolled at an authorized educational facility and get a Social Insurance Number (SIN) from Service Canada in order to work in Canada.

International students are not permitted to work in Canada while they are enrolled in general education, preparatory, or English or French as a Second Language (ESL/FSL) courses. Before starting work in Canada, it is the individual's and their employer's responsibility to make sure they are eligible. The Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations may impose enforcement action on foreign students who start working in Canada before they are eligible.

In Canada, is it feasible to obtain a short-term work permit exemption?

feasible to obtain a short-term work permit exemption?


Yes. It is possible to be excused from requiring a work permit in some situations in order to work in Canada for a brief length of time.

There are two groups of people who are eligible to enter Canada without a work permit under the Global Skills Strategy (GSS).

Although the Global Skills Strategy does not require a work permit, applicants are still required to submit an application for a temporary resident visa (TRV) or, if necessary, an electronic travel authorization (eTA).

Researchers

In order to be eligible for the work permit exemption, researchers must show
  • Every year, they'll spend one 120-day period working in Canada;
  • They will do research at a Canadian degree-granting university that receives public funding or at one of its research institutions that is linked with it.

Highly Qualified Personnel

Highly Skilled Workers must exhibit the following to be eligible for the work visa exemption:
  • They will be employed in an occupation classified as skill type 0 (executive,
  • They have a skill level A (professional), level B (managerial), or level C in the National Occupational Classification (NOC), and they'll be employed in Canada for one of the following times:
    • every six months, up to 15 consecutive days; or
    • every 12 months, up to 30 days in a row.
Workers who have been admitted under the Global Skills Strategy are not permitted to continue working once the exemption expires. They can either opt to apply for a work permit or wait until they are qualified for another exemption under this heading.

On the same work permit, is it possible to switch employers?

same work permit, is it possible to switch employers?


Work permits often only pertain to one employer. A person must submit an application for a new work permit if they switch employers. Only individuals with open work permits can switch employers without having to reapply for admission to Canada. Open work permits are the exception and may be granted to certain work permit holders' wives or common-law partners, spouses or common-law partners of international students studying in Canada, asylum seekers, in-land sponsored family members, and destitute students studying in Canada.

Does a work permit application require a medical exam?

Does a work permit application require a medical exam?


In any occupation where maintaining the public's health is crucial, a medical exam is always required before starting work. If the job offer is longer than six months, a candidate may, in the absence of this, be needed to undergo a medical examination before the work permit is approved, depending on the country of residence.

Can a spouse or common-law partner accompany a temporary worker to Canada or follow a temporary worker there?

a spouse or common-law partner accompany a temporary worker to Canada or follow a temporary worker there?


A temporary worker's spouse/common-law partner and dependent children may go with them to Canada. Many times, individuals entering Canada on a work permit may ask for their spouse or common-law partner to receive an open work permit. In some cases, kids could need a study permission to go to school in Canada.

When applying for a work permit, does the Canadian government charge any fees?

applying for a work permit, does the Canadian government charge any fees?

Each application for a work visa costs the Canadian government $155 CAD. In the event that a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) or Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) is also necessary, additional expenses would be charged.

For assistance, get in touch with the Cohen Immigration Law Firm.

Do you require help with your work permit?

Cohen Immigration Law Firm can be of assistance. We have more than 45 years of experience aiding employers and employees in obtaining work permits for Canada.

To submit your inquiry to our law firm directly, kindly complete our brief form. A member of our legal team will get in touch with you to arrange a free phone consultation.
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