Your Journey Begins Here

Canada relies on temporary foreign workers that offer essential skills to the workforce and also to cover crucial labour shortages. Every year, around half a million people with work permits are employed in Canada. There are opportunities in every industry, including healthcare, information technology (IT), and agriculture. Work permits are typically employer-specific, which means you have to work for the company listed on the document. Your employer must first receive a favourable LMIA before doing it (if required). However, open work permits are also available in certain cases:

• For a recent graduate of a DLI and PGWP eligible program.
• For a PR applicant in Canada (or are the dependent family member of PR applicant).
• For the spouse or common law partner of a skilled worker or international student.
• For a refugee, refugee claimant, protected person, or their family member.
• For post-secondary co-op work permits

To support a job offer extended to a foreign national, the employer often needs a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA); however, some jobs do not require one. Such exceptions include:

• You have been working full-time for the employer on your work permit for at least 1 year (or an equal amount of part-time work)
• you have a valid job offer, and
• you have a valid work permit that is exempt from an LMIA under:
  • An international agreement
  • A federal-provincial agreement
  • The “Canadian interests” category