Process to Immigrate to Canada | Obtain Canada Work Permit

How do I get a visa to work in Canada?

1. Determine Eligibility.
2. Obtain a Job Offer.
3. LMIA (if required).
4. Gather Documents.
5. Online Application.
6. Pay Fees.
7. Biometrics (if required).
8. Wait for Processing.
9. Medical Examination (if required).
10. Receive Decision.
11. Apply for Entry Documents.
12. Arrival in Canada.
13. Receive a work permit.
14. Start Working.

Initial Documents Required to Work in Canada

• Passport
• Job offer letter
• LMIA confirmation (if applicable)
• Proof of qualifications and relevant work experience
• Proof of funds to support yourself and any accompanying family members
• Biometrics (if required)
• Medical exam results (if required)

Before applying for a work permit in Canada, you may find suitable jobs available in Canada on our Work page.

When you get a job offer, proceed to the next step.

Apply for Work Permit

To apply Canada work permit, understand the nature and roles of the job offers shown in your job offer letter. In some cases, your employer may issue an LMIA letter to ascertain your job role. With the job offer, proceed to obtain a Canada Work Permit.

How to Get a Canada Work Permit

The easiest way to get a Canadian Work Permit is to apply via the Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) webpage. Although the process is not as simple as ever, the steps to complete an application will depend on the program of entry to Canada. This will also depend on the nature of the work, which also requires some other steps.

There are different ways to get a Canadian Work permit. Based on the purpose of your immigrating to Canada, you will undergo certain eligibility checks to be able to gain approval to relocate to Canada for work.

Kinds of Canada Work Permit

1. Open Work Permit: Often issued to spouses of students or workers.
2. Employer-Specific Work Permit: specifically tied to employers and job firms that are licensed to offer jobs to foreigners. This requires a positive LMIA from the employer.
3. International Mobility Program Work Permit: for skilled workers and intra-company transferees. This covers international agreements like NAFTA/CUSMA.
4. Intra-Company Transfer Work Permit: This applies to multinational companies transferring employees to Canada and requires specialized knowledge or managerial roles from the workers.
5. Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP): Candidates who school in Canada and wish to work for a period of three years, to gain work experience after studying in Canada.
6. Global Skills Strategy Work Permit: for high-skilled workers who wish to relocate to Canada. This usually requires a job offer and a positive LMIA under the Global Talent Stream.
7. Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program (SAWP): for temporary work for agricultural labor shortages. Workers return home after the season.
8. Caregiver Program Work Permit: for caregivers for children, the elderly, or medical needs

Complete the Online Application.

With appropriate eligibility criteria, you may submit an online application for a work permit via the IRCC website. Pay all application fees to begin processing your application. Note that the approval process may last six to twelve months, depending on the nature of the entry to Canada application.

Process to Immigrate to Canada

There are programs through which candidates can apply to immigrate to Canada. Canada Express Entry remains the only and easiest program for immigrants to relocate to Canada. Other programs include Sponsorship Programs, Business Immigration, and Provincial Nominee Programs.

Canada Express Entry

A candidate can relocate to Canada through the Canada Express Entry program. This program allows a candidate to submit an application online that will be accessed and approved by Canada’s Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). The approval period usually takes six (6) months but may be less than that.

Who is Eligible for Canada Express Entry?

To be eligible for Canada Express Entry, the candidate must be one of the three (3) streams of Express Entry; Federal Skilled Worker (FSW), Federal Skilled Trades (FST), or Canadian Experience Class (CEC)

How to Apply for Canada Express Entry?

To apply for this program,

1. Be eligible under the three Federal Streams of Entry
2. Submit an application online
3. Pay the $2,300 CAD application fee for a single applicant or $4,500 CAD for a couple
4. Wait for your approval.

Travel to Canada through a Family Sponsorship program

This process of entry is simple if you already have a qualifying family that is permanently residing in Canada or is a citizen of Canada. Sponsorship entries will work best if the member sponsors your surety’s trip to Canada. In simple terms, a family Sponsorship program in Canada allows eligible families permanently residing in Canada or citizens of Canada to bring their families to Canada.

This program takes 12 months to complete the application and approval. However, the time from processing to approval will also depend on the kind of family sponsoring the application.

The estimated application cost for the family sponsorship program to Canada is $1,135 CAD.

Relocate to Canada Via Business Immigration Programs

One can relocate to Canada via the Business Immigration programs. The Business Program Scheme allows experienced and skilled business people to own and manage businesses in Canada as foreigners. This is a better option for those relocating to Canada as self-employed or start-up individuals, or other businesses as approved by the Government of Canada.

Relocate to Canada via Provincial Nominee Programs

The Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) allows Canada’s provinces to nominate foreign workers for Canadian permanent residence. With the PNP platform, many foreigners gain entry to Canada for work in the provinces based on prior agreement with the province’s labour market terms.

Travel to Canada:

If you’re from a visa-required country, you may need to apply for a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) or an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) to enter Canada.

Arrival in Canada

Present your POE Letter of Introduction to the immigration officer at the Canadian port of entry. The officer will issue your work permit if everything is in order.

How US citizens can work in Canada

United States citizens have several options for working in Canada, including work permits, visas, and other programs. To work in Canada as US citizen, do the following;

• Apply for a Work Permit: There is a high tendency for US citizens to work in Canada when they secure a job offer from a Canadian employer, complete the work permit application process, and consider LMIA requirements if applicable.
• Intra-Company Transfer: If a US citizen works for a multinational company with a Canadian branch, and applies for an intra-company transfer work permit, demonstrating specialized knowledge or managerial roles, they may be allowed to work in Canada.
• CUSMA Professionals: With the CUSMA agreement’s benefits, a US citizen may work in Canada without an LMIA in specific professions. They must meet the educational and professional criteria.
• International Experience Canada (IEC): A US citizen can participate in the Working Holiday category, enjoy work and travel in Canada for up to two years if eligibility checks and age limits permit.
• Study and Work: If US citizens enroll in Canadian educational programs, part-time and full-time work during studies is allowed. A post-graduation work permit offers Canadian work experience.
• Business Visitor Status: A US Citizen has the advantage of engaging in business-related activities in Canada, such as attending meetings, conferences, and negotiations.
• Academic and Research Roles: A citizen of US can Contribute to research or teaching at Canadian institutions, and explore work permit exemptions.
• Entrepreneur Start-Up Visa Program: It is very easy for a US Citizen to launch a business in Canada when meeting funding and criteria requirements, compared to other foreigners.
• Family Sponsorship: A US citizen, as well as other foreigners, can partner with a Canadian spouse, common-law partner, or parent to pursue sponsorship leading to a work permit.