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Work Visa

Any foreign national who wants to work in Canada need to obtain a temporary work permit, except in some cases.

Minimum Requirements

  • Intention: You need to satisfy the officer that you will leave Canada when your work permit expires
  • Sufficient Funds: You need to demonstrate that you have enough money to support yourself and your family members during your stay in Canada and to arrange to return home
  • Background Check: You need to have a clear criminal record to in order to become eligible and to ensure your presence will not be a security risk in Canada
  • Medical Exam: You need to be in good health and have a medical exam (if needed)
  • Documents: You need to provide the officer with other documents to prove you can enter Canada
  • Employer Requirements:
    • You must not plan to work with an employer whose status is listed as “ineligible”, who failed to comply with the conditions.

You must not plan to work for an employer who, on a regular basis, offers striptease, erotic dance, escort services or erotic massages

Open Work Permits

An open work permit allows you to work for any employer in Canada, except for an employer;

  • who is listed as ineligible on the list of employers who have failed to comply with the conditions,
  • who regularly offers striptease, erotic dance, escort services or erotic massages

In the following circumstances, a foreign national may be qualified for an Open Work Permit:

    •  Post Graduate Work Permit: If you are currently in Canada and have a valid study or work permit, or your spouse or parents have a study or work permit
    • Destitute Student: If you are a student who’s no longer able to meet the costs of your studies (destitute student)
    • Permanent residency in-process: If you have applied for permanent residence in Canada
    • Dependent under Family class: If you are a dependent family member of someone who applied for permanent residence

 Spouse:

      • If you are the spouse or common-law partner of a skilled worker or international student
      • If you are the spouse or common-law partner of an applicant of the Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program

Refugee: If you are a refugee, refugee claimant, protected person or their family member
Removal order: If you are under an unenforceable removal order
TRV: If you are a temporary resident permit holder
Special programs: If you are a young worker participating in special program

*Note: In each of these situations, you must meet additional criteria to be eligible*

Employer-Specific Work Permit

An employer-specific work permit permits you to work within the terms of your work permit, which include the following:

  • the name of the employer you can work for
  • how long you can work
  • the location where you can work (if applicable)

*Note: Employers must also fulfill some minimum standards in order to recruit you. To recruit a foreign worker, they must get a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA), a certificate issued by the Government of Canada that allows Canadian businesses to engage overseas employees.

*please note these are minimum requirements, additional requirements will vary with each category/program*