Canada Work Permit

Canada’s work visa is issued under the Temporary Foreign Work Program (TFWP) by Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

The TFWP helps Canadian employers to recruit foreign workers to fulfill the labour market shortage.

The TFWP is made up of four streams:

1. – High-skilled workers.
2. – Low-skilled worker.
3. – The Live-In Caregiver Program.
4. – The seasonal Agricultural Worker Program.

IRCC works with Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) to ensure that foreign workers do not take the jobs of Canadian Citizens or permanent residents. Foreign workers must have their work permits and job-approved offer before arriving in Canada. Canadian employers that tend to hire foreign workers must have prior approval. This is done by applying for a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA).

Sometimes, foreign workers may qualify to work in Canada with LMIA under the program of International Mobility Program(IMP).

Types of Work permits?

• Open Work Permit : 
  • An Openwork permit allows you to work for any employer except for the one who is listed as ineligible for failure to comply Or who regularly offers Striptease, erotic dance, escort services, or erotic massages

• Employer Specific Work permit
  • An Employer Specific Work permit allows you to work  as per the conditions of your work permit which defines who you can work for, how long you can work for, and the location you can work (if applicable)

Options for Family Members to Work in Canada

A TFWP Canada work permit holder’s family may come with them to Canada.

All family members must complete their own application forms but they can be submitted together.

If a family member wants to work in Canada, they will need their own work permit.

In some cases, the spouse/common-law partner is eligible for an open work permit. If a temporary foreign worker’s children want to study in Canada, they will need a study permit.                  

The open work permit allows you to work in any job with any employer with some exceptions. And an open work permit holder doesn’t need LMIA.

A spouse’s eligibility for an open work permit depends upon the skill level of the Temporary Foreign worker’s job.

A high skilled foreign worker’s spouse could be eligible for an open work permit.

The low-skilled worker’s spouse will only be eligible for an open work permit through an active pilot project.

Dependent children are only eligible for an open work permit through an active pilot project.