Work Permit

Additional Information

A work permit allows you (foreign national) to work in Canada. In most cases, a positive LMIA decision letter must be provided by your prospective Employer to support your work permit application.

Eligibility requirements:

prove to an officer that you will leave Canada when your work permit expires;
show that you have enough money to take care of yourself and your family members during your stay in Canada and to return home;
obey the law and have no record of criminal activity (we may ask you to give us a police clearance certificate);
not be a danger to Canada’s security;
be in good health and have a medical exam, if needed; not plan to work for an employer listed with the status “ineligible” on the list of employers who failed to comply with the conditions;
not plan to work for an employer who, on a regular basis, offers striptease, erotic dance, escort services or erotic massages;
and give the officer any other documents they ask for to prove you can enter the country.

Processing time: Varies depending on the Country you are applying from.

*LMIA exemptions: You may be exempt from needing an LMIA if one of the below is applicable to you:

1) Covered by an international agreement like CUSMA or GATS, and non-trade agreements. This can include professionals, traders and investors.

2) Covered by an agreement between Canada and a province or territory. This includes “significant investment” projects.

3) Exempt for “Canadian interests” reasons: Significant Benefit/Reciprocal Employment/Designated by the Minister