Canada is the 10th largest economy globally and is home to some of the biggest multinational companies. Being a prosperous country with a thriving culture and community, it is an attractive destination for many working professionals. If you’re interested in employment opportunities in Canada, you need to begin by obtaining a Canada work permit visa.
With so much information on the process of obtaining a work visa in Canada, it can get confusing and overwhelming. This article lists a straightforward process to obtain a work permit. Read on to know everything you need to kickstart a flourishing career in Canada.
When can You Obtain a Work Visa in Canada?
You can obtain a work visa soon after finishing your education in Canada when your student visa is still valid after graduation. You will need to apply for a Post-Graduation Work Permit Program. The prerequisites include:
- Being 18 years and above
- Holding a valid student visa
- A completed degree or diploma
- A valid passport for the duration of the work permit applied for
- Having studied in Canada for more than eight months
You can also obtain a work permit if you are a professional in another country looking to work in Canada. You can either be a temporary worker, a businessman or a professional looking to work in Canada; Canada visa consultants can help you apply for two types of permits:
- Open Work Permit: This kind of permit lets you work for any employer within the purview of eligibility. An open work permit can be requested only by PR applicants who have applied to an office in Canada. Hence, this kind of permit is valid only much later in your pursuit of a life in Canada.
- Employer-Specific Work Permit: This work permit involves working for a particular employer who has offered you employment.
How do I Know I am Eligible to Apply for a Canada Work Visa?
If you are a foreign national looking to work in Canada, you need to ensure:
- You have enough funds to support you and your family in Canada.
- You can satisfy the visa officer that you will leave Canada once your work permit expires.
- You pose no threat to security in Canada.
- You have no criminal record, and you validate the same with police confirmation.
- You produce a health certificate showing you are in good health to work.
- You do not intend to work for any firm deemed ineligible by the government, such as erotic services, escort services etc.
- You are willing to produce any necessary documentation to support your qualification to enter Canada.
- You can pay the required work permit fee.
What are the Documents Needed for a Work Visa in Canada?
Documents needed for your work visa in Canada include:
- Education and professional qualification certificates
- A valid passport with a validity that extends beyond six months from the date of your arrival in Canada
- Two passport size photographs
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What is the Procedure to Apply for an Employer-Specific Permit in Canada?
Any Canada visa consultant will tell you there are four basic steps to obtain an employee-specific work visa. They are:
- Employer Applies for Labor Market Opinion/ Labor Market Impact Assessment (LMIA)
This step is necessary only for specific companies or sectors in Canada in case of an employer-specific visa. It involves the employer making certain transition plans to fill a job done by a foreign worker permanently. Details of all foreign workers in the company need to be shared as a prerequisite for the visa. There are different requirements for low wage LMIAs and high wage LMIAs, and the right Canada visa consultants will guide you through it.
- Receiving An Offer for Employment from The Employer
Before you apply for an employee-specific work visa in Canada, you will have to obtain an offer for employment. This offer will be issued by the company you will work for and will include:
- The job title
- The job description
- Requirements for the position you will occupy
- Starting day of your job
- Specifications about the salary being paid
- The name and address of the employer
The Canadian Immigration department will check the legitimacy of the offer. Post this, Citizenship & Immigration Canada will authorise that a foreign national can work in the said role for the company.
- Applying For the Work Permit
Once the above authorisations are out of the way, you can apply for an employee-specific work visa in Canada. You will need all of the documents as listed earlier in this article. Additionally, if your employer is in Quebec, you will also require a Certificate of Acceptance from the government.
Once you submit all of these documents, your visa application is underway. You may have to attend an interview at your local visa office.
- Obtaining A Work Visa in Canada
If the paperwork is in order, you will be issued a work visa in Canada upon your arrival in the country. If you wish to continue staying in Canada and working there beyond your permit duration, you will need to apply for an extension while your permit is still valid.
We hope you are all geared up to get your visa permit process started after reading this article!
