Canadian work permits represent a category of temporary resident permits issued to foreign nationals seeking authorization to work in Canada. Work permits are widely accessible for foreign nationals who want to work in Canada temporarily. The Canadian government recognizes the importance of temporary foreign workers to the nation’s economy and has created various programs to help temporary foreign workers come to Canada and find gainful employment.
Certain Canada work permit programs are employer-specific while others provide open work permits to foreign nationals. The most notable difference between them is that employer-specific work permits (also referred to as closed work permits) permit foreign nationals to work only for the employer specified on the work permit.
This indicates that employer-specific work permit holders are not permitted to work for any employer that has not been identified on their work permit. In contrast, open work permits enable foreign nationals to work for any employers unless specifically restricted by their work permit conditions.
The most widely utilized open work permit program is Post-Graduate Work Permits. Post-Graduate Work Permits are issued to graduates of eligible Canadian college and university programs for periods of up to three years.
Graduates of eligible Canadian college and university programs can secure open work permits following graduation and legally work and gain Canadian work experience provided they meet the other requirements of the Post-Graduate Work Permits and Immigration and Refugees Protection Act (IRPA).
Another program offering open work permits in Canada is the International Experience Canada (IEC) program. This program caters to young adults from specific countries who wish to live and work in Canada for up to two years. The program features three sub-categories, each with distinct eligibility requirements: Working Holiday, Young Professional, and International Co-op.
Employer-specific work permits comprise two types: LMIA work permits and LMIA exempt work permits. LMIA applications are handled by the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) of Service Canada. The TFWP enables Canadian employers to hire foreign workers for positions that Canadians are unable to fill. This program maintains strict requirements to ensure that foreign workers are treated equitably and that they do not displace Canadian citizens or permanent residents from employment.
In general terms, LMIA exempt work permits derive from international trade agreements such as GATS, NAFTA, CUSMA, Canada-Colombia Free Trade Agreement, etc. Such Canadian work permits are accessible to certain professionals, trade workers, high executive positions, or employees possessing specialized knowledge. For professional assistance with your work permit application, contact our qualified immigration legal team who can assist with both Labour Market Impact Assessments and intra-company transfers.