Canadian Work Authorization

Work in Canada

Planning to work in Canada, transfer within a company, or gain Canadian work experience? Most foreign nationals need a work permit before they can work in Canada. The authorization available to you depends on the type of work, your employer, and whether you qualify for an employer-specific permit, an open work permit, or a work-permit exemption.

01 What Is a Work Permit?

A work permit is a written authorization that allows a foreign national to work in Canada for a temporary period. Depending on the permit, it may specify the employer, occupation, work location, and other conditions you must follow.

Work permits are either employer-specific or open. A limited number of activities may be performed without a work permit when every requirement of the applicable exemption is met.

A work permit is not a travel document. To travel to Canada, you also need a valid passport and, where required, a visitor visa or electronic travel authorization (eTA). A border services officer makes the final decision on admission.

02 Which Work Authorization Applies?

The authorization available to you depends on your circumstances. Use IRCC’s official work permit tool to check the current route and application instructions.

Employer-Specific Work Permit

This permit authorizes work under the conditions shown on the document, including the named employer and usually the occupation and location. You need a job offer, and the employer must normally obtain a positive Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) or complete the steps for an LMIA-exempt offer before you apply.

Open Work Permit

An open work permit generally allows work for most compliant employers without a specific job offer or LMIA. You may apply only if you fit an eligible category, and restrictions may still apply to certain employers or occupations.

Work-Permit Exemption

Some narrowly defined activities and occupations may be performed without a work permit, including certain business visits and specified short-term or public-interest work. An exemption applies only when all of its conditions are met, and you may still need a visitor visa or eTA to travel to Canada.

03 What Are the Requirements?

The specific test depends on the work permit category. In general, an applicant must:

show that they will leave Canada when their authorized stay ends;
show that they have enough money for themselves and accompanying family members during the stay and to return home;
be admissible to Canada and provide police certificates if requested;
complete an immigration medical examination when required;
not intend to work for an ineligible employer or in employment prohibited by the immigration regulations; and
provide the documents required for the specific work permit category.

Employer Steps for an Employer-Specific Permit

The employer’s required step depends on whether the position needs an LMIA.

Temporary Foreign Worker Program

The employer applies to Employment and Social Development Canada for an LMIA. If the LMIA is positive, the employer gives the worker the required LMIA information and employment documents for the work permit application.

International Mobility Program

The employer normally submits the offer through IRCC’s Employer Portal, pays the compliance fee where required, and gives the worker the offer of employment number. Some employers and categories are exempt from the portal or fee requirements.

Medical requirements depend on the intended occupation and, in some cases, the applicant’s residence history. An immigration medical examination may be required for certain occupations, including some jobs in health services or involving close contact with children, and for some agricultural work.

04 Where Can You Apply?

The correct application route depends on where you are and whether you fit the applicable eligibility rules.

Applying from Outside Canada

Most foreign nationals seeking an initial work permit should apply online before travelling to Canada. The visa office instructions and required documents may depend on the applicant’s country or territory.

Applying from Inside Canada

Most visitors cannot apply for a work permit from inside Canada. In-Canada applications are available only in specified situations, including for certain valid permit holders, eligible family members, refugee claimants or protected persons, and some permanent residence applicants.

Applying at a Port of Entry

Only certain visa-exempt travellers may apply when entering Canada, and they must meet the requirements for the requested permit. Applying before travel is recommended, and some programs—including the post-graduation work permit—do not permit port-of-entry applications.

05 How to Apply

The exact process depends on the work authorization and where the application is made. The usual steps are:

Identify the Correct Authorization

Confirm whether the work requires an employer-specific permit, an open permit, or no permit, and review the eligibility rules for that category.

Complete the Employer Step

For an employer-specific permit, the employer obtains a positive LMIA or completes the applicable LMIA-exempt offer process before the worker applies.

Prepare the Application

Complete the forms and collect the passport, employment documents, LMIA or offer number where applicable, proof of qualifications, and other supporting evidence required for the category.

Apply and Complete Requests

Submit the application through the correct IRCC process, pay the applicable fees, provide biometrics if required, and complete a medical examination or provide further documents when requested.

Receive the Decision

If an outside-Canada application is approved, follow the instructions in the approval letter and carry the required documents when travelling. A border services officer will still decide whether you may enter Canada and will issue the work permit when the entry requirements are met.

06 Working After Approval

You must read the permit when it is issued and comply with every condition. In particular:

an employer-specific permit limits you to the employer and other employment conditions shown on the document;
an open permit may still restrict work in certain occupations or for certain employers;
you normally need new authorization before changing an employer, occupation, or location covered by an employer-specific permit; and
you should apply to extend or change the permit before it expires.

If IRCC receives an eligible extension or change application before your permit expires, you may remain in Canada and may continue working while a decision is pending, provided you stay in Canada and follow the conditions that apply to your maintained status. For an employer-specific permit, this normally means the same employer, job, and location.

If you leave Canada while a work permit renewal is being processed, your ability to work after returning may be affected. If the application is still pending when you return, you may be admitted as a visitor and generally cannot resume working until the renewal is approved. You must also meet the applicable requirements to re-enter Canada and have the required travel documents.

07 Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work in Canada as a visitor?+

Normally, no. Visitor status does not authorize work, and most visitors cannot apply for a work permit from inside Canada. You must qualify under a work-permit category or a specific work-permit exemption before working.

Do I need a Canadian job offer?+

An employer-specific work permit requires a job offer. An open work permit does not, but it is available only in specified situations.

Does a positive LMIA guarantee a work permit?+

No. A positive LMIA supports the application, but the worker must still qualify for a work permit and meet Canada’s immigration requirements.

Can I change employers on a work permit?+

It depends on your work permit. An open work permit generally allows you to work for different employers, as long as you follow any conditions listed on your permit. If you have an employer-specific work permit, you normally need authorization before starting work for a new employer.

Can I keep working after my permit expires?+

You may be able to continue working if you applied to extend or change your work permit before it expired and you continue to meet the applicable conditions while IRCC processes your application. Otherwise, you must stop working.

Can my spouse or partner work in Canada?+

Possibly. Some spouses and common-law partners may qualify for an open work permit based on the principal applicant’s status or immigration program. If they do not qualify for an open work permit, they may still qualify for another type of work permit, including an employer-specific work permit, if they meet the applicable requirements.

Does a work permit lead to permanent residence?+

Not automatically. Canadian work experience may help under some permanent residence programs, but you must independently meet the requirements of the program available to you.

Talk to a Licensed Expert

Planning to Work in Canada?

Our licensed team can assess the available work authorization, identify the employer and applicant requirements, and help prepare the application.

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