A work permit is a legal document that allows foreign nationals to work in Canada. Each year, Canada issues approximately half a million work permits to temporary foreign workers globally.
Canada is a top destination for international job seekers and working here can serve as a valuable stepping stone for those considering permanent immigration to the country.
working in Canada
Open Work Permit
An open work permit is a type of work permit that is not restricted to a specific employer or location. This gives a foreign national with a valid open work permit the freedom to work for various employers in different locations across Canada.
An open work permit is issued through one the following immigration programs:
- Post-Graduation Work Permits (PGWP)
- Spousal Sponsorship from Inside of Canada (SOWP)
- International Experience Canada (IEC)
- Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP)
working in Canada
Closed Work Permit
A closed work permit is a type of work permit that is tied to working exclusively for a single employer. For some closed work permit programs, the employer is required to obtain a positive Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). For other programs, the employer is LMIA-Exempt, but must provide the foreign worker with a job offer or employment contract.
A closed work permit is issued through one the following immigration programs:
Requiring a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA)
- Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP)
- Facilitated LMIA (Quebec)
- Global Talent Stream (GTS)
LMIA-Exempt but Requiring a Job Offer or Employment Contract
- International Mobility Program (IMP)
- CUSMA (formerly called NAFTA)
- CETA
- Intra-Company Transfers
open work permits
Post-Graduation Work Permits (PGWP)
A PGWP allows international students who have graduated from a Canadian Designated Learning Institution (DLI) to remain in the country to work. This type of work permit can be valid for any length of time, spanning from eight months to three years.
To be eligible to apply for a PGWP, students must be 18 years or older, have maintained full-time status for the duration of their program, and completed more than 50% of the course hours in person (not online). The application must be submitted within 180 days of completing the study program.
open work permits
Spousal Sponsorship from Inside of Canada (SOWP)
An SOWP allows the spouse of certain temporary Canadian permit holders to work anywhere in Canada, for any employer, with some restrictions. The requirements for applying for a spousal open work permit depend on the type of status their spouse has in Canada.
To be eligible to apply for an SOWP, a spouse must:
- be in a genuine relationship with a qualifying foreign national principal applicant, permanent resident, or citizen,
- be eligible to apply as the spouse of a qualifying foreign national, or as an in Canada sponsorship applicant,
- not be criminally or medically inadmissible to Canada
open work permits
Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP)
The BOWP allows foreign nationals who are currently working in Canada to extend their stay while awaiting a decision on their permanent residency application. A BOWP is only available to those who are already in possession of a valid work permit, and have also already submitted a permanent residency application.
Closed Work Permit – Requiring a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA)
Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP)
A TFWP provides Canadian employers the ability to temporarily hire foreign nationals in order to fill shortages in Canada’s labour force. Employers must first obtain an LMIA, demonstrating they were unable to find a Canadian citizen or permanent resident to fill the position. Applicants can be hired through the following streams:
- High-Wage Workers
- Low-Wage Workers
- Global Talent Stream
- Foreign Agricultural Workers
- In-Home Caregivers
- Foreign Academics
Closed Work Permit – Requiring a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA)
Facilitated LMIA (Quebec)
The facilitated LMIA process is specific to Quebec, as this province is unique in its Canadian immigration processes. The facilitated LMIA process permits Quebec employers to apply for LMIAs without needing to demonstrate efforts to recruit a Canadian citizen or permanent resident for the position. All applications for LMIAs submitted in the province of Quebec must be submitted in French, with the exception of those for In-Home Caregiver positions.
Closed Work Permit – Requiring a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA)
Global Talent Stream (GTS)
The GTS provides Canadian employers the ability to hire highly-skilled foreign workers who will enable Canadians to compete on an international scale. Employers who are successfully approved through the program can expedite the process of hiring foreign nationals through the GTS. It operates two categories:
- Category A – an employer must have been referred to the stream by one of the GTS’s designated partners and be using the stream to hire unique and specialized talent
- Category B – employers must be seeking to hire highly-skilled foreign talent to fill positions in occupations found on the Global Talent Occupations List
Closed Work Permit – LMIA-Exempt but Requiring a Job Offer or Employment Contract
International Mobility Program (IMP)
The IMP allows Canadian employers to hire temporary foreign workers without needing an LMIA. This is due to the employer providing broader economic, cultural or other competitive advantages for Canada, as well as reciprocal benefits enjoyed by Canadians and permanent residents.
Closed Work Permit – LMIA-Exempt but Requiring a Job Offer or Employment Contract
CUSMA Work Permits (formerly called NAFTA Work Permits)
A CUSMA work permit offers unique opportunities for citizens of the United States and Mexico to work in Canada. There are five (5) situations where an American or Mexican citizen can be granted Canadian work authorization:
- CUSMA Professionals
- CUSMA Intra-Company Transferees
- CUSMA Investors
- CUSMA Traders
- CUSMA Business Visitors
Closed Work Permit – LMIA-Exempt but Requiring a Job Offer or Employment Contract
Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) Work Permits
A CETA work permit provides unique opportunities EU citizens to work in Canada. There are four (4) situations where an EU citizen can be granted Canadian work authorization.
- CETA Business Visitors
- CETA Intra-Company Transferees
- CETA Investors
- CETA Contractual Service Suppliers and Independent Professionals
Closed Work Permit – LMIA-Exempt but Requiring a Job Offer or Employment Contract
Intra-Company Transfers
Canada’s International Mobility Program outlines provisions to enable high-skilled foreign nationals to work temporarily in Canada as intra-company transferees.
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