Work Permit Canada is a popular immigration pathway for foreign skilled workers to permanently immigrate to Canada. 

There are mainly 2 types of work permits that you can receive. Find out what is the best option for your employment situation.

 

Open Work Permit

An open work permit is a work permit that is not job-specific. Because it is not job-specific, you will not need the following when you apply for your work permit:

• A Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA), or 
• A proof that an employer has given you an offer of employment.

You may be eligible for an open work permit if you:

• Are an international student who graduated from a Designated Learning Institution (DLI) and is eligible for the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP);
• Are a student who is no longer able to meet the costs of your studies (destitute student);
• Have an employer-specific work permit and are being abused or at risk of being abused in relation to your job in Canada;
• Applied for permanent residence in Canada;
• Are a dependent family member of someone who applied for permanent residence;
• Are the spouse or common-law partner of a skilled worker or international student;
• Are the spouse or common-law partner of an applicant of the Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program;
• Are a refugee, refugee claimant, protected person, or their family member;
• Are under an unenforceable removal order;
• Are a temporary resident permit holder;
• Are a young worker participating in special programs

 

Open Work Permit: Available Programs

We have summarized the available programs under the Open Work Permit category. You can find detailed explanations on each page:

• Hong Kong Open Work Permit
• Bridging Open Work Permit
• Post-Graduation Work Permit
• Working Holiday Visa (International Experience Canada)
• Spousal Open Work Permit

 

Employer-Specific Work Permits

An employer-specific work permit allows you to work according to the conditions on your work permit, which include:

• The name of the employer you work for;
• How long you can work; and
• The location where you work (if applicable).

In each of these situations, you must meet additional criteria to be eligible.

 

Eligibility Requirements for All Work Permit Applicants

There are specific requirements you will need to meet depending on where you are when you apply for your work permit. Regardless of where you apply or which type of work permit you apply for, you must:

• Prove to an officer that you will leave Canada when your work permit expires;
• Show that you have enough money to take care of yourself and your family members during your stay in Canada and to return home;
• Obey the law and have no record of criminal activity (IRCC may ask you to give us a police clearance certificate);
• Not be a danger to Canada’s security;
• Be in good health and have a medical exam, if needed;
• Not plan to work for an employer listed with the status “ineligible” on the list of employers who failed to comply with the conditions;
• Not plan to work for an employer who, on a regular basis, offers striptease, erotic dance, escort services, or erotic massages; and
• Provide the officer with any other documents they ask for to prove you can enter the country.