A work permit lets a foreign national work in Canada for a defined period. Which permit applies depends on who the employer is, whether the job needs a labour market test, and what status you already hold.
Permits handled here
- Employer specific work permits, including those supported by a Labour Market Impact Assessment
- Open work permits, where you are not tied to one employer
- Post Graduation Work Permits for graduates of eligible Canadian institutions
- Spousal open work permits
- Work permits under international agreements and other exemptions from the labour market test
- Extensions, and restoration of status where the deadline has not passed
What the work involves
Confirming which category you fall under, identifying the supporting evidence that category actually requires, preparing the forms and submission letter, filing, and monitoring the file until a decision is made. Where an employer is involved, their compliance obligations are explained to them in writing.
What to have ready
Your current status in Canada if you are already here, your passport, your job offer or employment contract if you have one, and the dates of any previous Canadian permits or refusals. Previous refusals matter and should be disclosed early rather than discovered later.
Information only. The information on this page is general and is not advice about your situation. Immigration rules change often. No outcome can be promised, and nothing here creates a professional relationship. Advice about your own case is given in a consultation, under a written agreement.
Scope of licence. Amaninder Kaur holds a Class L2 licence and is authorised to provide immigration and citizenship advice and representation to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, the Canada Border Services Agency and provincial immigration programs. Matters before the Immigration and Refugee Board, including refugee claims, appeals, admissibility hearings and detention reviews, require a Class L3 RCIC-IRB licence or a lawyer, and are referred out.