Canadian work permits allow foreign nationals to work and live in Canada temporarily – while also improving their eligibility for economic permanent residence programs by enabling newcomers to gain Canadian work experience. Here are the frequently asked questions regarding Canadian Work Permits. 

What Kind Of Work Permits Are There? 

Canadian work permits can broadly be broken down into two categories: 

  • Open work permits 
  • Employer-specific/ closed work permits 

Open Work Permits enable holders to work anywhere in Canada for most employers in most industries. 

On the other hand, employer-specific work permits enable holders to work for a specific employer and specify the location and duration of work as well. In addition, these work permits are often called Labor Market Impact Assessment-based work permits, as they often need an LMIA in support of the work permit application. LMIAs are the Canadian government’s method of assessing what the impact of recruiting a foreign worker will be on the Canadian labor market.

In order to successfully support a work permit application, an LMIA must return either a positive or neutral result. 

How Long Will It Take To Process A Work Permit Application? 

Processing times for work permits can vary significantly depending upon the program, the type of work applied for, whether an applicant is inside or outside Canada, and several other factors.

In order to deal with these multiple influences, IRCC has developed a regularly updated processing times tool, which also accounts for the department’s present capacity and backlog of applications. 

Can Visitors In Canada Apply For A Work Permit? 

Another one of the frequently asked questions regarding Canadian Work Permits is this.

Well, under usual circumstances, visitors in Canada cannot apply for work permits while inside Canada. 

However, due to temporary policy changes made during the pandemic, some visitors in Canada can now apply for employer-specific work permits. 

In order to be eligible, applicants must: 

  • Be physically present in Canada at the time of applying.
  • Stay in Canada while IRCC processes the application. If an applicant leaves while their application is being processed, they will not be eligible under this public policy. 
  • Apply for employer-specific work permits between August 24, 2020, and February 18, 2025.
  • Be a visitor with valid status at the time they apply for a work permit. 
  • Restore their visitor status before they apply for a work permit. 

Note: Certain professions are ineligible under this public policy. 

CSQ holders are also eligible for this public policy. This is a document issued by the province’s immigration authority that declares the holder has been selected to settle in Quebec.  

Can Applicants Appeal A Decision On Their Work Permit Application? 

Canada’s Immigration and Refugee Protection Act is the federal parliamentary act that dictates the nation’s immigration goals and guidelines. It does not require a right of appeal for decisions on temporary resident applications. 

IRCC instead encourages applicants to reapply, stating that, if possible, a different immigration officer will review the new application. 

If an applicant believes that the processing of their application did not follow procedural standards, they might instead pursue a judicial review. This is a legal procedure wherein the Federal Court of Canada will review actions taken by the processing officer. Under the judicial review process, a lawyer in Canada would represent the application. 

How Can A Lost, Stolen, or Destroyed Work Permit Be Replaced? 

Another one of the most frequently asked questions regarding Canadian work permits is how to replace them. 

Work permit holders who have lost or no longer have possession of their physical work permit must apply to replace the document. 

In addition to filling out an application, holders will also need to pay a fee to have their work permit re-printed. 

Can I Apply For A Work Permit When I Arrive In Canada?  

IRCC encourages all newcomers to apply for their work permit before they arrive in Canada if they need one. 

However, some individuals might be eligible to apply for their work permits at a Canadian port of entry. In order to be eligible to apply at a port of entry, applicants should: 

  • Be from a visa-exempt nation
  • Be eligible for an eTA, i.e., electronic travel authorization or travel to Canada without a visitor visa
  • Meet all other requirements, depending on the type of work permit they are applying for

Newcomers cannot apply for a work permit at a port of entry if they: 

  • Require a visitor visa to come to Canada 
  • Are you applying for a Post-Graduation Work Permit 
  • Are you a citizen of an eligible visa-required country 
  • Are an International Experience Canada applicant who is not a citizen or permanent resident of the United States 
  • Are you applying under the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program 

Newcomers applying at a Canadian port of entry might also require a medical exam in support of their application. 

If you seek information on how to begin your Canada immigration application process, you can talk to our NavaImmigration experts at 1800-918-8490, or you can drop us an email at [email protected].