If having an open work permit is what you desire the most, then it can be done easily and quickly. A Canada open work permit does not only allow you to work in the country only but also gives you the freedom to choose whoever you want to work with/under. In this article, we will delve more into the topic and give you all the information you need to get a Canada work permit.
What’s a Canada work permit?
A Canada work permit is a paper document issued by the Canadian government via the immigration agency (Immigration Refugees Citizenship Canada -IRCC) which allows the foreign workers to work in the country for a particular period. The types of Canada work permit are:
- Open work permit: A Canada open work is the type of work permit that allows the foreign nationals to work in the country without being under any specific employer. If you want to apply for an open work permit in Canada, you must meet up with some requirements and eligibility criteria which will be explained below in this article. And this work permit gives a lot of flexibility and freedom to work across various sectors in the country.
- Employer-specific work permit: A Canada employer-specific work permit is a type of work permit that permits the foreign worker to work in the country only for a specific employer in a specific industry. This kind of arrangement tied down the employee to work for only one employer in the country.
Both types of work permit the foreign worker to work in the country but the difference is the flexibility that one offers and the other does not offer. The benefits of an open work permit is not limited while that of Canada employer-specific work permit is limited. And the conditions of the work permits are different, while an open work permit allows the worker to choose any employer and the field he/she wants to work in, whereas the condition is viceversa with employer-specific work permit.
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Eligibility Criteria and Requirements for a Canada open work permit
When applying for a work permit in Canada, you must consider many factors like location, employment status, and the LMIA (Labour market impact assessment) status. The general requirements are:
- Intention to leave: You must show a sincere intention to leave the country after your work permit expires.
- Financial capability: You must show that you are capable of sponsoring your needs and your family members during your time in Canada.
- Law abiding: You must show that you are ready to follow all the rules and regulations especially the labour laws.
- Criminal record: You must have no criminal record either locally from your home country or Internationally. This is to ensure that you are not a security threat to national security.
- Good health: You must be in good health and it is better if you have a medical exam result.
Eligibility requirements for those applying from outside Canada
You can apply anytime for your work permit before you enter the country but you must pass the below requirements
- Visa requirements: It is required that you have applied or are ready to apply for a work visa which will allow you to enter the country for work purposes only.
- Language requirements: You must be able to speak, write and understand either of the two Canada official languages (i.e French or English). It is recommended that you have language test results like TEF, IELTS to show that you are proficient.
- Valid Job offer: You must have a valid job offer from a Canada employer.
- Opportunities in the Canadian Provincial Nominee Program
Eligibility requirements for those applying inside Canada
If you are applying for a work permit inside Canada, then you need to follow the below requirements:
- If you are an International student; you must possess a valid study permit.
- If you have a spouse, parents, or any close family relatives in Canada, they must be holders of work or study permit.
- If you just graduated from any Canadian institution, you must have a valid study permit and you will be eligible for a post-graduation work permit.
- If you are also a holder of a temporary resident visa valid for more than 6 months, you are also eligible too.
- If you just applied for a permanent residency inside the country, you are also eligible for a work permit.
- Another eligibility to check is if you are a trader or business owner or company transfer employee.
List of required Documents
- A valid ID passport
- Payment receipt
- Language test result
- Medical exam result
- Police clearance report
- Job acceptance letter
- Family information form
- Valid study permit
- Other required documents will be in your document checklist.
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How to apply for an Open work permit in Canada
When you are applying for a Canada open work permit, below are the steps to follow:
STEP 1: DETERMINE YOUR ELIGIBILITY
- Check your eligibility criteria and ensure that you meet up with the criteria and requirements i.e having a work visa, a spouse or family relative who stays in Canada with a valid work permit or study permit, etc.
STEP 2: GATHER THE REQUIRED DOCUMENTS
- During your application, you will need to get the required documents which will be submitted to review your application.
- Some of these documents are: ID valid passport, education credentials, valid study permit, police clearance report, language test result, etc.
STEP 3: CREATE AN ACCOUNT
- You will need to create an account on the IRCC website (Immigration Refugees Citizenship Canada) to submit your application.
- Visit the website here to create your account. (
STEP 4: SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION
- Download your application form, fill out the form, upload all the required documents and submit your form online.
- You can also choose to apply online through the visa application center in your home country.
STEP 5: BIOMETRIC VERIFICATION
- It will be required to provide your biometric information i.e your fingerprints and passport photo.
STEP 6: PAY THE FEES
- It will be required to pay the application fee and biometric fee to process your application.
STEP 7: THE PROCESSING TIMES
- The processing times for an open work permit in Canada, may take 2 weeks to several months. Factors that may affect long processing times may be the number of applications submitted, country of residence, etc.
STEP 8: RECEIVE YOUR WORK PERMIT
- If your application is approved, you will receive a confirmation message confirming you to receive your work permit.
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Key Takeaways For you
- Canada work permits are either an open or employer-specific work permit; they allow foreign nationals to work in the country for a particular period.
- Canada work permits can lead to permanent residency for foreign workers if they apply to any Canada immigration programs like express entry, family sponsorship, provincial nominee program, etc.
- Canada Open work permits offer freedom of choice to employees which other types of work permit will not offer.
- You can apply for a work permit from anywhere in the world but the requirements and criteria will be different. There are various forms of applications for a work permit which include: online application, paper application or you can visit any visa application center near you.
Conclusion
Be ready to kickstart your journey in Canada. Canada is one of the most developed countries in the world with a lot of opportunities and benefits for foreign nationals who came to work in the country. Foreign nationals with a Canada open work permit get to enjoy more freedom and flexibility than others with other types of work permit. An open work permit will give you the chance to apply for any type of jobs you desire, flexibility in occupation and location of the job, and also the ability to work in different sectors of the economy. You can begin your application from anywhere in the world after you have confirmed that you are eligible to apply for the work permit. And the process of application is not a long tedious one that can not be handled by anyone. Begin your application now and step into the light.
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT CANADA OPEN WORK PERMIT
1. Do I need a job offer to apply for an open work permit?
Yes, you don’t need a job offer to apply for an open work permit but for an employer-specific work permit, you will need a valid job offer from a Canadian employer.
2. Can I apply for permanent residency while I am on a work permit?
Yes, you can apply for permanent residency while you are still working using a work permit in Canada. Examples of Canada immigration programmes that can earn you a permanent residency are: the express entry programs, provincial nominee program, family sponsorship program.
3. Can I extend my work permit after expiration in Canada?
Yes, you can apply for an extension of your work permit in Canada. But it is recommended that you apply for your work permit at least 6 months before expiration.
4. Is a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) required for an open work permit?
No, it is not always required but an employer-specific work permit may require your Canada employer to take an LMIA test.