You need to have a Canadian work permit to work on a temporary basis in Canada.
You must have a job offer from a Canadian employer validated by HRSDC (Human
Resources and Skills Development Canada). Some young people may qualify for a
working holiday visa depending on their country of residence.
Quick Index
Working in Canada
Each year around 150,000 foreign workers get work permits to come to Canada as
temporary workers. Temporary workers help Canadian companies fill jobs where
there are skill shortages and some work as a live-in caregiver. Certain
occupations do not require a work permit or HRSDC validation. In some cases,
temporary workers are able to work in Canada using a Temporary Resident Visa
(TRV).
Getting a Job Offer in Canada
Once you have a job offer from a Canadian employer, the employer must take the
next step in the process. In order to hire a foreign worker, Canadian Employers
must first obtain a Labour Market Opinion (LMO). The LMO is an approval by Human
Resources and Skills Development Canada that authorizes a Canadian employer to
fill a position with a foreign worker. An LMO is not required in all cases.
Getting a Labour Market Opinion
Employers must complete the appropriate Labour Market Opinion application form.
Applications that are not complete or are filled out incorrectly can cause
delays. The employer must include the National Occupation Classification matrix.
There are no government fees for obtaining an LMO. The processing time for a
Labour Market Opinion is dependent on the type of employment and the province of
employment. Processing times for a Labour Market Opinion can vary from a few
weeks up to six months.
Applying for a Work Permit
Once the employer has received a positive Labour Market Opinion, the employee
must apply for a visa that will allow him/her to work in Canada. The work permit
application must be submitted at a Canadian Embassy or consulate in a country
where the employee has lived under legal status for at least one year.
Prospective employees are allowed to bring their families under the work permit
visa. Work permits allow only temporary work in Canada. The Work Permit
application process is as follows:
Prospective employees must duly complete an application form. The application
form must be completed accurately and truthfully.
- Application For Work Permit
- Statutory Declaration of Common-Law Partner
- Document Checklist
- Use of Representative
Applicants must pay a government fee of $150 at the Embassy or Consulate that
will be assessing their application.
Police Clearances and Medical Report
A prospective employee must submit police clearances from all countries where
he/she has lived in for more than six-months since turning 18. Medical exams can
only be done with physicians authorized by the Canadian foreign mission as able
to perform medical exams. Applicants who are married or have children must also
have their spouses and children submit medical exams and police clearances (if
applicable) even if they are not coming to Canada. If you fail to do this, you
may experience problems later if you wishes to apply for permanent residency and
wants to include your family in the application.
Work Permit Processing Time
Work permits are processed faster for some categories of worker than others.
Work permit approval really depends on the type of work that you want to do. The
processing time varies among visa offices. Most applications are processed
within 1 month. However, some visa offices can take longer. Applications that
are incomplete or filled out incorrectly will be denied or delayed.
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