Temporary Work Permits in Canada
Canada has always been a popular destination for skilled foreign workers, who are bringing their expertise and experience into the Canadian Economy.
Our country is proud to offer a strong economy, competitive wages, and incredible opportunities to transform temporary work permit status into a Permanent Residency. Our firm has a tight network with Canadian employers who are recruiting skilled foreign nationals for their employment needs. If you are ready to share your knowledge and expertise, you should contact our office now for furt
Types of Work Permits
LMIA-based Work Permits
- In most of the cases, a foreign national cannot apply for a Work Permit without the positive LMIA (Labour Market Impact Assessment). The LMIA application process and its streams are outlined in the specialized Temporary Foreign Worker Program section.
- The Canadian employer should undergo a vigorous process of obtaining this LMIA document, which grants a right to a foreign national to submit a well-prepared Work Permit application.
- Also, it is important to note that a positive LMIA provides additional points for a Canadian job offer.
LMIA-exempted Work Permits
- R204: International agreements
- R205: Canadian interests
- R206: No other means of support
- R207: Permanent residence applicants in Canada
- R207.1: Vulnerable workers
- R208: Humanitarian reasons
Open Work Permits
- Post-Graduate Work Permit
- International Experience Canada
- Inland Spousal/Common-Law Sponsorship Open Work Permit
- Bridging Open Work Permit
Jobs that do not require a Work Permit
Even though the majority of the jobs in Canada require the employer to obtain a positive LMIA for the foreign national’s work permit, there are some exceptions. Below you will find a list of job types that, with careful consideration, may require neither an LMIA nor a work permit.
- Athlete or coach
- Aviation accident or incident investigator
- Business visitor
- Civil aviation inspector
- Clergy
- Convention organizer
- Crew member
- Emergency service provider
- Expert witness or investigator
- A family member of foreign representative
- Foreign government officer or representative
- Health care student
- Judge, referee or similar official
- Military personnel
- Producer or staff member working on advertisements
- Performing artist
- Public speaker
- Short-term highly-skilled worker
- Short-term researcher
- Student working off-campus
- Student working on-campus
Types of Work Permits
Before the foreign national obtains a right to apply for a work permit, the Canadian Employer should undergo the selective process to determine which of the below-noted programs will suit the needs to expedite the recruitment process:
1. Temporary Foreign Worker Program
Labour Market Impact Assessment process and its streams:
- Post-Graduate Work Permit
- International Experience Canada
- Inland Spousal/Common-Law Sponsorship Open Work Permit
- Bridging Open Work Permit
Under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, the Canadian employers are prompted to obtain a neutral or positive Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA), a complex application, which is processed by the Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC). The process, which involves recruitment efforts, selection reports, proof of business legitimacy, which results in an inability to find a Canadian citizen or permanent resident with the right set of skills and required expertise.
Upon the receipt of the positive or neutral LMIA, the employer provides a copy of the LMIA approval along with the detailed job offer letter to the foreign worker it wishes to hire. A foreign national then may proceed with the LMIA-based Work Permit application, which requires different from the LMIA application set of documents, proof of employment experience ability to fulfil the required job duties, etc. This application process differs from the LMIA application itself and should be treated very seriously, as the LMIA approval letter does not constitute to be a guarantee for a Work Permit approval.
2. International Mobility Program
The International Mobility Program (IMP) enables Canadian employers to hire temporary foreign workers without the need for a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). While most employers hiring foreign workers will require an LMIA, there are certain circumstances where LMIA-exemptions exist. These LMIA exemptions are based on the following conditions:
- broader economic, cultural or other competitive advantages for Canada; and
- reciprocal benefits enjoyed by Canadians and permanent residents.
reciprocal benefits enjoyed by Canadians and permanent residents.
2.Pay the employer compliance fee of $230 CAD
3.Submit the official job offer through the IMP’s Employer Portal.
Only after completing these three steps will the foreign national be eligible to apply for their own work permit. LMIA-exempt workers may qualify for expedited work permit processing through the Global Skills Strategy if their position is NOC Skill Level A or 0 and they are applying from outside of Canada.
Exemptions to LMIA requirements
LMIA-based Work Permits
- In most of the cases, a foreign national cannot apply for a Work Permit without the positive LMIA (Labour Market Impact Assessment). The LMIA application process and its streams are outlined in the specialized Temporary Foreign Worker Program section.
- The Canadian employer should undergo a vigorous process of obtaining this LMIA document, which grants a right to a foreign national to submit a well-prepared Work Permit application.
- Also, it is important to note that a positive LMIA provides additional points for a Canadian job offer.
LMIA-exempted Work Permits
- R204: International agreements
- R205: Canadian interests
- R206: No other means of support
- R207: Permanent residence applicants in Canada
- R207.1: Vulnerable workers
- R208: Humanitarian reasons
Open Work Permits
- Post-Graduate Work Permit
- International Experience Canada
- Inland Spousal/Common-Law Sponsorship Open Work Permit
- Bridging Open Work Permit
Jobs that do not require a Work Permit
Even though the majority of the jobs in Canada require the employer to obtain a positive LMIA for the foreign national’s work permit, there are some exceptions. Below you will find a list of job types that, with careful consideration, may require neither an LMIA nor a work permit.
- Athlete or coach
- Aviation accident or incident investigator
- Business visitor
- Civil aviation inspector
- Clergy
- Convention organizer
- Crew member
- Emergency service provider
- Expert witness or investigator
- A family member of foreign representative
- Foreign government officer or representative
- Health care student
- Judge, referee or similar official
- Military personnel
- Producer or staff member working on advertisements
- Performing artist
- Public speaker
- Short-term highly-skilled worker
- Short-term researcher
- Student working off-campus
- Student working on-campus
3. Global Talent Stream
The Global Talent Stream (GTS) is a two-year pilot program launched in June 2017 through a partnership between Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC). The GTS assists certain Canadian employers to hire highly-skilled global talent enabling them to compete on an international scale. Employers who are successfully referred to the program will be able to expedite the process for hiring foreign nationals through the Global Skills Strategy.
Contact Us to Determine The Right Program For You
What our customers say…
GR Immigration is an incredibly skilled professional, never struggling to find clients. It’s rare to come across someone who prioritizes your needs over making extra profit, and GR Immigration is exactly that kind of expert. For instance, they won’t charge you for a full hour if only 30 minutes are necessary. They’re always punctual and reliable, never leaving you hanging when an appointment is scheduled. Despite what you might see on Instagram, GR Immigration consistently meets deadlines and delivers results on time.
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A big thank you to Kateryna, Melany, and the GR Immigration team. They are incredibly professional, patient, and highly qualified. Thanks to their expert assistance, we were able to receive our open work permits in a very short time. We will definitely continue working with them in the future!
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They truly know their stuff and provide excellent service!
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