Work In Canada
LMIA/Work Permit
To work in Canada, most foreign nationals require a work permit. If you’re uncertain about your eligibility, feel free to reach out to us for more information. Depending on your circumstances, there are two types of work permits to choose from. It’s essential to obtain the appropriate one.
1. Employer-specific work permit
If you have an employer-specific work permit in Canada, you are authorized to work under the terms and conditions specified on your work permit.
- To apply for an employer-specific work permit, you should provide the name of the employer you will work for, your availability, and the location where you will work (if applicable). However, before submitting your application, your potential employer must complete certain procedures and provide you with a copy of a Labour Market Impact Assessment or an offer of employment number to include in your application.
2. Open work permit
An open work permit lets you work for any employer in Canada, except for one that
- Is listed as ineligible on the list of employers who have failed to comply with the conditions, or
- Regularly offers striptease, erotic dance, escort services, or erotic massages.
You can only get an open work permit in specific situations.
If you want to bring your family with you
Your spouse or common-law partner and dependent children may be able to work, study or live with you while you work in Canada.
Extend or change the conditions on your work permit
What to do if your work permit is about to expire, or if you want to change jobs, and open work permits for permanent resident applicants. Contact us and we can help.
Travel and work in Canada as a youth
To find out if you can apply for the International Experience Canada Program, how to become a candidate, and what to do after you’re in the pool, contact us and we can help.
Work as an international student
To find out how to work while studying and apply for a post-graduation work permit to stay in Canada after you graduate, contact us and we can help.
Canadian employers
Hire foreign workers and recent graduates to fill labour or skills shortages. Support an employee in their journey to permanent residence.
You can hire skilled foreign workers or tradespeople through Express Entry when you can’t find Canadians or permanent residents to fill jobs. Hiring through Express Entry could benefit you as an employer, because it will allow you to
- Have a direct role in recruiting skilled workers
- Be matched with candidates through Job Bank
- Apply for a free Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA)
If you’re a Canadian employer with a business outside Quebec, you can hire Express Entry candidates to meet your needs when you can’t find Canadians or permanent residents to fill job vacancies.
Entrepreneur or Self-Employed Category
Under the International Mobility Program (IMP), foreign entrepreneurs or self-employed individuals who wish to start a new business or purchase an existing one in Canada can temporarily work and operate the business without needing a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). Applicants who qualify under the Entrepreneur or Self-Employed category of the IMP will be granted a two-year work permit. However, this is a temporary authorization to work in Canada, and applicants must convince Immigration Officers that they will leave the country at the end of their authorized stay.
Entrepreneurs who meet certain criteria can apply to extend their work permit. To do so, they must demonstrate that their admission to Canada to operate their business will generate significant economic, social, or cultural benefits or opportunities for Canadian citizens or permanent residents. The Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) considers several factors to determine if the benefit is significant, including whether the work will create a viable business that will benefit Canadian workers, whether the applicant has a particular background or skills that will improve the business’s viability, whether there is a clear business plan, and whether the applicant has taken steps to put the business plan into action, such as proving they have the financial ability to begin the business and pay for expenses, renting a space, creating a staffing plan, obtaining a business number, and providing ownership documents or agreements.
Labor Market Impact Assessment
To hire a foreign worker, employers must submit an application for Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) to Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC)/Service Canada. This application should include all necessary supporting documents. Essentially, employers are seeking an opinion on the impact that hiring a foreign worker may have on the job market in Canada. Employers must follow all steps required and submit all necessary documentation.