Types of Canada Work Permits – Complete Application Process 2024

1# Employer-Specific Work Permit:

An Employer-Specific Work Permit allows the international employee to work for a specific Canadian employer while holding a valid employment offer. Moreover, in this permit, the employee agrees to work on the following particular conditions of the work permit, i.e., the employer you can work for, duration, and location where the employee is allowed to work.

Before applying for the Employer-Specific Work Permit, applicants need a few things from their employer to abide by the eligibility criteria, like;

• A positive LMIA copy
• Employment Offer Number.

The LMIA (Labor Market Impact Assessment) is a document obtained by the employer through Employment & Social Development Canada (ESDC) before hiring any international professional for a specific job. A positive LMIA indicates that no local skilled worker was available in Canada to fill the job. Therefore, a foreign employee is getting hired to fill the position.

Meanwhile, the Job Offer Letter consists of the details of your job, including pay scale, job duties, working hours, etc.

Application Process:

The Employer-Specific Work Permit application procedure is a two-step process where the employer will first get the LMIA from ESDC. Once the positive LMIA has been received, it is time for an employee to apply for a work permit with essential documents and the required application fee.

However, interested Canadian employers can take help from the following channels to boost the LMIA work permit process; the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, Global Talent Stream, & the facilitated LMIA process.

Application fee of Employer-Specific Work Permit: CAD$155/person

2# Work Permit With no LMIA Requirements:

In the same way, this is another category of Employer-Specific Work Permit where there is no need for LMIA, but the valid employment offer is a must, for instance;

NAFTA Work Permit:

The North American Free Trade Agreement, also known as NAFTA, is giving a golden opportunity to the nationals of the USA & Mexico to work in Canada with no LMIA. All the NAFTA professionals, traders, business investors, and intra-company transferees can apply for the NAFTA work permit with LMIA exemption. Moreover, to abide by the eligibility requirements, the applicants must have a work experience in the relevant field with a job offer while applying for the work permit.

Meanwhile, interested applicants can apply for the NAFTA work permit via a Canadian visa officer, Canada Port of Entry, & inside Canada as temporary residents.

Documents for a NAFTA Work Permit:

Proof of American or Mexican citizenship, pre-arranged employment in Canada, intended duration of stay in Canada, credential proof, etc., are the things required to apply for the NAFTA work permit.

Fee Charges of NAFTA Work Permit:

• Fee for Employment offer for NAFTA Work Permit by Canadian Employer: CAD$230
• Work Permit Issuance Fee: CAD$155.

3# CETA Work Permit:

The CETA work permit is available for European Union applicants willing to work in Canada. The Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement, also known as CETA, has opened dozens of vacancies for candidates from Europe. Such applicants are eligible to work in Canada without LMIA or even a work permit.

Business Visitors from Europe can enter Canada for a short-term purpose without holding LMIA or work permit. However, Intra-company transferees of an enterprise & Investors need to get a CETA work permit for work purposes before entering Canada.

Application Process:

Eligible applicants from Europe are required to apply via the Canadian Port of Entry or Visa Application Centre before traveling to Canada for a valid CETA work permit without LMIA.

4# Canadian Open Work Permit:

Next, we have the Open Work Permit with no specific job or LMIA requirements. But, it is further divided into two sub-categories;

• Restricted Open Work Permit that allows the employee to work for a specific job and location regardless of any employer.
• However, the Unrestricted Open Work Permit grants permission to the employee to work for any employer, occupation, & location in Canada.

Application Process for Open Work Permit:

If you are applying for an Open Work Permit, choose the type of work permit in the application form & pay the application fees mentioned below. Then, submit your application with a complete set of documents as a worker, sponsored spouse, or common-law partner already living in Canada.

Application Fee for Open Work Permit for Canada:

• Work Permit Charges: CAD$155
• Work Permit Holder Fee: CAD$100

Sub-Types of Canadian Open Work Permits:

The Open Work Permit is further divided into different categories based on occupation & candidate status. For instance;

• Post-Graduation Work Permits (PGWPs):

International students who graduate from a Canadian study program are eligible to apply for PGWPs, allowing them to work for any employer in Canada for unlimited hours. Meanwhile, the duration of PGEPs is valid from eight months to three years. Meanwhile, the time duration required to complete the PGWPs application process is approximately 180 days.

As far as eligibility criteria are concerned for a PGWPs work permit, applicants must be 18 years old and have completed at least eight months of a study program in Canada.

Application Fee for Post-Graduate Work Permit: CAD$155

• Spouse Open Work Permit:

Any person whose spouse or common-law partner holds a temporary Canadian work permit is eligible to apply for the Spouse Work Permit, which allows the applicant to work for any employer & anywhere in Canada, but under few constraints.

Applicants must meet the eligibility requirements before applying for the Spousal Open Work Permit, like the applicant must be in a genuine relationship with the Canadian work permit holder. Moreover, the applicant must not be criminally or medically unacceptable to Canada.

Fee Charges for Spouse Open Work Permit:

• Work Permit Fee: CAD$255
• Processing Fee: CAD$155
• Work Permit Holder Fee: CAD$100

5# IEC Work permits:

Next, the IEC (International Experience Canada) work permits grant permission to candidates from participating countries to live and work temporarily in Canada under the IEC permit. International candidates who have passed any of the IEC programs are eligible to apply for the IEC work permit without LMIA and enjoy working in Canada. Meanwhile, the duration of this work permit is valid for 1 year.

Getting selected for the IEC work permit is not as easy as it seems because it is a complex process that approves via a randomized drawn system. However, for an IEC work permit, the applicant must not be above 35 years old, plus the applicant’s country must have signed an agreement with Canada for IEC work permits.

Application process:

If you want to apply for an IEC permit, make your IEC account first and select your program. Then, wait for the invitation to apply for the permit. Once you have received the invitation, you have ten days to accept it. Then, submit your online application for a work permit in the next 20 days with the required documents. After this, wait for the results. If your application gets successful, then receive the work permit and start your journey in Canada.

Application Charges for IEC Work Permit: No charges for online application

6# Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP):

BOWP is for overseas candidates already living & working in Canada, waiting for their permanent residency application results. Via this permit, these applicants can prolong their stay in Canada until the destiny of their residency application decides. However, only those candidates can apply for the BOWP who have to submit their application for permanent residency and hold a valid work permit with temporary resident status.

Application Fee for Bridging Open Work Permit:

• Work Permit Fee: CAD$255
• Processing Fee: CAD$155
• Work Permit Holder Fee: CAD$100