Do you want to know how to get a work permit to work in the Canada? Do you want to join the more than 600,000 foreigners who obtained permission to work in Canada in 2022? According to CIC News, there was a roughly 30% increase from 2021.
The Canadian government allows non-citizens to work in Canada with a valid work permit. Authorization to work is granted under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) . Much like the UCIS in the USA, the TFWP is managed by the Canadian Immigration and Citizenship Office.
4 Pathways for getting a Canadian work permit
The streamline the processing of work applications, TFWP has four streams of entry and work permitting:
- highly skilled,
- low skilled,
- seasonal agriculture
- live-in
2 Types of Canadian work permits
The Canadian system of granting work permits is different from the US. In the USA the prospective employer submits the application to work on behalf of the employee job candidate. In Canada the foreign work permit applicant has two options. Regardless of the work permit option selected, the applicant must already have a job offer in hand before submitting an application for a work permit. There are cases, though, where a candidate can apply for a permit to work directly to the Canadian government.
- An open work permit grants the work permit holder the opportunity to work for any employer while
- An employer-specific work permit only grants authorization for the individual in possess of the work permit to work only for the employer indicated on the official work permit document.
How to get a work permit in Canada
Step 1 for getting a work permit in Canada
To apply for permit authorizing work in Canada, the foreigner must submit a Labor Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). The foreigner can obtain a LMIA form from the Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC).
Step 2 for getting a work permit in Canada
After the foreigner secures a LMIA, the Canadian company needs to evidence they have made attempts to employ Canadian citizens first. The Canadian employer must also demonstrate that there are no permanent residents in Canada. They must show there are no citizens qualified for the job position advertised. In essence, a LMIA is an attestation from the prospective employer that they have exhausted all resources to hire a native Canadian. They must affirm that leaving the job vacant would adversely impact the company and the Canadian economy. In this instance, LMIAs are needed in order to issue a work permit under the TFWP. After a LMIA has been issued to the foreign applicant, they can apply for the Canadian work permit.
International Mobility Program Visa
In addition to the TFWP work permit application process, foreigners can apply for a work permit under the IMP (International Mobility Program). When an applicant applies for a permit to work under the IMP, the requirement to obtain a LIMA is waived.