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How to Apply for Canada Work Permit Online

8 min read

A Canada Work Permit Visa is necessary for you to be eligible to work in Canada. You can apply for a Canadian Work Permit Visa when you check your eligibility in this article.

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Canada is a safe place or state to work and make a living. Canada requires a skilled and talented workforce to fill vacancies for both Canadian citizens and immigrants.

Working in Canada is easy when the following requirements are met:

Before applying to work in Canada, read to learn more about the conditions governing working in Canada. Looking forward to working in Canada, understand that,

  • Canada requires a work permit before you are fully allowed to exercise your skills and talent in your work.
  • You must pay your application fees
  • You must submit your application
  • You must check your application status

What is a Canadian work permit?

A Canada Work Permit, otherwise called a Work Visa, is a legal document issued to foreign individuals to work in Canada. It allows students, permanent and temporary workers, and business people to work or be employed in Canada.

Work Permit Application Fees: $155

How much does it cost to get a work permit in Canada?

The breakdown of the cost of applying for work in Canada is given here. Depending on the criteria of the work permit you are applying for, the cost is $155 for an employer-specific work permit and $100 for an open work permit.

Documents Required To Apply For Canada Work Permit Visa

  • A valid international passport with a validity of more than 6 months from the planned date of arrival in Canada
  • Two recent passport-sized photographs
  • Proof of Educational qualifications or certificates
  • Proof of professional qualifications, including work experience
  • Proof of having adequate financial resources to cover their expenses during their stay in Canada
  • Good health status.
  • Application fee

Types of Work Permit:

Depending on your situation, you may need any of the following work permits to work in Canada:

Employer: Specific Work Permit ($155):

You need an employer-specific work permit when you already have the name of the specific employer you can work for and have already determined the period during which you can work and the location (if applicable) where you can work.

You can apply for an employer-work permit with a copy of the document (Labour Market Impact Assessment—LMIA) provided by your employer or an offer of employment number.

Open Work Permit ($100):

Who can apply for an open work permit?

You may be eligible for an open work permit if you:

  • are international students who graduated from a designated learning institution and are eligible for the Post-Graduation Work Permit Program
  • are a student who’s no longer able to meet the costs of your studies (destitute student)
  • have an employer-specific work permit and are being abused or at risk of being abused in relation to your job in Canada
  • applied for permanent residence in Canada
  • are a dependent family member of someone who applied for permanent residence
  • are the spouse or common-law partner of a skilled worker or international student
  • are the spouse or common-law partner of an applicant of the Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program
  • are a refugee, refugee claimant, protected person, or their family member
  • are under an unenforceable removal order
  • are a temporary resident permit holder
  • are a young worker participating in special programs

You need a Canadian Open Work Permit to work for any employer in Canada who is not listed as ineligible on the list of employers that have failed to comply with the conditions of working in Canada.

You need an open work permit to work for an employer who is not regularly offering striptease, erotic dance, escort services, or erotic massages.

Eligibility Requirements for all Applicants

There are specific requirements you need to meet depending on where you are when you apply for your work permit.

But regardless of where you apply or what type of work permit you apply for, you must

  • prove to an officer that you will leave Canada when your work permit expires;
  • show that you have enough money to take care of yourself and your family members during your stay in Canada and to return home.
  • obey the law and have no record of criminal activity (we may ask you to give us a police clearance certificate);
  • not be a danger to Canada’s security;
  • be in good health and have a medical exam, if needed;
  • not plan to work for an employer listed with the status “ineligible” on the list of employers who failed to comply with the conditions;
  • not plan to work for an employer who, on a regular basis, offers striptease, erotic dance, escort services, or erotic massages; and
  • Give the officer any other documents they ask for to prove you can enter the country.

Applying for a Canadian Work Permit from the United States:

Applying For Canadian Work Permit from inside Canada

You can only apply for a work permit from inside Canada if

  • you have a valid study or work permit.
  • your spouse, common-law partner, or parents have a valid study or work permit;
  • you’re eligible for a post-graduation work permit and your study permit is still valid.
  • you have a temporary resident permit that is valid for six months or more.
  • you’re waiting on a decision on an application for permanent residence from inside Canada.
  • you made a claim for refugee protection.
  • you’ve been recognized as a convention refugee or protected person by the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada.
  • you’re allowed to work in Canada without a work permit but you need a work permit to work in a different job (this does not apply to business visitors); or
  • You’re an investor, trader, intra-company transferee, or professional in Canada.

Eligibility (Requirements) To Apply at the Port of Entry (POE)

You should apply for your work permit before you travel to Canada or when you are already in Canada.

Applying at the port of entry (POE), you must be

  • ensure you are eligible for an electronic travel authorization or to travel without a visitor visa
  • Open work permit Visa applicants (i.e you must also have a valid job offer)
  • Employer-specific work permit applicants (i.e., your employer must have completed all of the required steps for your employer-specific work permit)

Eligibility for the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program

A seasonal agricultural worker is not eligible to apply for a work permit at a POE.

Giving biometrics at the POE

To give your biometrics at a POE,

  • Ensure that you start and finish your application at the same POE
  • Be sure you are eligible to apply for a work permit at a POE

How to Apply for Canada Work Permit Online

Applying for a Canadian work permit is easy when you meet all the necessary requirements to travel to Canada.

To apply for a work permit, follow the steps below:

How to Create an Online Account to Apply for a Canadian Work Permit

To register with GCKey

  • Go to https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/application/account.html
  • Click Register with a GCKey button
  • Click the sign-up button.
  • Read and accept the Terms and Conditions of Use.
  • Create a username. Click Continue.
  • Create a password. Click Continue.
  • Create your security questions and responses. Click Continue.
  • Click Continue to get to the Sign Up Complete page.
  • Read and accept the terms and conditions.
  • Enter your information and follow the steps to create your account.

Register with a Sign-In Partner

This is a secure way for you to sign in to your online account using the information you already have.

Sign-in partners such as banks and credit unions that partner with SecureKey You can use the sign-in partner account option to access the services of the Government of Canada.

How to register with a Sign-in Partner

  • Click Register with a Partner Sign-In below.
  • Choose your financial institution. (If you don’t see your financial institution listed, you need to register with GCKey.)
  • Enter your banking sign-in information and click Continue.
  • Read and accept the Terms and Conditions of Use.
  • Enter your information and follow the steps to create your account.

How to Check your Canada Work Permit Application Status

Your Documents at Port When you Travel to Canada

You need to present the following documents before you are allowed entry to Canada:

  • Port of Entry Letter of Introduction
  • your passport
  • your visa (if you needed one), and
  • any travel documents you’re carrying (such as airline tickets)

Other supporting documents are

  • Proof of traveling for a non-discretionary purpose.
  • Proof showing that the business hiring you is open
  • proof of work experience and education
  • a copy of your employer’s positive Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA), if required
  • the offer of employment number your employer received when they submitted the offer of employment through the Employer Portal (if you are LMIA exempt and coming to work for a specific employer)

Receiving Your Work Permit

When you are cleared from the port to enter Canada, a Canada Work Permit is printed for you by the port officer.

For any inquiries, visit the Canada Work Permit official application portal for more information.

 

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