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Human Resources and Social Development Canada (HRSDC)

In most cases, to work temporarily in Canada, a foreign worker must have a job offer from a Canadian employer and a work permit must be issued by Citizenship and Immigration Canada.   HRSDC assesses and analyzes the job offer, and if it meets their criteria, they will authorize or “validate” it.

However, there are some special cases in which an HRSDC validation is not required, where the benefits to Canada (social, cultural, or economic) are clear and significant.  Citizenship and Immigration Canada identifies these categories as:  North American Free Trade Agreement (and Chile), Entrepreneurs and company transferees, exchange programs, students doing co-op, religious workers.

In other cases, a foreigner is allowed to enter Canada without a work permit, as in the following categories:  accident inspector, athlete or coach, business visitor, clergy, convention organizer, crew member, emergency service provider, examiner or evaluator, foreign government officer, foreign representative, judge or referee, military personnel, news reporter, on campus employee, performing artist, public speaker.  In these cases, a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) may apply, depending on the foreigner´s nationality.