Canada Work Visa

Canada is a country in North America with a high and well-developed economy and the job market. It is rated as one of the leading countries in the world. It offers a plethora of job opportunities in various exciting fields. The cost of living in Canada is quite affordable as compared to other developed states.

Every year Canada welcomes millions of immigrants. Working in Canada will be a life-changing experience with a lot of advantages and opportunities for growth. If you want a prosperous personal and professional life, Canada is the right place for you.

It is a well-developed country with numerous employment opportunities. If you want to work in Canada, you need to apply for a Canada Work Visa and a Canadian Work Permit.

What is Canada Work Visa?

Canada Work Visa (Canada Temporary Work Visa) is a temporary resident visa and a work permit. A temporary resident visa allows you to remain in Canada for up to 6 months, while a work permit will enable you to work in Canada. You need to apply for a work permit when you apply for a work visa to travel to Canada for employment purposes.

After the expiry of the Canadia Work Visa, you need to apply for the visa renewal or return to your home country.

Before applying for a work visa, you must have a job offer from the Canadian company. After getting a job, the company or employer in Canada must apply for a Labor Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) from Canada's Government. An LMIA is an authorization for the company to hire foreign temporary workers. Once the Canadian Government issues the Labor Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) to the company that hired you, you can then apply for the Temporary Work Visa.

Note that: You are not allowed to live and work in Canada after the expiry of your visa; otherwise, you will put yourself at high risk. In other words, you will not be able to obtain a Canada visa again.

Eligibility criteria for a Canadian Work Visa

The eligibility criteria for a Canadian Work Visa is as follow:

1. Evidence that shows you will leave Canada when your work permit gets expire.

2. Respect the conditions of your work permit (Whether it will allow you to work for any employer or a specific employer).

3. Proof that shows you will not work for an employer who is involved in a work type that is banned.

Types of Canada Work Visas (Canada Temporary Work Visa)

You can obtain the following four types of work permits or work visas.

1. Temporary Foreign Workers Program

It is the standard temporary worker visa. Usually, it is issued to those international workers who already have a job offer from a Canadian company. The company already has an LMIA (Labor Market Impact Assessment) from the Canadian Government.

2. Open Work Permit

It is given to international workers who want to travel to Canada with a job offer, but this type of permit allows them to switch employers. It is different from the other types of work permits because it is not employer-specific. The other work permits are employers specific.

3. Working Holiday Visa

It is granted to young people who want to work in Canada. In this type of permit, applicants will submit their applications and wait to be randomly selected to apply for the work permit because it is a random selection visa.

4. Post Graduate Work Permit

It is granted to students who have completed a degree program from a Canadian educational institution and want to remain in Canada.

Requirements for a Canadian Work Visa

You must have the following documents to obtain a Canadia Temporary Work Visa.

1. Valid passport

2. Two passport size photos 

3. Visa Application Center (VAC) Consent Form

4. Completed application for the Work Permit (IMM 1295)

5. Completed Temporary Resident Visa application form 

6. Family Information form (IMM 5645)

7. Proof of current immigration status 

8. Marriage certificate (if applicable)

9. Children's birth certificates (if applicable)

10. Police record certificates

11. Resume or CV

12. Education diplomas and certificates

13. A valid job offer from your employer.

14. The LMIA document

15. The authorities might ask for an interview to determine whether you have submitted the right form or not.

16. You need a Certificate d'acceptation du Quebec (If you will be working in Quebec)

i. Complete the medical examination

ii. Proof that shows enough financial means

iii. Proof of accommodation in Canada

Note that: All the documents must be translated and verified in either English or French.

Who does not need a Canadian Work Permit?

If you are from any of the following categories, you may not need a Canada work permit.

• Foreign Government Workers
• Judges, referees, or similar workers
• Media crews and news reporters
• Foreign Government Representatives or their family members
• Evaluators and examiners
• Clergy
• Military personnel
• Business visitors
• Performing artists
• Civil aviation inspectors
• Athletes and their team members
• Aviation accident inspectors
• Emergency service providers
• Expert witnesses and investigators
• Public speakers and convention organizers
• Health care students
• Students who are working on campus
• Researchers who need to work in Canada for 120 days

Processing time for the Canada Work Visa

The processing time for a work visa for Canada varies from country to country, but the work permit processing time is between 3 to 27 weeks.

Cost of the Canada Work Visa

The cost of the work permit is about CAD$155. Each time you apply for an extension, you need to pay this fee again. For an Open Work Permit, the cost will be CAD$100.