Work Permit

 

Most will people need a work permit to work in Canada.

There are two types of work permits:

- Open Work Permit allows you to work for any employer in Canada, except for an employer:

  • who is listed as ineligible on the list of employers who have failed to comply with the conditions, or
  • who regularly offers striptease, erotic dance, escort services, or erotic massages.

You can only get an open work permit in specific situations. Find out if you can apply for an open work permit.

- Employer-specific work permit allows you to work according to the conditions on your work permit, which include:

  • the name of the employer you can work for,
  • how long you can work, and

the location where you can work (if applicable).

 

General eligibility requirements

No matter where you apply, you must:

  • prove to an officer that you will leave Canada when your work permit expires,
  • show that you have enough money to take care of yourself and your family members during your stay in Canada and to return home,
  • obey the law and have no record of criminal activity (we may ask you to give us a police clearance certificate),
  • not be a danger to Canada’s security,
  • be in good health and have a medical exam, if needed,
  • not plan to work for an employer listed with the status “ineligible” on the list of employers who failed to comply with the conditions,
  • not plan to work for an employer who, on a regular basis, offers striptease, erotic dance, escort services or erotic massages, and
  • give the officer any other documents they ask for to prove you can enter the country.

Global Skills Strategy applicants: You can only benefit from two-week application processing if you apply from outside of Canada.

 

Eligibility requirements if you apply from outside Canada

Anyone may apply for a work permit before they enter Canada. In some cases, you must apply to a visa office outside Canada. This is usually true if you need a visa to enter Canada or if you need to have a medical exam before you come here.

Find out what type of work permit you can apply for and if you can benefit from the Global Skills Strategy’s two-week application processing. If you are applying for an open work permit, leave the employer section of the application blank.

 

Eligibility requirements if you apply from inside Canada

You can only apply for a work permit from inside Canada if you:

  • are currently in Canada and have a valid study or work permit, or your spouse or parents have a study or work permit,
  • have graduated from a program at a
    • Canadian university,
    • community college,
    • CÉGEP,
    • publicly funded trade/technical school, or
    • another eligible school.
    • have a temporary resident permit that is valid for six months or more,
  • have applied or been included in an application for permanent residence from inside Canada (you will have to pass certain stages in the main application process to be eligible for a work permit),
  • have asked for refugee status in Canada and are waiting for a decision from the Refugee Protection Division (RPD) of the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada,
  • have been recognized by the RPD as a convention refugee or protected person,
  • have had your refugee claim turned down by the RPD but you cannot be removed from Canada for reasons beyond your control, or
  • are allowed to work in Canada without a work permit but you need a work permit to work in a different job.

Find out what type of work permit you can apply for. If you are applying for an open work permit, leave the employer section of the application blank.

 

Eligibility requirements if you apply when you enter Canada

You can ask to be allowed to work in Canada when you enter Canada but only if:

  • you are from a visa-exempt country,
  • you already hold a valid medical certificate, if you need it for your job, or are from a designated country, and either
  • your employer has completed all of the steps for your type of work permit, or
  • you are applying for an open work permit.

If you are a citizen of an eTA-required country, you’ll need to get an eTA if you plan to fly into Canada. To avoid additional costs, we recommend that you apply for your work permit before you travel to Canada.

Find out what type of work permit you can apply for. If you are applying for an open work permit, leave the employer section of the application blank.

PROCESSING UPDATE 2024

Congratuation!

Permanent Resident Approval


KIM, ** - Food service supervisor position
Oct. 2016 Express Entry Applied→Oct. 2016 Invitation Received→Jan. 2017 Final Approved


KIM, ** - Dental technician position
Oct. 2016 Express Entry Applied→Oct. 2016 Invitation Received→Jan. 2017 Final Approved


AN, ** - Hotel clerk supervisor position
Aug. 2016 Express Entry Applied→Aug. 2016 Invitation Received→Jan. 2017 Final Approved


SEO, ** - Retail store supervisor position
Jul. 2016 Express Entry Applied→Aug. 2016 Invitation Received→Jan. 2017 Final Approved


