A work permit is a legal document that allows foreign nationals to work in Canada. Canada now sets yearly targets for new temporary workers: under the 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan, the target is 230,000 new worker arrivals in 2026 and 220,000 in each of 2027 and 2028.
Canada remains a top destination for international job seekers, and working here can be a valuable step for those considering permanent immigration.
working in Canada
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:
working in Canada
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)
LMIA-Exempt but Requiring a Job Offer or Employment Contract
open work permits
A PGWP allows international students who have graduated from an eligible program at a Canadian designated learning institution (DLI) to stay and work in Canada. The program must be at least eight months long, and the PGWP can be valid for up to three years, depending on the length and type of the program.
To be eligible, you must generally have studied full-time in Canada, completed at least 50% of your program in person in Canada, and apply within 180 days of receiving confirmation that you completed your program. You must also show English or French test results: Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 7 for university programs, or CLB 5 for college and other non-university programs. If your study permit application was submitted on or after November 1, 2024 and your program was not a bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degree, the program must also be in an eligible field of study.
open work permits
A spousal open work permit allows a spouse or common-law partner to work for almost any employer anywhere in Canada. Since January 21, 2025, it is available only to the spouse or common-law partner of: an international student in a master’s program of 16 months or longer, a doctoral program, or certain eligible professional programs; or a foreign worker in a TEER 0 or 1 occupation, or in a selected TEER 2 or 3 occupation in a sector with labour shortages, who has at least 16 months left on their work permit when the spouse applies.
Dependent children of foreign workers are no longer eligible. These limits do not apply to spouses or partners who are applying for permanent residence (for example, through spousal sponsorship from inside Canada), or to family members of workers covered by free trade agreements. The applicant must be in a genuine relationship and must not be inadmissible to Canada.
open work permits
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 permits
The TFWP allows Canadian employers to hire foreign nationals temporarily to fill labour shortages. Employers must first obtain a positive LMIA showing that they could not find a Canadian citizen or permanent resident for the position. Please note that Service Canada currently does not process low-wage LMIA applications for jobs located in census metropolitan areas with an unemployment rate of 6% or higher, with some exemptions; for applications submitted between October 9, 2026 and January 7, 2027, this includes Toronto and Montréal. The list of affected areas is updated every three months. Applicants can be hired through the following streams:
closed work permits
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 permits
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:
closed work permits
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 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:
closed 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.
closed work permits
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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