Canada Work Permit Visa Requirements | How to Apply

Millions of workers immigrate to Canada every year to work on a work permit visa. The Canadian labor pool is currently filled by immigrants from all over the world. Canada receives a high volume of visa applications each year. As one of the world’s leading economies, Canada is a great destination for workers who are seeking work abroad. But, to be able to work in Canada as a foreigner, you need to have a Canadian work permit visa. The work permit allows business people, permanent workers, temporary workers, students, and others to work in Canada.

To be able to apply for a work visa, you need to also have a job offer. Every year, more than 300,000 job vacancies open up in Canada. So, there are lots of opportunities for immigrants every year. To secure yourself a job offer, you need to be eligible for one of the many immigration programs by Canadian Immigration. Once you get a job offer, you need to apply for a work permit. If you want to learn about all the eligibility factors and requirements to apply for a work visa, you’ve come to the right place. Read on to know all about the Canada work permit visa.

Types of Canada Work Permit Visa

There are mainly two types of work permits given by Canadian authorities. They are open work permit and employer-specific work permit. You can determine which type of work permit you are eligible for and want before applying.

1) Open Work Permit

There are a few ways that you may be eligible for an open work permit:

An open work permit will allow immigrants to work for any employer in any part of Canada. You cannot work for a company on an open work permit in case the company has failed to comply with the labor requirements. Establishments offering non-standardized, unethical services fail to meet compliance.

• If you are an international student in Canada, you must have graduated from a DLI(Designated Learning Institution). A Designated Learning Situation is an institution that is approved by the province, territory or the Canadian government to host international students. You must also be eligible for a post-graduation work permit.
• After applying for a permanent residence in Canada, you will be able to get an open work permit after the Canadian authorities process your application.
• If you are a dependent family member of someone who applied for permanent residence.
• If you don’t have enough funds to pay for your tuition fees.
• Having an employer-specific work permit and you’re being abused or at risk in relation to your work.
• You can also be eligible if you are a spouse of an international student or a skilled worker in Canada. Your spouse can also be an applicant of the AIP(Atlantic Immigration Pilot) program.
• If you came to Canada as a refugee, a refugee claimant or under an unenforceable removal order. You are also eligible if you are a young worker participating in social programs.
• Having a temporary residence permit will also make you eligible for an open work permit.

2) Employer-Specific Work Permit

An employer-specific work permit is a work permit that allows workers to work under a specific employer. You can only work at a single job using the employer-specific work permit. The conditions on your work permit must be met for you to work. The conditions might be:

• the name of the specific employer you can work for
• duration of the job that you can work for
• location of your employment

For this type of work permit, your employer needs to give you an LMIA(Labor Market Impact Assessment). This document shows that the employer needs to hire a foreign worker. It will show that no other Canadian worker or permanent resident in Canada is available for the job. Your employer may also give you an offer of employment number to include in your application. There are a few steps that your employer might take in order to hire a foreign worker. Read here about the different ways an employer can hire a permanent foreign worker.

Canada Work Permit Visa Requirements Eligibility

There are a number of eligibility criteria that you need to meet before applying for a work permit. These conditions are specific to where you are and the location of where you want to apply for a work permit. However, there are a few general requirements that all applicants must meet:

• Before getting a work permit, you need to prove to an officer that you will leave Canada when your work permit expires.
• Give proof of funds to show that you have enough money to take care of yourself and your family in Canada. You need to also have enough money for a return journey after your permit expires.
• You might be asked to give a police clearance certificate. This certificate should show that you have no criminal records in the past.
• You must also present a medical exam certificate. It must show that you are in a fit health condition to work and stay in Canada.
• The employer you’re planning to work for should comply with the labor conditions. Their establishment should not offer any illegal or unethical services.
• You should also be able to present any other documents that an officer might ask of you.

Application Process for the Canadian Work Permit Visa

The application process for a Canadian work permit visa is quite simple. All you have to do is make sure you get all your documents in place and follow the rules and guidelines provided to you. Employers also need to provide employees with an LMIA(Labor Market Impact Assessment) certificate. This document proves that hiring a foreign worker was necessary for the job. It will also show that no other Canadian worker or a permanent resident was available for the job. Along with an LMIA letter, an employer will also need to provide you with a job offer letter. This job offer letter will include all the details of your job including your employment title, description, salary, etc.

