A Complete Guide to Canada Work Permit Visa Process
Certainly! Here’s a step-by-step guide to the Canada Work Permit Visa process:
- Be eligible to work in Canada: To be eligible to work in Canada, you must satisfy one or more conditions mentioned below:
- Obtain a job offer from a Canadian employer.
- Be a part of an international exchange program.
- Be a professional athlete or coach.
- Be a performing artist.
- Be a medical resident or fellow.
- Be a news reporter or film and media crew member.
- Be a public speaker.
- Be a religious worker.
- Be a foreign academic.
- Be a student.
- Be a family member of someone who is authorized to work or study in Canada.
- Be a refugee or refugee claimant.
- Be a person who has been allowed to stay in Canada on humanitarian grounds.
- Be a person who has been allowed to stay in Canada on compassionate grounds.
- Gather Documents: You will need to gather the following documents:
- A valid passport or travel document.
- A job offer letter from a Canadian employer.
- A Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) from Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) (if required).
- A completed application form.
- Two passport-sized photographs.
- Proof of payment of the processing fee.
- Start Your Canadian Work Permit Application Online: You can start your Canadian Work Permit application online by visiting the official website of the Government of Canada.
- Paying Application Fees: You will need to pay the application fee for your Canadian Work Permit application. The fee is CAD 155.
- Complete Your Biometrics: You will need to complete your biometrics as part of your Canadian Work Permit application. You will need to visit a biometrics collection service point to provide your fingerprints and photograph.
- Medical Examination: You may need to undergo a medical examination as part of your Canadian Work Permit application. You will be informed if you need to undergo a medical examination.
- Move to Canada: Once your Canadian Work Permit application is approved, you can move to Canada and start working.
How long can I stay in Canada with a work permit?
The length of time you can work in Canada with a work permit depends on several factors, such as the job offer from your employer, the length of time listed on your Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA), if your employer needed to get one to hire you, and how long your passport is valid for.
Work permits are usually valid for 1-2 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.
Generally, a Canadian visa officer will not issue a work permit that is valid for longer than the validity of the worker’s passport. Work permits issued under section R206, with exemption code S61 or S62, have an initial validity of 24 months and renewals may be issued for 1-year periods. You can stay in Canada until a decision is made on your new work permit application.
What is the processing time for a Canadian Work Permit?
The processing time for a Canadian Work Permit varies depending on your country of origin and the type of application submitted. On average, Canadian work permits are typically processed between 1-9 months. The processing time starts the day that the IRCC receives your complete application and ends when they make a decision. Here are some examples of processing times for work permits requested from different locations:
- Work permits requested from outside of Canada typically take 60 days to process.
- International Experience Canada (IEC) work permits, which take 56 days.
- Work permits from inside of Canada typically take 145 days for online and 15 days for paper to process.
- In Canada, work permit extensions might take up to 120 days to process.
Can I apply for a Canadian Work Permit without a job offer?
Yes, you can apply for a Canadian Work Permit without a job offer. Some options to work in Canada without a job offer are:
- International Experience Canada (IEC) program: This program offers young adults from participating countries the opportunity to work and travel in Canada for up to 24 months.
- Open work permits: These permits allow foreign nationals to work for any employer in Canada, without needing a job offer or a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA).
- Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP): These programs allow provinces and territories to nominate foreign workers who have a job offer or meet the local labour market needs.
To apply for a work permit in Canada without a job offer, you will need a valid passport, proof of funds, and proof of Canadian education or an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA). The processing time for a Canadian Work Permit varies depending on your country of origin and the type of application submitted. On average, Canadian work permits are typically processed between 1-9 months. The processing time starts the day that the IRCC receives your complete application and ends when they make a decision.
Do I need to provide proof of funds for a Canadian work permit?
Yes, you need to provide proof of funds for a Canadian work permit. You must show that you have enough money to support yourself and your family during your stay in Canada.
Documents which can serve as evidence of sufficient funds include bank statements, pay stubs, and proof of employment such as an offer of employment letter. The amount of money you need to support your family is based on the size of your family.
To calculate the size of your family, include yourself, your spouse or common-law partner, your dependent children, and your spouse or common-law partner’s dependent children.
You must include your spouse or common-law partner and dependent children, even if they’re Canadian citizens or permanent residents not coming to Canada with you. The minimum amount of funds required to immigrate to Canada as of April 25, 2023, is shown in the table below:
| Number of family members | Funds required (in Canadian dollars) |
|---|---|
| 1 | $13,757 |
| 2 | $17,127 |
| 3 | $21,055 |
| 4 | $25,564 |
| 5 | $28,994 |
| 6 | $32,700 |
| 7 | $36,407 |
| More than 7 | For each additional family member: $3,706 |
Your funds must be available to you both when you apply and when you arrive in Canada. You must prove to the Canadian government that you can legally access the money when you arrive. For example, you can’t use equity on real property as proof of settlement funds, and you can’t borrow this money from another person. You must be able to use this money to pay for your family’s costs of living, even if they aren’t coming with you.
