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Guide

Work Permit in Canada: who qualifies and how to apply

Canada issues two kinds of work permits. An employer-specific permit ties you to one employer, job and location, and in most cases requires that employer to first obtain a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) showing no Canadian was available. An open work permit lets you work for almost any employer and is issued in defined situations: spouses of some workers and students, post-graduation work permits, and certain permanent residence applicants.

Many employer-specific permits do not need an LMIA. The International Mobility Program covers intra-company transfers, trade agreements such as CUSMA, francophone mobility outside Quebec, and other categories where Canada has decided the work brings a broad benefit. Knowing whether your job fits an LMIA-exempt category is the first thing to establish, because it changes the timeline by months.

Ask about your eligibility

Eligibility

Who qualifies for Work Permit?

  • A genuine job offer from a Canadian employer that has either a positive LMIA or a valid LMIA exemption, submitted through the Employer Portal with the compliance fee paid.
  • Qualifications matching the job: education, licensing for regulated occupations, and experience the employer's offer relied on.
  • Proof you will leave Canada when the permit expires, and that you are admissible (police and medical checks where required).
  • For open work permits, the specific relationship or status the category requires: for example a spouse working in a TEER 0 or 1 occupation, or a completed program at an eligible institution for the post-graduation work permit.
  • Applicants already in Canada can apply to extend or change a permit before it expires and keep working under maintained status while waiting.

Documents

What you need to submit for Work Permit

The core file. Visa offices may ask for country-specific extras; see the country guides below.

  • Job offer letter
  • LMIA (if required)
  • Passport
  • Work experience letters
  • Educational credentials
  • Language test results
  • Medical examination
  • Police certificate

Process

How Work Permit works, step by step

  1. Classify the job: NOC/TEER code, wage compared with the provincial median, and whether an LMIA exemption applies.
  2. If an LMIA is needed, the employer advertises the position, applies to Employment and Social Development Canada and receives a decision. If exempt, the employer submits the offer of employment through the Employer Portal and pays the compliance fee.
  3. You apply for the work permit online from outside Canada, or from inside Canada if you hold status that allows it, with the offer details, LMIA or exemption code, qualifications and biometrics.
  4. Complete the medical exam if the job involves health care, childcare or teaching, or if you have lived in a designated country.
  5. Receive the letter of introduction and, if required, the visa. The permit itself is printed at the port of entry or mailed to inland applicants.
  6. Keep the conditions on the permit: employer, location, occupation and expiry. Changing any of them requires a new application.

Before you file

Common mistakes and what works

  • Starting work before the permit is issued, including remote work for a Canadian employer while in Canada as a visitor.
  • An offer letter that does not match the LMIA or Employer Portal submission in wage, duties or location.
  • Letting the permit expire before applying to extend; status is only maintained if the extension is filed while the permit is valid.
  • Assuming a work permit leads automatically to permanent residence. It builds the Canadian experience that programs such as the Canadian Experience Class reward, but you still have to qualify.

Refusal risks we see most

  • Invalid or expired LMIA
  • Job offer does not meet wage requirements
  • Missing employer compliance documentation
  • Incomplete work history
  • Applying for ineligible occupation

What strengthens a file

  • Secure a valid job offer before applying
  • Ensure employer has positive LMIA if required
  • Meet wage requirements for the position
  • Verify occupation is eligible for work permit
  • Apply from your home country when possible

FAQ

Work Permit questions we are asked most

What is an LMIA?
A Labour Market Impact Assessment is a decision by Employment and Social Development Canada that hiring a foreign worker will not harm the Canadian labour market. The employer applies for it, not the worker, and it is required for most employer-specific permits unless an exemption applies.
How long does a work permit take?
It depends on the country you apply from and whether an LMIA is involved; the country pages on this site show IRCC's current processing time for applicants from each country. LMIA processing by ESDC is a separate, earlier step.
Can my family come with me?
Your spouse may qualify for an open work permit if you work in a TEER 0 or 1 occupation or in certain TEER 2 and 3 occupations, and your children can attend school. Each family member needs their own application.
Can I change employers?
On an open work permit, yes. On an employer-specific permit you must apply for a new permit with the new employer's LMIA or exemption before starting; a public policy allows you to start the new job once the application is received in some cases.
Does Canadian work experience help me get permanent residence?
Substantially. One year of skilled Canadian experience makes you eligible for the Canadian Experience Class, adds CRS points, and is required by many provincial streams.

Explore

Work Permit by destination city

Cost of living, job market and settlement services for each city, alongside this guide.

14 cities

Explore

Work Permit from your country

Visa-office processing, biometrics and document specifics by country of application.

10 countries

Explore

Work Permit by occupation

How this route works for your job, with salary, demand and the provinces that want it.

28 occupations

News

Related news

All news
  • Canada extends certain work permit measures for Ukrainians

    Canada is extending specific work permit measures for Ukrainians while Russia's illegal war against Ukraine continues. The government states it continues to support Ukrainian people who are contributing to Canadian communities and the labour market.

    IRCC · April 1, 2026

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