How to Obtain a Canadian Work Visa
If you’re considering immigrating for work, Canada is among the best countries globally to consider. Besides excellent job opportunities, Canada offers benefits like superior working conditions, competitive salaries, and job security.
Canada is also an ideal place to settle due to its welcoming and friendly residents.
To address labor shortages, Canada aims to welcome approximately 1.23 million immigrants. If you’re a skilled professional with the right qualifications, Canada has opportunities for you.
An exciting aspect of working in Canada is that it can be a pathway to permanent residency.
In this guide, we’ll explore various Canadian work visas available and guide you on how to apply for them. We’ll help you determine the best work visa for your needs, so read on attentively.
Canadian Work Visas
In Canada, there are two main types of work visas, and the one you apply for will depend on the nature of the job you’re seeking. These are:
- Open Work Visa
- Employer-Specific Work Visa
Let’s discuss each briefly and guide you on how to apply for the one that best suits your needs.
- The Open Work Visa
This visa allows you to work for any employer in Canada without being tied to a specific job position. With this visa, you do not need a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA), which is a document proving that a Canadian employer hired you to fill a job because no Canadian citizens or permanent residents are available for the position. This document is issued by Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC).
Under the Open Work Permit, you can apply for programs such as the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) and the Working Holiday Visa.
The Post-Graduation Work Permit
This program is designed for international students who wish to work and study in Canada. If you have graduated from a designated learning institution, you can apply for a work permit under the Post-Graduation Work Permit program, which allows you to move to Canada to work and study.
The duration of your work permit depends on the length of your study program, providing valuable Canadian work experience that can be beneficial when applying for permanent residency.
Under an open work permit, you can work for any employer in Canada. Some of the requirements for this program include:
- Being at least 18 years old
- Completing a study program at a designated institution
- Graduating from a public or private post-secondary school in any Canadian province (university, college, or technical school)
- Studying in Canada as a full-time student for at least 8 months
- Submitting your work permit application within 90 days of your graduation
- Having a valid study permit when applying for the work permit
Working Holiday Visa
This is another type of work visa/permit that allows you to work in Canada while exploring the country. The visa is valid for 12 to 24 months, and the duration of your stay in Canada will depend on your home country.
If you are a citizen of one of the 35 countries that have a youth mobility agreement with Canada, you can apply for this visa.
- Here’s how you can apply for this visa if you are eligible:
Step 1: Complete a questionnaire known as “Come to Canada,” which includes questions about student status, country of permanent residence, country of origin, and citizenship.
Step 2: If successful, create an IEC profile within 60 days or less. You will need to fill in details such as your date of birth, full name, and place of birth.
Step 3: Await a random draw where applicants will be selected to receive an invitation. If you are among the selected applicants, you must respond to the invitation within 10 days of receiving it.
Step 4: Upon accepting the invitation, you will need to submit a work permit application and pay a fee within 20 days or less.
- Employer-Specific Work Visa
This type of work visa limits you to working for a specific employer in Canada and in a particular job role. To apply for this visa, you will need an LMIA (Labour Market Impact Assessment) from the employer you intend to work for.
You can apply for an employer-specific work visa under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP).
- Temporary Foreign Worker Program
This program allows employers in Canada to hire foreign workers to fill temporary labor shortages when no Canadian citizen or permanent resident is available for the job.
If you are a foreign skilled worker, you can apply for a work visa in Canada through this program and obtain an employer-specific permit.
There are three streams under this program:
1. Agricultural stream
2. Global Talent stream
3. Caregiver stream
- The Agricultural Stream
To qualify for this program, you must be a skilled agricultural worker. Since agriculture is a significant sector in the country, you can potentially immigrate to Canada under this stream.
- The Global Talent Stream
This program was established to help Canadian employers hire global talent to support their growth and innovation. To qualify, your skill must be listed on the Global Talent Stream (GTS) list, which enables you to apply for a work visa to work in Canada. Examples of eligible occupations include graphic design, software development, and more.
- The Caregiver Program
This program is designed for individuals who can provide care for elderly individuals, children, and those with medical needs or disabilities requiring care and assistance. Canadian families can hire foreign nationals under this program to work as caregivers, and in some cases, these immigrants may live with their employers.
- Top In-demand Occupations in canada
As mentioned earlier, Canada offers numerous job opportunities for those looking to work and immigrate there. To facilitate your journey, we have identified the current top in-demand occupations in Canada:
- Web Developer
- Pharmacist
- Registered Nurse
- Secretary
- Accountant
- Welder
- Truck Driver
- Merchandiser
- Administrative Assistant
- General Laborer