Being one of the top economies in the world, Canada has been the dream destination to work at for many foreign nationals looking for job opportunities. They wish to work here and settle down in the beautiful country. However, things are not as easy as it seems. Individuals who want to settle down here need to go through the process of getting a valid Canada job work permit, which allows them to legally work in Canada.
A work permit refers to a legal document that permits a foreign national to be employed in Canada. Each year, the Canadian government issues almost five million work permit visas to foreign applicants from around the globe. This lets temporary workers, permanent workers, business owners with entrepreneurship visa Canada, and others work in the country. Usually, individuals should have an employment offer in hand to apply for the work visa. Continue reading this article to understand how to get a work permit to legally work in Canada.
Eligibility Criteria to Work in Canada
Most overseas nationals need a permit if they have to be eligible to work in this country with a few exceptions. A few examples of such exemptions include the spouse of an individual already on a Canadian study or work permit or a person who has recently graduated from a designated learning institute in Canada.
Other than these, most applicants will need a job offer in Canada supported by a LMIA (Labor Market Impact Assessment) to apply for a work permit. To be eligible to apply for a work permit, the candidate should also meet the below requirements:
- Illustrate that they intend to leave the country after the expiry of their work permit
- Show that they have adequate funds to financially support themselves and their family in Canada
- Work with a qualified employer
- Justify that they are not medically or criminally inadmissible to Canada
- Submit any required documents that prove that they are eligible to enter Canada
Documents Needed for a Work Permit
Visa applicants should submit a set of documents as listed below:
- Education qualification proof
- Work experience proof
- Original passport
- Proof of funds
- Employer’s job offer letter
- Form with family details (if dependent family members are traveling with the candidate)
- Copy of marriage certification and birth certificate of child (if a spouse or a dependent child is also traveling with the candidate)
Steps to Get a Work Permit in Canada
First, you need to apply and get a temporary work permit in Canada. With this work permit, you can work for a specific duration and once you are eligible for a permanent work permit, you can apply for it. Here are the steps to get a temporary work permit in Canada:
– Apply for Labor Market Impact Assessment (LMIA)
Before applying for a work permit, ensure that your employer is qualified for the LMIA, which earlier referred to as Labor Market Opinion (LMO). This step should have been done by your employer in advance.
– Get a Temporary Employment Offer
You need to get a copy of a positive LMIA in addition to a detailed employment offer letter from the employer. This serves as a formal job contract that states the important details about your employment, including your job designation, job description, salary and other such information.
– Apply for a Work Permit
After you complete these steps, you can apply for a temporary work permit with the needed documents. Further, you may need to meet an officer who will check whether your employment will have a negative impact on job offers for Canadians. Once you qualify, you will receive your Canadian work visa.
Once you get your temporary work visa and work with it for a few years, you can apply for a permanent work permit where you will be evaluated based on your language proficiency and job classification.
Work Permit Duration
All work permits come with a date of expiry. The best way to work for any duration of time or permanently work in Canada is to get the status of a permanent resident, shortly known as PR status.
The Government of Canada has set a limit on the length of work permits and the accumulation duration for which non-Canadians can work in the country. In Total, individuals can work in Canada for four years or 48 months (either with gaps between work permits or consecutively).
After completing these four years, foreign nationals should leave the country and stay outside Canada for at least four years before getting eligibility to work in the country again.
We hope you have now got an idea of how to get a work permit to legally work in Canada. With this information, you can start the process. If you feel intimidated by the legal formalities, you can always take professional assistance from an immigration agent.
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