Canada Work Visa
Home / Canada Work Visa
Canada Work Visa
Issued to eligible individuals who want to work in Canada, the Canada Work Permit Visa is allotted for a specific time period.
To apply for a work visa, applicant should have a job offer or an employment contract from a Canadian employer. The Canadian employer must obtain from the ESDC (Employment and Social Development Canada) a LMIA (Labor Market Impact Assessment) which gives them the authorization to recruit foreign skilled workers. The foreign skilled workers are provided with occupations that cannot be filled in by the citizens of Canada.
With the Canadian Work Permit Visa, business people, temporary workers, permanent workers, students and others are allowed to work in Canada. Our end-to-end overseas work solutions will help you find the right job opportunity and apply for a Canada Work Permit Visa.
Work Permit Visa Details
Under the Canada Work Permit Visa, foreign workers who are seeking job opportunities can:
- Work in Canada
- Apply for a Dependent Visa
- Travel across Canada
- Apply for a PR visa
Eligibility for Work Visa Permit
To apply for a Canada Work Permit Visa, candidates need to be eligible and meet certain requirements. The Canada Work Permit Visa is allotted to temporary workers, businessmen, foreign students graduating from any Canadian universities and all others who wish to work in Canada.
- Proof of leaving Canada once work permit expires
- Financial documents showing enough funds to support you and your family in Canada
- Have no criminal record
- Police Clearance certificate
- Proof to show you are not a danger to Canada’s security
- Medical Certificate to prove in good health
- Not work for an employer in a business where there are reasonable grounds to suspect a risk of sexual exploitation of some workers, specifically: strip clubs, massage parlors, and escort agencies
- Not work for an employer who is listed as ineligible by the Canada government
- To qualify for entry into Canada, must be ready with all and any document demanded by the officials
Documents Required to Apply for Canada Work Permit Visa
Please note:
- A visa officer will make a decision based on the documents submitted by you. If you do not provide the appropriate documents, your application may be returned, delayed or rejected.
- Any document not in English or French must be accompanied by a certified translation. Please send only copies of official documents, as no documents will be returned to you after your application has been processed.
- False statements or submission of fraudulent documents will result in refusal of your application. In addition, you will not be able to enter Canada for five (5) years.
- The submission of an application does not guarantee the issuance of a permit/visa. Do not complete your travel plans until you have received your visa.
You must submit the following documents:
- Original, valid passport. Include any canceled or expired passports, if applicable. Your passport should be valid for the duration of work in Canada, as the validity of a work permit cannot exceed the validity of the passport.
- Two photographs that meet the photographic requirements of the visa application. On the back of two photos, write your name and date of birth.
- Proof of Education including Certificates, Diplomas or Degrees including mark sheets
- Proof of Work Experience including copies of appointment letters and employment termination letters from your current and previous employers and copies of salary pay slips; bank statements. The cover letter should describe the scope and specific nature of your job, including your specific responsibilities in the workplace. They should also include contact name, address and phone number of contact-persons.
- Proof of personal funds, including income tax returns for the past two years, bank statements or books from the past three months. Property documents or other proof of income or investment.
- Copy of medical examination form IMM 1017 if you opted to undergo a medical examination before submitting your application.
- Copies of marriage certificate and children’s birth certificates for accompanying dependents.
- Family Information Form (IMM 5707) fully completed, signed and dated.
- Fee payment in an acceptable format. Include the application processing fee and any other applicable fees such as the biometric fee or the Open Work Permit Holder fee.
Dependent Work Visa
In most cases, Canada allows spouse or common-law partner to work in Canada. However, a work permit will be required for them.
There are certain cases wherein the spouse or common-law may be able to apply for an open work permit allowing them to accept a job from any employer in Canada.
However, there are cases wherein the spouse or common-law must apply for a work permit if working for a specific employer.
Family members who are eligible under Canada Work Permit Visa:
You can sponsor your spouse, partner or dependent children to become permanent residents of Canada. If you are eligible, you must be able to:
- Financially support them
- Ensure they don’t need social assistance from the government
Eligible Family Members:
You can sponsor:
- Your Spouse – can be either sex and must be legally married to you and at least 18 years old
- Common-law Partner – isn’t legally married to you, can be either sex, is at least 18 years old, and has been living with you for 12 months consecutively without any long periods apart. You will need to give proof of your common-law relationship.
- Conjugal Partner – isn’t legally married to you or is in a common-law relationship with you, can be of either sex, is at least 18 years old, has been in a relationship with you for at least 1 year, lives outside of Canada, cannot live with you in your country of residence or marry you due to legal and immigration reasons (e.g., their marital status, their sexual orientation, persecution). You will need to provide proof that you could not live or marry in your conjugal partner’s country.
- Dependent Children – They are under 22 years old; they don’t have a spouse or common-law partner.
