Canada Work Permit
Canada is an attractive option for many skilled foreign workers from all over the world. Each year, close to 200,000 foreign skilled workers come to work in Canada on Temporary Canadian Work Permits.
In order to work in Canada on a temporary basis, foreign skilled workers must have a temporary offer of employment from a Canadian employer and be granted a Temporary Foreign Worker Permit by Human Resources and Skills Development Canada prior to issue of a Canada Work Permit.
There are four basic steps to getting a temporary Canadian Work Visa:
Employer applies for labour market impact assessment
Employer extends a temporary job offer to foreign workers
The foreign skilled worker applies for a work permit
The work permit is issued
Step 1: Labour Market Impact Assessments (LMIA) formerly LMOs
Before applying for a temporary Canadian Work Visa, in most cases, you need to qualify for a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIAs) previously called an LMO from Service Canada.
Step 2: Employer Extends Temporary Job Offer
The employer must send a copy of the positive LMIA along with a formal employment contract to the foreign skilled worker which must include:
Job title for the position
Job description
Requirements for the temporary position
Details about start and end dates
Specifics about the salary
The name and address of the employer
Step 3: Foreign Skilled Worker Applies For a Work Permit
Once you have received your LMIA and Employment contract you then can apply for a Canadian Temporary Work Permit. If the employer that is hiring you is in the province of Quebec, then you may also need to obtain a Certificat d’acceptation du Québec (CAQ) in order to work temporarily in Quebec. In some cases, when applying for a temporary foreign worker permit, you will be required to attend an interview with a visa officer. If the visa officer is satisfied that the foreign worker’s employment will not adversely affect employment in Canada for Canadians and that the foreign worker qualifies for the position, then a Canada Work Permit will be issued.
Note: In some cases, applicants from certain countries will be required to undergo medical examinations.
Step 4. Get Issued a Canadian Temporary Work Permit
A Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) officer will issue the Canadian Temporary Work Permit at the point of entry when the skilled foreign worker arrives in Canada. Depending on the foreign worker’s country of citizenship, a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) may also need to be obtained in order to enter Canada. There are a few more minor steps and processes to obtaining a work visa.
No. Certain persons are EXEMPT or do not require Canada Work Visas, such as:
Foreign Diplomats
Military Personnel
Clergy
Performing Artists (under certain circumstances)
Athletes
Artists
Ship or Truck Personnel
Designated Foreign Buyers and Sellers
Note: Other exemptions are found in the Canadian Immigration Regulations.
Possibly. If you work in Canada for one or more years under a valid work permit, you may be eligible for permanent residence under the Canadian Experience Class or another category depending on your job classification and your language proficiency.
Yes, you can. You may apply for a temporary work permit on its own or in combination with an application for a Canada immigration visa.
Work permits that are applied for at a Canadian Port of Entry can be issued the same day (which is rare). Most Canadian work permit applications are filed outside of Canada and are released within a matter of days or weeks, depending on whether or not a medical examination is required and the workload at the particular visa office to which you applied.
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