After you receive an LMIA and a job offer letter from your employer, you can apply for the work permit. Candidates who have a positive LMIA and a temporary job offer are eligible to apply for the Canadian work permit visa. Once your application is processed, you will receive an invitation for an interview. At the interview with the visa officers, you will need to show that you qualify for the job and won’t adversely affect jobs for Canadians. Then, you can acquire a work permit. You may also be able to apply for a Permanent Residence later on.

Documents Needed to Apply for Work Permit Canada

To apply for a Canada work permit visa, you need to submit a number of documents along with your application. To get a temporary work visa, an applicant must submit the documents listed below:

• Passport or any other form of a valid travel document
• A couple of passport size photographs of yourself and any other family members traveling with you to Canada. The photographs should have the name and date of birth of the person in the back.
• Evidence to show that you meet all the eligibility requirements for your job
• Proof of relationships with any family member that you might bring with you
• You need to complete the document checklist, family information and application for a temporary resident visa form.

To get a permanent work visa, workers can apply through the Express Entry program. The Express Entry is a program that the Canadian Immigration authorities use to manage PR applications. The documents needed to apply for a permanent work visa include:

– Passport/ Valid Travel Document

A valid travel document or a passport is needed when you travel between countries. Without this, you won’t be able to enter Canada. A passport acts as proof of identity when you travel. You might need to send your original passport while applying. The passport should be valid up to the intended stay in Canada, otherwise, you might not get to travel. So, make sure to update your travel documents.

– Educational Credential Assessment Report

You will need an ECA(Educational Credential Assessment) report if you complete your studies outside Canada. This report will validate your studies done from a foreign country. It will prove that your foreign degree, diploma, or any type of educational certificate is valid and equal to a Canadian one.

– Language Test Results

If you’re applying from a country outside the English-speaking countries, you need to appear and pass an English proficiency test. To be able to work in Canada, you need to meet the language requirements for each language ability. You need to get at least a CLB(Canadian Language Benchmark) band for reading, writing, speaking, and listening in English. If you have language proficiency in French, it will be an added bonus as it will increase your CRS score. This will also increase the chances of your application being accepted.

– Job Offer Contract

To apply for a Canadian work visa, you need to have proof of a job offer from your employer. Your employer will need to provide you with an LMIA and a valid job contract offer. The contract should mention your job title, description, salary, and the duration of your work if applicable.

– Provincial Nomination(If Applicable)

If you have applied to a Provincial Nominee Program in Canada, you need to be nominated by the province or territory. There are a number of provincial nominee programs in Canada. Provinces like Alberta, Saskatchewan, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Ontario, New Edward Island, Yukon, Manitoba, Newfoundland and Labrador, etc. all have their own programs for skilled workers. The criteria for these programs may change and vary without notice.

– Police Clearance Certificate

To come to Canada and work there, you need to prove that you’re not a threat to the country. For this, you need to submit a police clearance certificate from your home country. The police record should show a clean record and prove that you have no past criminal records.

– Proof of Funds

You need to have the required monetary funds to get a Canadian work permit visa. Before you come to Canada, you need to show proof that you have enough money for your stay in Canada and return transportation. If you have any family that is coming with you, you need to have enough to support your family as well. You also need to have enough funds to supply your family’s return transportation costs when they leave Canada.

– Medical Exam Certificate

Before traveling to Canada, you need to submit a medical exam certificate. You need to undergo a valid medical exam to show that you’re in a fit medical condition. You will need to book an appointment with a doctor listed by Canadian Immigration. And as of 2022, you also need to be fully vaccinated. You need to show evidence by submitting your vaccination card.

Benefits of a Canada Work Permit Visa

There are many benefits of getting a Canadian work permit. Many workers who immigrate to foreign countries want to stay together with their families. Having a work permit in Canada actually allows you to bring your family with you. Your spouse, common-law partner, or any family member can come to Canada on a dependent visa. Immediate family members like your spouse or children can even be included on a work visa application. Other family members like grandparents need to be sponsored Canadian citizens or permanent residents.

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