Children who are 22 years old and over qualify as dependents if
- They are unable to financially support themselves (only due to mental or physical conditions)
- They have been dependent on their parents for financial support before the age of 22
You can also sponsor
- Your own child
- Your Grandchild
- Your Adopted Child or an orphaned family member (brother, sister, nephew, niece or grandchild)
- Your spouse or partner and their child
- Other relative (related by blood or adoption)
- Your own parents
- Your Grandparents
- Your parents and Grandparents spouses, common-law or conjugal partners in case of divorce or separation
- Your brothers, sisters and half-brother and sisters
#You can sponsor your dependant after 6 months of staying in Canada
*You cannot sponsor your in-laws or someone who is inadmissible to Canada or a relative by marriage (e.g., an aunt or uncle by marriage)
**The people who you sponsor should meet all eligibility criteria and requirements. They need to provide:
- All required forms and documents along with their application
- Any additional requirement, if asked during processing, including:
- Medical exams
- Biometrics
- Police Clearance
Who is eligible to sponsor their spouse, partner or child:
You can sponsor your spouse, partner or child if you meet the following criteria:
- You are at least 18 years old
- You are a citizen of Canada, a permanent resident of Canada, or registered in Canada as an Indian under the Canadian Indian Act
- You can prove that you are not receiving social assistance for any other reason except disability
- You can provide your sponsor with the basic needs
Who can’t sponsor their spouse, partner or child:
You are not eligible to sponsor your spouse, partner or child if:
- You are less than 18 years old
- You won’t live in Canada when the person you sponsor becomes a permanent resident of Canada
- You are not a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident of Canada, or registered under the Canadian Indian Act
- You are a temporary resident (i.e., you are visiting, studying or working in Canada on a permit or visa)
- Your permanent resident application is still in process
- You do not have enough money to support the people you want to sponsor
You may not be able to sponsor your spouse or partner, if:
- You were sponsored by a partner or spouse and became a permanent resident of Canada less than 5 years ago
- You are still financially responsible for a previous partner or spouse that you had sponsored.
You may not be eligible to sponsor your spouse, partner or child, if:
- You have already applied to sponsor and a decision on the application is currently pending or has not been made
- You are in jail, prison or a penitentiary
- You have not paid back your immigration loan, a performance bond, or court-ordered family support payments (not applicable if you live in Quebec)
- You didn’t give the financial support you agreed upon when you signed up to sponsor someone else in the past (not applicable if you live in Quebec)
- You have declared bankruptcy and are not discharged (not applicable of you live in Quebec)
- You receive social assistance for any other reason except disability
- You have been or were convicted of attempting, threatening to commit or committing a violent criminal offence, any offense against a relative or any sexual offence or misconduct inside or outside of Canada
- You cannot legally stay in Canada and are required to leave the country as you have received a removal order.
Visa Requirements for Dependent
Following needs to be included to sponsor any of your family members on the Dependent Visa for Canada
- Evidence of finances and cash flow for the last 12 months to prove financial stability
- If sponsoring a child
- He or She must be under 22 years of age
- Should be able to show financial dependence on you
- If your child is not able to earn their own money for some reason, then you can sponsor your child after providing enough proof
- Your child is either your biological child or adopted child
- Birth certificate and/or adoption certificate to prove relationship with the child
- Medical Test to check for any medical conditions that could be contagious
- Police clearance certificate
Documents Required of Dependents
- A valid and original passport with a validity of more than 6 months from the date of planned arrival to Canada.
- 4 recent passport-sized photographs
- Updated resume/CV
- Birth Certificate
- Savings Bank account Statement
- Fixed Deposits (if any)
- Marriage Certificate (if applicable) and any other proof of relationship
- Complete Application
How We Can Help
Our consultants at Vision World Travels, have the knowledge and experience to help you through the process of your visa application. Some of our services include:
- Complete Support for your Visa Application
- Assistance in collecting all supporting documentation
- Preparation for the Visa interview
- Follow-ups and updates with and from the Consulate
- Job search assistance, if required
Check Canada Work Eligibility*
FAQs
An English Language Test like IELTS will be an added advantage for applying for a Work Permit Visa for Canada.
Processing times for work permit applications depends on the type of application being submitted. Information on processing times is available online for applications submitted inside and outside of Canada. This information is updated frequently.
In most cases, you will need to have 1 or more of the following documents:
- If your job needs an LMIA, an LMIA number from your employer
- proof that your employer has submitted an offer of employment through the Employer Portal
- An employment letter or contract
- Proof that you are qualified, certified and accredited to work in the job
This depends on the immigration status of your spouse. If your spouse is a permanent resident of Canada, they can work in Canada. However, if your spouse is on a temporary resident visa in Canada, they may have to apply for a work permit.
There is no set amount of time you can work in Canada as a temporary worker. The length of time depends on:
- The job offer provided by the employer
- Length of time listed on your LMIA
- Validity of your passport
If you will be working in Quebec, you may need a Certificat d’acceptation du Québec (CAQ). The certificate will show you the length of your employment in Quebec.
There are certain conditions that are mentioned on your work permit.
These may include:
- The type of work you can do
- The employer you can work for
- Where you can work
- How long you can work
Yes. If your current work permit is still valid, you can apply for an extension from inside Canada.
To extend your work permit, you need to apply for an extension at least 30 days before your current work permit expires.
Due to COVID restrictions most people cannot apply for a work permit or give their biometrics at a Canadian port of entry.
You can apply at the port of entry, if you meet the following conditions:
- You are entering Canada from the United States
- You have a valid job offer
- You meet all the requirements to apply at the port of entry
Yes. Due the COVID-19 restrictions, Canada is temporarily allowing visitors to apply online for a work permit from inside Canada.
Your children can study in Canada; however, you must apply for their study permit at the same time as your own. If your children are planning to join you at a later date, they must apply for their study permit before coming to Canada.
To work in Canada, your spouse, common-law or dependent children must apply for their own work permits. Each individual must meet all the requirements, including LMIA requirements to get a work permit. They can however apply for their work permits from within Canada.
If you are coming to Canada for a short period of time: Your spouse, common-law and dependent children can come with you to Canada or visit you in Canada. They:
- need to meet all the requirements and prerequisites to get a temporary resident visa to Canada
- Can prove they have no criminal record
- Can convince an immigration officer their stay in Canada is only temporary
- If a candidate is from a country or region where its citizens require a visa to enter Canada, meet all conditions required for getting a temporary resident visa
If you are moving to Canada on a permanent basis: Your spouse, common-law and dependent children can come to Canada if:
- You and your family members meet all the eligibility requirements
- Your children qualify as your dependents
- Your family members are not inadmissible to Canada
