Procedure for Canada Work Permits and Visas

Work Permit Eligibility

Candidates have to meet certain prerequisites for getting a Work Permit.

• The employee must demonstrate to the government that they intend to depart Canada after the work visa expires to receive one.
• Show that they have the financial means to maintain themselves and any dependents they may have along for the trip. Additionally, they must demonstrate that they have the resources to return home after the permit expires.
• Comply with the law and have no prior convictions overseas. The government may request a police clearance certificate from the applicant’s home country.
• Not pose a threat to Canada’s security.
• Demonstrate good health and be prepared to undergo testing if necessary.
• Plan to work for an organization that is compliant and permitted to employ international workers.

Work Permit Requirements

A candidate must fill out the appropriate application for their circumstance to successfully submit a work permit application. Depending on the nation or territory the applicant is applying from, their application will differ if they are outside of Canada. In any case, a candidate must have the following requirements:

• Finished application;
• Most of the time, a legitimate employment offer from an employer with an LMIA.
• To submit documentation of Canadian residency if applying as an inland applicant
• To supply biometric data to the government if required
• To go through a medical examination if required

Obtaining a Work Permit

After getting a legitimate job offer from a business that is permitted to hire foreign employees by the government of Canada, a foreign national may get a work visa for the applied job.

Employers must follow a series of procedures before submitting a work permit application; these procedures can change depending on the province, the type of job, and the employee’s place of origin.

Employers have to give a few things to start the work permit procedure for their employees,

• Provide a genuine employment offer to the potential employee,
• Get a favorable LMIA if necessary, and
• Pay employer compliance fees if hiring under the International Mobility Program (IMP)

Types of Canadian Work Permits

There are several avenues for hiring foreign workers, all of which eventually serve to grant a work permit. Depending on the type of employment, National Occupation Classification (NOC), level of education, and even the province of the workplace site, many sorts of work permits are available.

Employers frequently need a favorable Labour Market Impact Assessment before their employees may start the application procedure for a work permit. Check to see if you require an LMIA.

Open Work Permits

A non-job-specific open work visa means that applicants do not require an LMIA or an employment offer from an employer. The following individuals commonly receive open work permits:

• Potential permanent residents
• Dependents and family members of applicants for permanent residence
• Protected individuals, protected persons, and their families.
• Those with temporary resident permits.
• Young employees taking part in specific programs
• Spouses or partners of professionals, foreign students, or Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program applicants.
• Workers who already possess a work permit specific to their position but who are experiencing or in danger of experiencing abuse at their current place of employment.

Different work permit conditions apply according to the program through which the worker is hired.

Visit the pages listed below for more information about each work permit and to determine your eligibility. You will find comprehensive details about each program there.

LMIA-Exempt Work Permit

This is a list of several occupations and employers who are exempt from the LMIA:

• International Accords – A few international pacts, including the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), permit foreign nationals to work in Canada without their employers’ needing an LMIA.
• Intra-Company Transferees – Businesses are not required to obtain an LMIA in order to transfer eligible employees to Canada.

Applicants who are business owners or self-employed, participants in international exchange programs, dependents of foreign workers, members of certain religious groups, academics, and those with open work permits (see below)

How to Apply for a Canadian Work Permit

Candidates have to go through an application process to identify the work permit they need. They have to complete relevant applications for themselves and their dependents (if any). After receiving a job offer from a qualifying business in Canada. They have to submit some paperwork which comprises the following:

• Travel history;
• Passport;
• Required background information
• Any documents pertaining to your spouse, such as a marriage license, passport, or other forms of relationship verification (if applicable).
• If necessary, criminal background checks
• Relevant fees

Candidates hear back from the government after submitting the application within 30 business days.

International applications have different processing time and procedure, which changes according to the country.

Canadian Work Permit Cost

Typically, a work permit costs roughly $155. An applicant will have to pay $200 for status restoration and an additional $155 for a new work permit. It may cost more to apply with a spouse, partner, or dependent. Added to the $155 will be a holding fee of $100 for an open work permit. In the event that the government wants to gather biometric data, more costs can be required.

Extending a Canadian Work Permit

The candidate must submit their Canadian work permit extension application at least 30 days before the current permit expires. A work visa application will typically take 150 days to process on average. However, during that time, the applicant is permitted to stay in Canada. Both online and on paper, submitting the application is simple.

Work Permit Application Processing Time

Application processing time changes according to the type of application and the nation of the applicant.

Visit this government website to verify processing times. The processing time for an inland application is around 150 days.

• All applications for the most in-demand jobs (skilled trades).
• All applications for the highest-paid occupations (top 10%).
• All applications for short-duration work periods are guaranteed to be handled within two weeks (120 days or less).

Work certificate of acceptance Quebec

Quebec

Employees can be hired with ease using the temporary foreign worker program under the Quebec Pilot Project. In essence, certain professions are exempt from the LMIA’s advertising and recruitment restrictions, which facilitate and expedite the hiring of foreign workers.

The Certificate Acceptance du Québec (CAQ – Québec Acceptance Certificate) is an employer-specific work permit application that is LMIA-exempt if a foreign citizen has not yet applied for permanent residence in Canada.