Canada is a dream destination for skilled workers from around the globe. Individuals aiming at excellent career growth prospects plan to work in Canada. These workers help fill Canada’s labour shortage. Most temporary workers require work authorization, but some do not.

A work permit is a legal document which authorizes a foreign worker to work legally in Canada. Barring certain exceptions, most foreign temporary workers need this document to work. A Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) might also be required to enter Canada based of your country or residence or citizenship.

There are two different types of work permits:

• Open Work Permit
• Closed work permit

Pacific Canadian Immigration Solutions Inc. provides full range of services related to obtaining Canadian work permits. We assist business corporations and non-profit organizations in obtaining Canadian work permits for their employees, and we also assist individuals to obtain Canadian work permits. In Canada the work permits are bifurcated as:

Open Work Permit 

With an open work permit you can work for any employer in Canada except one who have failed to comply with the employment standards or businesses who engage in sex trade such as strip clubs, escort services, or erotic massage parlours. An open work-permit is non-job specific, therefore you will not need a positive Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) in order to apply.

Below are the types of open work permit: –

Post Graduate Work Permit / Open Work Permits

Open work permits allow you to work for any employer or multiple employers on a full or part time basis. Spouses or common-law partners of study permit holders or skilled work permit holders qualify for an open work permit. Open work permits can also be obtained via the International Experience Canada program (Working Holiday permit) for youth from certain countries. The Bridging Open Work Permit program allows certain permanent residence (PR) applicants to work on an open work permit while their PR application is in process.

Spousal Work Permit of International Students / Workers

If you are an international student bringing your spouse or partner with you to Canada, they may be eligible for an open work permit that will allow them to work on or off campus full-time while you study.

An open work permit is a work permit that is not job-specific. It allows your spouse or common-law partner to accept any job with any employer. If your spouse or partner gets an open work permit, it is normally valid for the same period as your study permits. In some cases, your spouse or common-law partner will need a medical exam.

Eligibility

• Permanent residence applicants who have applied to an office in Canada,
• Dependent family members of some permanent residence applicants,
• Spouses and common-law partners of some workers and international students,
• Refugees, refugee claimants, protected persons and their family members,
• Some temporary resident permit holders, or
• Some young workers participating in special programs.

In each of these situations, you must meet additional criteria to be eligible.

Closed Work Permit

An employer-specific work permit allows a foreign worker to work for a specific employer for a certain amount of time. This type of work permit will include the name of the employer you can work for, the duration and location of work if applicable. It is also known as a closed-work permit and is often subject to a job offer by a Canadian employer supported by a positive LMIA which proves that there is no Canadian citizen or permanent resident available to do the job which is being offered.

Eligibility

To find out if you are eligible to apply for a work permit, certain conditions need to be met. There are some general eligibility criteria and some of them depends on where you are applying for the work permit from.

• You must be able to prove that you will leave the country after your work permit expires.
• Must not work for any employers who have failed to comply with the employment standards or businesses who engage in sex trade such as strip clubs, escort services, or erotic massage parlours.
• Must get your security and background check done and submit your police clearance certificate.
• Must get your medical exam done.
• Must have enough funds required to support yourself and your family members for the entire stay in Canada.

International Experience Canada

Many countries have signed an agreement with Canada which gives their young adults the opportunity to participate in programs such as the Working Holiday Program (WHP) or Young Professional Program (YPP). Under the WHP you are issued a 6 months to 2 years open work permit that will allow you to travel and work across Canada. The YPP work permit is designed for young adults who wish to gain work experience with a specific Canadian employer in their field of study or expertise.

We will assist the foreign worker in gathering, completing and filing all of the necessary documentation required for a temporary work permit. Once all of the necessary information has been submitted and the foreign worker has been determined to meet all admissibility requirements, he or she will receive their temporary work permit and may begin their employment with the Canadian employer.

Labour Market Impact Assessment

Our certified immigration consultants can answer all of your questions about the Temporary Foreign Worker Program. Contact our office today and begin the process of hiring foreign workers to fill labour shortages within your Canadian company.