Canada Work Permit Application Process

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It is always important that you know the necessary steps, techniques, procedures, to follow when you are applying for your Canada work permit. A canada work permit is necessary for every foreign worker to possess if they want to work in the country. This document (work permit) is to regulate and have a record of the labour workforce in the country. The Canada government goals is to make sure that every workers whether a citizen or not enjoys a good working condition, and get all his entitlement from his/her employer or the government of Canada,

What is Canada’s work permit?

A canada work permit is a document issued by the Immigration Refugee Citizenship Canada (IRCC) that grants a foreign worker the liberty to work in the country. This means that the foreign worker can work in Canada within the duration applied on the work permit. The IRCC agency’s responsibilities and roles are not only to issue work permits only but also to help the students settle in the country. There are two types of work permit in Canada depending on the type of employer, the employee is working with, including:

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  • Employer-specific work permit: This type of work permit grants the employer to work under a specified employer at the allocated regions, and other conditions. The requirements for this type of work permit include: a valid job offer, a positive LMIA, particular roles and responsibilities, salaries are specialised.
  • Open work permit: This is a special type of work permit that allows the foreign worker to work in Canada for any type of employer like those workers in adult entertainment. All work permits are issued by the IRCC agency to maintain control and law orderliness. The requirements of this work permit include: International students, spouses of skilled workers, International students and those aspiring for permanent residency.
  • Post-Graduate work permit: This is specially for international students who have been studying in any Canadian higher institution and have completed their study in the institution. A post-graduate work permit is granted to international students to allow them to begin their career in the country and start developing themselves.  

What are the Eligibility criteria and requirements of a Canada work permit?

To be granted a work permit in Canada, there are criteria laid out by the IRCC for applicants to fulfil before they are being considered for a work permit in Canada, these include:

1. A valid Job offer:

To process a work permit, you will need a valid job offer from a Canadian citizen who has obtained a positive LMIA (Labour market impact assessment) from the Canada immigration board. This LMIA document allows the employer to employ a foreign worker to work in the country.

2. Identification of worker

You will need some personal documents to prove your identity and qualifications. These documents include; a valid ID passport, birth certificate, etc. You should also note that your passport expiration date must be at least 6 months early before application.

3. Clear criminal record

It is necessary to present a police clearance certificate which will show  that you are clear of any crimes or judicial issues that could tamper your image or personality internationally. This is to make sure that the employer hires a trustworthy and honest person.

4. Taking a Medical examination

Majorly, this might not be needed in most situations but a medical examination result  for your overall health will be requested before they allow entrance into Canada.

5. Financial Capability

It is a must that you show your financial capability to support yourself and be able to cater  for your needs and family’s when you arrive in Canada.

6. Intent To Leave Canada

Most foreign workers do not intend to leave the country after their visa expiration. They will neither extend their stay nor take an ILR (Indefinite leave to remain).You must show a decision to leave after your visa has expired to avoid unnecessary chasing and blocking your extension.

Canada work Permit – The Application Process

Not so many people know the way out of a puzzle but when you do, you can easily identify the steps into successfully getting your work permit, which include:

  1. Getting a Job from a Canadian Employer: This is one of the most important criteria every applicant must possess before they begin their application. A job offer from a Canada employer usually meets all the requirements requested by the government since all  Canada employers must have received a positive LMIA  to hire a foreign worker.
  1. Know the type of work permit: The job offer you received from a Canada employer will determine the type of work permit you will be granted. As explained earlier, an employer-specific work permit is granted to foreign workers who will be working under a particular employer while an open work permit is given to employees who can work under any employer.
  2. Open and Submitting an Application: When all criteria and requirements are met, now you must register online via their portal or online through paper application. The online application is fast and reliable. You can easily track the status of your application online too. Below are the things you will need for your application:
  • A valid job offer
  • A valid ID passport
  • AN LMIA (Labour Market Impact Assessment)
  • Proof of spouse relationship/family bond like marriage certificate, birth certificate, etc.
  • Medical examination reports and police clearance.
  1. Processing time: On average, a visa processing time does not take too much but rather takes an average of 2-4 weeks for the whole process. This time starts counting from the onset of application till the final approval. The processing time depends on the country of residence and the type of application.

Hints for a successful work Permit Application

To increase your chance of success in your application, these are the tips for you to have a successful work permit application:

  1. Possession of all documents: Some crucial documents are needed to process your application which will be used to verify your identity and qualification for your work permit. These documents are ID passport, birth and marriage certificate, a valid job offer, etc.
  2. Apply for your work permit early: It is also recommended that you apply for your work permit early to begin your application process. Early application increases your chances of success in your application.
  3. Review and Check updates: It is very much required that you regularly check for updates from the immigration portal and your personal email as replying to feedback shows your interest and instils confidence of trust into the immigration board.
  4. Understanding your roles and responsibilities: You understanding your roles and responsibilities will increase your chance of success in your application.

Conclusion

Canada is one of the developed countries in the world with modern infrastructures and facilities. In such a country who has a well developed system in place that manages the total activities in the country including the labour force, economy and education. The Canada work permit application process is not as difficult as it appears. If you follow the basic steps, the application process will go smoothly. It does not matter the type of work permit you are looking forward to getting, the process still goes the sane route.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Can I apply for a work permit when I do not have a job offer yet?

Yes,  you can if you fall into these categories: spouses of skilled workers or people aspiring for a permanent residency or those who apply for an open work permit.

2. How much longer does a work permit take to be processed?

A work permit does take an average time of 2-4 weeks depending on whether you are applying for a visa online or paper application.

3. How long is a Canada work permit valid for?

Canada work permits are usually for a period of two years. Even though the validation for any type of work permits varies and cannot always be the same. And you may apply for extension when your work permit expires.

4. Can I easily apply for a permanent residency after the approval of a work permit?

 Yes, you can apply for a permanent residency after your work permit has been approved. Though this depends on the immigration you applied for to gain permanent residency. Examples of programmes to consider for permanent residency include: the Quebec skilled worker program, federal skilled trades program, federal skilled worker program, Canada experience program, etc.

 5. How much do I need to apply for a Canada work permit?

The cost fee for a Canadian work permit for a foreigner is 155 Canadian dollars. Other fees may be added later on during registration like biometric services.

 6. Who can issue a work visa in Canada?

All Canada visas are issued by the Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). When hiring a foreign worker, a  Canadian employer seeks for a positive LMIA from the ESDC. Afterwards, the employer can process his potential employee work visa from IRCC.   

7. Who will pay for my work permit?

For a visa sponsorship job, the employer may pay for the cost of the work permit. For most common cases, the employer and the workers will have to pay for the work permit fees.

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