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Work permit is an official document given by the Canadian government that allows individuals to live and work in Canada.
Work permits are generally given to temporary foreign workers, business people, students, and caregivers from the Live-In Caregiver Program.
Work permits are temporary in nature but can always be extended within Canada. Work permits are also seen as a route to possibly becoming a permanent resident or Canadian citizen.
Work permits can be:
- Open permit – allows you to work with any employer, except those on the ineligible employers list (those that failed to comply with the conditions of the Temporary Foreign worker program) and businesses related to the sex trade such as Strip clubs, massage parlours or Escort services
- Employer-specific permit – allows you to work in accordance with the conditions on your work permit – decides the employer you can work with, the location you can work at and the number of hours you can work
LMIA Exempt Work Permits
LMIA based work permit, as the name itself suggests, is a work permit linked to a positive Labour Market Impact Assessment issued by ESDC to the employer seeking to hire a Temporary Foreign Worker.
An LMIA is a labor market verification process whereby Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) assesses an offer of employment to ensure that the employment of a foreign worker will not have a negative impact on the Canadian labor market.
Typically, foreign workers and employers must go through a two-step process in order to receive a Canadian work permit.
First, the employer must submit an application to ESDC for a Labor Market Impact Assessment, followed by a second application by the Temporary Foreign Worker to Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) for the actual work permit. The LMIA is issued by ESDC who, after considering numerous protective labour market factors, authorizes the Canadian employer to hire a foreign worker.
Post-Graduation Work Permit
Post-Graduation Work Permit is given to individuals who have graduated from certain pre-approved post-secondary institutions. This permit is designed to give graduates the chance to gain valuable work experience in the Canadian labour force and economy. These types of work permits can also act as another gateway to potentially becoming a permanent resident and eventually a full Canadian citizen.
Bridging Open Work Permit
Bridging Open Work Permit is issued to foreign workers that are currently in Canada and waiting for their Permanent Residency applications to be processed. To apply for a bridging open work permit you must:
- have applied for permanent residency
- have your current work permit expire in 4 months or less
- have a valid status on your work permit
- be in Canada currently
You must have applied to one of the following permanent residence programs to receive a bridging open work permit:
- Federal Skilled Worker Program
- Canadian Experience Class
- Federal Skilled Trades Program
- Provincial Nominee Program
- Caring for Children Class
- Caring for People with High Medical Needs Class
LMIA Exempt Work Permits
LMIA Exempt Work Permits - Under normal circumstances, an employer must complete a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) to help a potential employee qualify for a work permit. However, for certain skilled jobs and certain scenarios, you can apply for an LMIA exempt work permit.
A few exceptions which allow for LMIA Exempt work permits include:
- Mobilite Francophone
- International Agreements
- Intra-company transfers
- Humanitarian Reasons
- Canadian Interests
Our team has the expertise in handling complex work permit cases. Contact us if you are looking for expert guidance with your application.