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Canada Temporary Work Permit Process

The number of temporary work permits issued to international candidates is around 300,000 every year.

The Canadian government allows foreign internationals to work for thw Canadian employers under the work permit.
There are many ways to secure a work permit, depending on the candidate’s nationality, occupation, skills, etc.
Candidates from certain countries need to get their Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) to enter Canada along with their job offer.
Securing a work permit is a process with a series of steps. For a temporary work permit, the job offer from the Canadian employers must be provided with approval from Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) or an Offer of Employment number issued by Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

STEP 1 :

Employer applies for Labour Market Impact Assessment, if necessary

Canadian employers, seeking to hire a foreign national need to obtain a positive or neutral Labour market impact assessment (LMIA) from ESDC to ensures that there is no Canadian available for the job.
If the candidate is willing to work for an employer in Quebec, he/she needs to obtain a Certificat d’acceptation du Québec (CAQ).
The CAQ will be submitted to Ministère de l’Immigration, Francisation et de l’Intégration (MIFI) at the same time while the LMIA is being submitted to ESDC. The employers in Quebec do not need to give recruitment proofs.
There are situations where a foreign worker may obtain a work permit without applying for LMIA-

International agreements like the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)
Canadian interest:

For significant economic, social or cultural benefits to Canadians
In case of reciprocal agreements and youth exchange programs
Charitable or religious purposes
Allowing international students in Canada
Certain PR applicants in Canada
To allow the accompanying spouses of certain work permit and Study Permit holders residing in Canada

persons making the refugee claims to support themselves
When the migrant workers are experiencing abuse or at the risk of abuse while working for a specific employer.

STEP 2 :

Employer extends Temporary Job
Offer

Once an employer receives the LMIA, he must send a copy of the LMIA approval letter and the detailed job offer to the foreign worker. These documents will be required at the time of application for the work permit.

STEP 3 :

Foreign Workers apply for the Work Permit

Once the approved LMIA and job letter is received, the foreign worker can apply to IRCC for a Canadian work permit.
Depending on the nationality of the applicant, TRV might be required for some of them to enter Canada.

STEP 4 :

Work Permit is issued

The work permit will be issued at the time when the candidate arrives in Canada by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) officer.
The range of duration for which the work permit is issued varies from few days to a few years. Hence, the work permit is for a finite period and is temporary in nature.
Candidates planning to stay and work in Canada for a longer period need to step ahead for Canadian permanent residence through various immigration streams.
Most Canadian work permits are closed work permits that are granted for specific jobs only. So when a closed permit is issued, the holder may work for a specific employer mentioned on the permit. If the foreign worker is not a PR, he has to apply for a new work permit to change the employer.

Work in Canada: Basic Facts

The activity for which wages are earned or paid are termed as work on the Canadian extent. These activities called work for immigration process competes directly with Canadian residents’ activities of work.
An LMIA approval is essential for the candidate to receive a work permit.
A job offer from a Canadian employer supports the process for the Canadian work permit.
Under several conditions, open work permits are also issued by IRCC.
Work permit can be extended for more duration, but it is always temporary in nature.