Work Permit

The facilitated Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) helps Quebec employers efficiently address labor shortages in the province.

Starting April 6, 2023, some current and former Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) holders may be eligible for an 18-month Open Work Permit.

Foreign workers can work for anywhere in Canada with an open work permit.
Open work permits allow foreign workers the flexibility to choose where they work in Canada.
Oftentimes, foreign nationals who want to work in Canada need a work permit. These permits may be tied to a specific employer, or occupation. By contrast, open work permits allow for freedom of movement, whether it is between workplaces, occupations or locations in Canada.

Canada offers a variety of immigration pathways and work permits for entrepreneurs, investors, and self-employed persons.

If you are American or Mexican, you may be eligible for a work permit under CUSMA.

Quebec has its own programs and criteria for foreign skilled workers hoping to settle in the province.

Following a temporary pause that has been in place since September 2021, Express Entry invitation rounds for CEC candidates are set to resume in July. Also, the processing standard for new applicants is expected to return to six months.

As a temporary resident in Canada, obtaining a Social Insurance Number (SIN) is essential for work and accessing government services. Here's how you can get your SIN quickly and easily:

The Canadian government facilitates work permit processing for foreign tv and film industry workers.

The Canadian government fast-tracks work permits for individuals in the IT sector.

Maintained status allows temporary residents to retain their legal status in Canada while waiting for IRCC to process their application to extend their temporary stay.

There are a number of pathways for nurses to immigrate to Canada.

Canada was experiencing nursing shortages even before the pandemic. Ontario, for example, is planning to invest $342 million over the next five years to hire more than 13,000 healthcare workers to the province. BC has promised to provide up to $16,000 to about 1,500 internationally educated nurses to cover application fees, English language tests, and educational upgrading. Also, Quebec is investing $65 million to recruit and train nearly 1,000 nurses from francophone countries.

Canadian Experience Class (CEC) candidates in the Express Entry pool have not been invited to apply for permanent residence since the last-all program draw, nearly two months ago, on January 18.

The CRS starts by assessing what the Canadian government refers to as “core human capital factors”, which include the following characteristics: age, education, first language ability (English or French), second language ability (English or French) and Canadian work experience.

Multinational companies can send key staff to work in Canada through Intra-Company Transfer work permits.

With Canada adjusting its immigration targets and reducing its temporary resident population, many individuals with expiring work permits are exploring ways to stay legally. One option is applying for a Visitor Record (VR), which extends your legal stay but does not permit work or study.

Changing jobs in Canada as a temporary foreign worker is possible, but it must be done within the rules set by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to protect your legal status.

A criminal record can hinder your plans to work in Canada, however, you may have options to overcome inadmissibility.

If you have a criminal record and do not address inadmissibility before you apply for a Canadian work permit, you risk being refused entry to Canada.

Overall, the economic outlooks show strong employment growth over the next few years with many opportunities for newcomers.

At the beginning of the pandemic, immigrants who had landed in the last five years experienced higher unemployment levels than Canadian-born workers.

Immigration is crucial for Canada's economy, with immigrants significantly represented across key sectors. They comprise over 36% in accommodation and food services, nearly 38% in transportation, and over 34% in professional services.