Canada Work Permit 2025: How to Apply for a Work Permit to Canada?

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Updated March 2025

Key takeaways:

• A Canada work permit is required for non-citizens to work legally and is usually based on an LMIA or an LMIA-exempt offer.

• Work permits are valid for up to two years but cannot exceed passport validity.

• Applicants must prove financial stability, a clean record, and compliance with regulations.

What is the Canada work permit?

A Canada work permit is a written authorization that:

• Is issued by an immigration officer, allowing individuals who are not Canadian citizens or permanent residents to work in Canada.
• Is required if you wish to work in Canada, regardless of whether your employer is based in Canada.
• Typically specifies a particular employer, job role, and duration of employment.
• Is granted based on a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) from Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) or an offer of employment from an LMIA-exempt employer.

Generally speaking, if you’re not a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident, you do need a work permit to work in Canada legally. However, depending on the nature of the activity, you may be exempt from a work permit.

To find out whether or not you need a work permit, check here.

Book Cheap Flights on Wego to Canada on Wego

 

Validity period

Work permits are usually valid for one to two years. However, a Canadian visa officer can change the validity period of a work permit according to the expiry of the worker’s passport or travel document.

A work permit cannot be issued for a duration that is longer than the validity of the holder’s passport.

Eligibility criteria

Eligibility depends on your ability to prove the following:

• 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 (you may be asked to give 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.

What are the types of Canada work permits?

The Canada work permit is categorized as follows.

Open work permits

An open work permit allows you to work for any employer in Canada, except for an employer:

• Listed as ineligible on the list of employers who have failed to comply with the conditions or
• Who regularly offers striptease, erotic dance, escort services, or erotic massages.

This year, from 21 January 2025, Canada has introduced changes to open work permits for family members of temporary residents. Under these changes, only spouses of certain international students and foreign workers can apply for a family open work permit:

Family open work visa will be limited to spouses of international students who are enrolled in:

• Master’s programs that are 16 months or longer
• Doctoral programs, or
• Select professional and eligible programs.

For more information, you can visit the official website here. 

Employer-specific work permits

An employer-specific work permit allows you to work according to the conditions on your work permit, which include:

• The name of the employer you can work for.
• How long you can work.
• The location where you can work (if applicable).

How to apply for a Canada work permit?

Applying for the Canada work permit can be done by taking the following steps:

Required documents

Proof of identity

• A valid passport or travel document that guarantees you re-entry to the country or territory that issued it and
• Two (2) photos of yourself and accompanying family members that meet the application photograph specifications.

Proof of employment in Canada

• Your Offer of Employment number. This should be provided by your employer,
  or,
  a copy of the Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) from ESDC (your employer should give this to you), and a copy of an employment contract from your future employer.
• You must provide proof that you are eligible for the job. This can be a Canadian provincial or territorial trade certificate, educational requirements, or past work experience outlined in a resume.
• A copy of the Certificat d’acceptation du Québec (CAQ) from the Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Diversité et de l’Inclusion (MIDI), if you plan to work in Quebec or will be working in Quebec. If you do not need an LMIA you will usually not need a CAQ.

Proof of relationship

• You may need to provide a marriage certificate and birth certificates for any accompanying family members.
• If you are in a common-law relationship and your common-law partner will come with you to Canada, you must fill out the Statutory Declaration of Common-Law Union. Send proof listed on the form to support your relationship.

Other documents

• If you are not a citizen of the country or territory where you are applying, you must send proof of your present immigration status.
• If the government that issued your passport or travel document requires a re-entry permit, you must receive it before you apply for a work permit.
• You may be required to submit more documents.

Please note that translations can only be done by the relevant authority if required.  

Required forms

The following forms must be completed:

• Application For Work Permit Made Outside of Canada.
• Family Information.
• Statutory Declaration of Common-law Union, if it applies to you.
• Use of a Representative, if it applies to you.
• Authority to release personal information to a designated individual if it applies to you.

You can consult the required documents checklist to ensure all documents are gathered.

Application process

You may send your application to a Visa Application Center (VAC) that serves your area or apply online. If you’re applying for a Canada work permit from outside of Canada, you would need to fill out a country-specific form obtainable here.

Please note that you must register for an Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) account before you can access the form.  

Furthermore, fill out the Document Checklist mentioned above and include it in your application.

If your application is approved, the Canadian authorities will send you any original documents, including your passport (if you submitted it with your application), along with a letter of introduction confirming the approval of your work permit application.

Fees

You may need to pay three separate fees as follows:

• An application processing fee.
• An open work permit holder fee.
• A biometric fee. 

Please note that not all applicants are required to provide biometrics. Consult here to find out if this applies to you.

The Canada work permit fees extend to the following:

• Work permit (including extensions) – per person CAD 85.
• Work permit (including extensions) – per group of 3 more CAD 170.
• Work permit – maximum fee for groups of performing artists and their staff CAD 255.

To pay your fees for your application, you’ll need:

• A valid email address;
• Access to a printer (you’ll need to print the receipt), and
• A credit card or Canadian debit card.

Visit the link below and follow these instructions to pay:

• Go to Online Payment.
• Follow the online instructions:
  • At the end, click on the button to print the IRCC official receipt with a barcode (Print two copies).
  • Attach a copy of this receipt to your completed application.
  • Keep the second copy of the receipt for your records.

Please make sure to print the receipt before exiting. The printed receipt is your proof of payment.

Alternatively, if you cannot pay your fees online, you may visit the Pay Your Fees page to learn about the methods of payment accepted by Canadian migration offices.

Processing time

Processing times can range from a few weeks to several months, depending on various factors such as the type of permit applied for and the country applied for. In order to find out the processing time in your particular case, follow the steps given below:

• Visit the official IRCC website.
• Enter your specific application type and the country.

Your processing time will be displayed on the screen.