Work Permit in Canada – Job Permit and Visa Requirements for all International Students

By Mandy Last updated Feb 22, 2022

Are you an international student seeking easy ways to get a work permit visa even as you are still a student or a scholar in any university in Canada, there are good decisions and steps to take while hearing for your studies and a possible work permit and because of that, it will be more advisable to read this article work permit in Canada to get more information on how to go about it.

A work permit is a legal document permitting a foreign national to engage in employment while staying in Canada.

We have an open work permit, which is A work permit refers to a work permit that is not tied to a single employer or location.

This means that a foreign national with a valid open work permit may work for multiple employers in multiple locations but should be noted that certain open work permits may have additional requirements or restrictions.

Canada as a country boasts a strong and diverse economy with a high standard of workplace safety, competitive wages, and many opportunities.

Canada is a prime destination for many foreign nationals who are seeking employment opportunities with professional growth and development.

**FAQS on Canada (Work Permit in Canada)**

If I have a Canadian job offer, am I eligible to apply for a work permit?

Not necessarily. A job offer, if required for certain work permit applications, must meet certain requirements in order to be considered valid. Therefore, an applicant’s job offer must any:

Supported by a positive Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA); or
Exempt from requiring an LMIA.

How do I apply for a work permit? (Work Permit in Canada)

Firstly, the application procedure is different depending on which type of work permit you need. The first step is determining which work permit is best for you. If you need help figuring out the application, simply contact us and a member of our team will assist you with scheduling a consultation.

How Long Will It Take to Receive My Work Visa?

The Work Permit processing time depends on the completion of your application and the office you applied at. Sometimes it can take between 1-27 weeks to process a Canadian Work Permit.

How long will it take to process my LMIA application?

There are two types of Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) applications: a regular LMIA and a simplified LMIA.

The simplified LMIA is only available in the province of Quebec. The regular LMIA is processed on a case-by-case basis with processing times. Most times, it takes a minimum of five months to receive a response on a regular LMIA application.

What is the rate of success for the work permit? (Work Permit in Canada)

If an applicant meets the requirements of the LMIA, their application should be approved. However, applications are assessed by individual officers, each exercising their own discretion in choosing whether or not to approve a work permit application.

Can You Turn a Work Visa into Permanent Residency?

To qualify, you must have applied under the:

Federal Skilled Worker Program.
Canadian Experience Class.
Federal Skilled Trades Program.
Provincial Nominee Program.
Caring for Children Class, or
Caring for People with High Medical Needs Class.

You must also:

currently, be in Canada,
have valid status on a work permit that is due to expire within four months,
select “Open Work Permit” as the type of work permit when you complete your work permit application, and
pay the work permit processing fee and the Open Work Permit Holder fee.

GENERAL ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

Must have good health and take a medical exam if required
Have no plans to work for an employer listed as ineligible by the government because they failed to comply with certain conditions
Give proof to an officer that you will move out of Canada on the expiry of your Work Permit
Have documents showing that you have enough funds to support yourself and your family during your stay in Canada
Have no record of any criminal activity and submit a police clearance certificate as proof
Must be ready to provide any documents demanded by officers to qualify your entry to Canada.
Have no plans to work for an employer who offers erotic dance, escort services, striptease, or erotic massages

**Conditions for the open work permit (Work Permit in Canada)**

Proof of financial resources that can support your and your family’s stay in Canada during the work permit validity
Proof that you have no history of a criminal record
Willingness to adhere to the conditions of your work permit even if you are given a restricted work permit
Proof that you are in good health
Meet eligibility conditions such as language skills, biometric data, and insurance

Types of work permits (Work Permit in Canada)

Below, you can find the most commonly used ways to obtain a work permit or authorization to work in Canada:

1) Through a program of studies (part-time during studies)

When you study any post-secondary program in Canada which is a designated learning institution and the program duration is of at least 6 months, you are allowed to work for up to 20 hours per week during your program of studies. Although you do not receive a formal work permit, you are allowed to work in Canada while studying.

2) Through a study program with Co-Op

A Co-Op is like an internship that forms an integral part of your studies in Canada. During your Co-Op, you are allowed to work full-time, up to 40 hours per week.

3) At the end of a study program, with a Post-Graduate Work permit

When you complete a qualified post-secondary program of studies of at least 8-month duration in a public institution or when you graduate from a Bachelor, Master or Doctorate degree in either public or in a private post-secondary institution in Canada, you qualify for a post-graduation work permit that gives you the authorization to work in Canada for at least the same duration of your program of studies, up to three years.

4) As an accompanying spouse of a post-secondary student

If you are accompanying your spouse or common-law partner during their studies in Canada, and your spouse or common-law partner is enrolled in a qualified post-secondary program of studies of at least 8-month duration, you may be eligible for an open/unrestricted work permit for the duration of your spouse’s studies in Canada.

5) With a work visa obtained by the Working Holiday visa, Young professionals’ programs

Canada has agreements with several countries and institutions that may allow you to qualify for a work permit to Canada.

The Young Professional visa usually will be linked to a Canadian employer and you also usually are issued for at least 1 year.

Other requirements include being a citizen of a participating country, being between 18 to 35 years old, having medical insurance for the period authorized for your stay.

The list of participating countries is very extensive and includes most European countries, Chile, Costa Rica, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Taiwan, and Hong Kong.

Several countries have agreements with Canada that allow the issuance of a work permit for certain professionals or technicians.

**Being transferred to a Canadian entity (Work Permit in Canada)**

If you have been working for a company that has a relationship with a Canadian entity and the Canadian entity provides you a job offer in a managerial or executive position, you may qualify for an employer-specific work permit through the LMIA exempt, Intra-company transferee category.

By receiving a job offer, via an approved Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA)

Canadian employers who wish to hire temporary foreign workers must obtain a neutral or positive Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) from ESDC, which is issued if ESDC is satisfied that there is no Canadian citizen or permanent resident available to do the job.

With the LMIA approval letter and the job offer, the foreign worker can submit an application for a Canadian temporary work permit to IRCC and receive an employer-specific work permit, usually valid for up to 2-years.

DOCUMENTS REQUIRED TO APPLY FOR A CANADA WORK PERMIT VISA

**How to apply for a Work Permit (Work Permit in Canada)**

The steps for applying for a work permit for Canada are explained below:

Confirm your eligibility for the Canadian work permit.
Complete the documents and forms required for a work permit application.
Submit the Canadian work permit application, according to IRCC guidelines.
Wait for processing and respond to additional requests for information, if any.
Send your passport for stamping.