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Work Permit
Want to work in Canada?
Most of the foreign workers need work permit to work in Canada but some might not need one
depending upon type of work they will perform in Canada. There are mainly two types of work
permits.
- Open work permit.
- Employer specific work permit (LMIA based/LMIA exempted).
Open Work Permit
Open work permits are not employer specific that means open work permit holder can work for
any Canadian employer with some exceptions. One may be eligible for this type of work permit
if a person is:
- a Temporary Resident Permit holder
- a refugee or their family member or protected person
- a student who is graduated from a DLI and meet other eligibility criteria.
- a spouse or common law partner of international student, skilled worker or an applicant of Atlantic Immigration Program.
- a dependent family member of PR applicant.
The above list is not exhaustive. Skilled work performed on open work permit might make you
eligible for permanent residency application through various programs such as CEC or PNP. It is
advisable to consult licensed immigration consultant to evaluate your eligibility for open work
permit.
Employer-Specific Work Permit
Employer specific work permit holder can only work for the employer which is listed on their
closed work permit. Mostly LMIA is required to apply for this type of work permit but in some
cases LMIA is not required depending upon type of work that will be performed in Canada by
the applicant.
What is LMIA ?
Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) is a employer driven process, before hiring foreign
worker employer may need a LMIA. It is issued to employer when the job offer is genuine and no
Canadian permanent resident or citizen is available to perform that job.
Once the Positive LMIA is issued to the employer, the worker can apply for a work permit along
with the copy of LMIA, job offer letter and employment contract. If the work permit application
is successful then a closed work permit is issued to the foreign worker.
Working on LMIA based work permit in Canada might make foreign worker eligible for
permanent residency application under different programs provided that other eligibility criteria
of that program are met.