Temporary Work Permit Process

A Temporary work permit process is required if you are planning to work in Canada temporarily on a Work Permit. In order to meet this requirement, the employers in Canada have to apply to Service Canada for a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). However, in some cases, you can work without a work permit.

 There are 2 types of work permits: Firstly the open work permits and secondly employer-specific work permits.

As the title suggests, open work permit allows you to work for any employer in Canada with few exceptions.

Secondly employer-specific work permits is an employer specific Work Permit that allows to work for a specific employer for the specific period and at a specific work location

Kinds of Employer specific Work Permits

1. a worker on a film or television production
2. an academic
3. a researcher at certain Canadian institutions
4. a co-op student on a work term
5. a repair or maintenance worker for industrial or commercial equipment
6. a religious worker or someone working for a charity
7. a professional athlete or coach
8. a dancer, actor, orchestral musician or opera singer or someone in a related job
9. an entrepreneur
10. a worker on a farm (agricultural worker)
11. an employee for a foreign diplomatic mission, consular post, international organization, or foreign government
12. an employee of the owner or operator of an international bridge or tunnel
13. a worker whose employer is applying to hire you through the Global Talent Stream
14. a worker whose employer is applying to hire you under the Atlantic Immigration Pilot
15. my job isn’t on the list

Temporary Work Permit Process-Eligibility requirements for all applicants

You have to meet all requirements, however, there are some general requirements for all applicants and some specific requirements depending on where you are when you apply for your work permit.

In order to meet the general requirements for, you must provide:

• Proof to officer that you will leave Canada when your work permit expires
• proof of enough funds
• police clearance certificate,
• proof of your medical examination
• and a proof of other documentary evidence requested

Additionally, you can also only apply for a work permit through temporary work permit process from inside Canada if:

• you have a valid study or work permit
• your spouse, common-law partner or parents have a valid study or work permit
• you’ve graduated from a program at a: Canadian university, community college, CÉGEP, publicly funded trade/technical school, or other eligible school
• you have a temporary resident permit that is valid for six months or more
• you’re waiting on a decision on an application for permanent residence from inside Canada
• you made or will make a claim for refugee protection
• you’ve been recognized as a convention refugee or protected person by the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada
• you’re allowed to work in Canada without a work permit, but you need a work permit to work in a different job, or
• you’re a trader, investor, intra-company transferee or professional under NAFTA

Temporary Work Permit Process when you enter Canada at a port of entry (POE)

We recommend that you apply for your work permit before you travel to Canada. However, you can apply for a work permit when you enter Canada if:

you don’t need a visitor visa to come to Canada, therefore, you’re applying for an open work permit, or your employer has completed all of the required steps for your employer-specific work permit

If you’re eligible to apply at a Canadian POE you can give your biometrics when you apply at these POE locations.

Please contact us with your inquiry by filling out our Contact Us form. Also, any employers who are interested in applying for a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) can contact us to process their applications.