NOH, ** - Welder position
Jan. 2015 AINP Applied→Aug. 2015 Nominee Approved→Jan. 2017 Final Approved


CHI, ** - Welder position
Mar. 2015 AINP Applied→Aug. 2015 Nominee Approved→Jan. 2017 Final Approved


AMUNDSON, ** - Spouse sponsorship
May. 2015 Spouse Sponsorship Applied→Feb. 2017 Final Approved


 

AINP Approved


KIM, ** - Room attendant
Dec. 2016 Applied→Jan. 2017 Nominee Approved


YOON, ** - Alterationist
Jan. 2016 Applied→Jan. 2017 Nominee Approved


CHOI, ** - Housekeeping supervisor
Jan. 2016 Applied→Jan. 2017 Nominee Approved


CHOI, ** - Automotive service technician
Dec. 2016 Applied→Feb. 2017 Nominee Approved


KIM, ** - Retail store supervisor
Nov. 2016 Applied→Feb. 2017 Nominee Approved


KIM, ** - Sports instructor
Sep. 2016 Applied→Mar. 2017 Nominee Approved


LEE, ** - Cleaning supervisor
Nov. 2016 Applied→Mar. 2017 Nominee Approved


LEE, ** - Motel managing supervisor
Sep. 2016 Applied→Mar. 2017 Nominee Approved


KIM, ** - Food service supervisor
Oct. 2016 Applied→Mar. 2017 Nominee Approved


BERNABE, *** - Food service supervisor
Oct. 2016 Applied→Mar. 2017 Nominee Approved


KIM, ** - Retail store supervisor
Dec. 2016 Applied→Mar. 2017 Nominee Approved


 

SINP Approved


JUNG, ** - Food counter attendant
Nov. 2016 Applied→Jan. 2017 Nominee Approved


 

LMIA Approved


Retail store supervisor
Jun. 2016 Applied→Jan. 2017 Approved


Cook
Nov. 2016 Applied→Jan. 2017 Approved


Retail store supervisor
Aug. 2016 Applied→Jan. 2017 Approved


Retail store supervisor
Nov. 2016 Applied→Jan. 2017 Approved


Cook
Aug. 2016 Applied→Jan. 2017 Approved


Retail store supervisor
Dec. 2016 Applied→Jan. 2017 Approved


Cashier
Sep. 2016 Applied→Jan. 2017 Approved


Cook
Oct. 2016 Applied→Jan. 2017 Approved


Hotel clerk
Jun. 2016 Applied→Jan. 2017 Approved


Motel supervisor
Jun. 2016 Applied→Jan. 2017 Approved


Liquor store supervisor
Oct. 2016 Applied→Jan. 2017 Approved


Retail store supervisor
Dec. 2016 Applied→Jan. 2017 Approved


Cook
Sep. 2016 Applied→Feb. 2017 Approved


Food & Beverage Server
Jan. 2017 Applied→Feb. 2017 Approved


Cook
Oct. 2016 Applied→Mar. 2017 Approved


Cook
Dec. 2016 Applied→Mar. 2017 Approved


Cook
Feb. 2017 Applied→Mar. 2017 Approved


Retail store supervisor
Dec. 2016 Applied→Mar. 2017 Approved


Food service supervisor
Feb. 2017 Applied→Mar. 2017 Approved


Motel managing supervisor
Dec. 2016 Applied→Mar. 2017 Approved


Motel managing supervisor
Feb. 2017 Applied→Mar. 2017 Approved


Retail store supervisor
Feb. 2017 Applied→Mar. 2017 Approved


Retail store supervisor
Feb. 2017 Applied→Mar. 2017 Approved


Cleaning supervisor
Feb. 2017 Applied→Mar. 2017 Approved


Food service supervisor
Feb. 2017 Applied→Mar. 2017 Approved


Drywall installer
Feb. 2017 Applied→Mar. 2017 Approved


Martial arts Instructor
Jan. 2017 Applied→Mar. 2017 Approved


Food service supervisor
Jan. 2017 Applied→Mar. 2017 Approved


Updated until March 31, 2017