Canada · Work
Work permit
Work permit is issued by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. VisaAI tracks 14 official requirements for it, each traced to the government page that states it.
Last verified against the official source on .
VisaAI is not a government body and does not issue visas. It cannot decide, predict or guarantee the outcome of an application, and this page is not legal or immigration advice.
Requirements change. Confirm every item on Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s own page before you apply.
Each requirement below is written in plain English by VisaAI. The indented text beneath it is quoted from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s own page, so you can check what we say against what they say. Where a quotation shows “ ... ”, text has been left out.
Conditions you must meet
- Most foreign nationals need a work permit to work in CanadaIRCC states you may be eligible for an employer-specific or an open work permit.
Most foreign nationals need a work permit to work in Canada. You may be eligible for an employer-specific or an open work permit.
- An employer-specific work permit requires a job offer; an open work permit does notIRCC publishes this as the defining difference between the two permit types.
Types of work permits Employer-specific work permit Job offer required Open work permit Job offer not required
- A work permit cannot be issued for longer than your passport is validStated on the IMM 1295 instructions where you enter the expected start and end dates of your work in Canada. IRCC also states those dates should match the LMIA, the offer of employment, or the duration allowed in the work permit category for an open work permit.
Note: A work permit cannot be issued for a duration that is longer than the validity of your passport.
Official forms
- Application for a Work Permit Made Outside of Canada (IMM 1295)IRCC states each person who needs a work permit must fill out this form. It is titled for applications made outside Canada; the inside-Canada and port-of-entry routes were not extracted.
Application for Work Permit Made Outside of Canada (IMM 1295) Who must fill out this application form? Each person who needs a work permit must fill out this form.
Official form - Statutory Declaration of Common-Law Union (IMM 5409)Required by the IMM 1295 instructions where the applicant is in a common-law union.
If you are in a common-law union, you must also fill out the Statutory Declaration of Common-law Union [IMM 5409] (opens in a new tab) form and include it with your application.
- Use of a Representative (IMM 5476)Required when anyone — paid or unpaid, including a friend or relative — represents you on this application. Complete and sign IMM 5476, have your representative sign it, and upload it with your application. A paid representative must be authorized (a licensed immigration consultant, a lawyer or a Quebec notary in good standing). Your representative can never sign the application for you.
If you wish to have a representative who can conduct business on your behalf, you must give us their email and mailing addresses in this section and fill out the Use of a Representative [IMM 5476] (opens in a new tab) form.
Documents you must provide
- Original employment contract and Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA)Required by the IMM 1295 instructions where you need an LMIA to get a work permit. Applicants who do not need an LMIA give the name of the employer who provided the offer of employment number instead. VisaAI has no fact for whether an LMIA is needed, so this is stated rather than gated.
a) If you need an LMIA to get a work permit, type the name of the employer as shown on the LMIA. Attach original employment contract and LMIA.
- Your LMIA number or offer of employment numberIRCC states the LMIA number is seven digits, and the LMIA-exempt offer of employment number begins with the letter 'a' followed by seven numbers.
Type the seven-digit number of your valid LMIA or the alpha numeric combination of the offer of employment number (LMIA Exempt). This number begins with the letter “A” and is followed by seven numbers.
- Photocopy of your marriage licence or certificateRequired by the IMM 1295 instructions where the applicant is married.
If you are married, you must send a photocopy of your marriage licence or certificate with your application.
Steps in the process
- Sign in to your account, upload documents, pay fees and give biometricsIRCC's own summary of the submission step on the apply-from-outside-Canada page.
Submit your application Sign in to your account, upload documents, pay fees, give biometrics
- Validate the form to generate the barcode pageIRCC requires validation when the form is completed on a computer. Paper applicants must print the barcode page (page 5 of 5) and place it on top of the application, or on top of each individual application package when applying as a group.
Note: If this application form is completed on a computer it must be validated to generate a barcode page. If you apply on paper, print and place the barcode page (page 5 of 5) on the top of your application (or if applying as a group, each individual application package).
- Send IRCC your original passport if you also need a temporary resident visaApplies after approval, and only where a temporary resident visa is needed, so that IRCC can issue the visa counterfoil.
Note: If you need a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) and your work permit application is approved, you must give us your original passport so we can issue the visa counterfoil.
Government fees
- Work permit processing feeCAD 155 · CAD 465 group maximumCAD 155.00 per person, the same amount as for an extension. A group of 3 or more performing artists and their staff applying at the same time and place pays a maximum of CAD 465.00. IRCC's apply page writes the fee as '$155 (unless exempt)'; the exemption list was not read.
Work Permits (including extensions) Fees $CAN Work permit (including extensions) – per person 155.00 Work permit (including extensions) – per group (3 or more performing artists) Maximum fee for a group of 3 or more performing artists applying at the same time and place 465.00
- Biometrics feeCAD 85 · CAD 170 family maximum · CAD 255 performing artist group maximumCAD 85.00 per individual, with a maximum of CAD 170.00 for a family of 2 or more eligible people applying at the same time, and CAD 255.00 for a group of 3 or more performing artists applying for a work permit at the same time. Payable only if your citizenship requires biometrics; IRCC publishes a separate tool to check, and that country list has not been extracted.
Biometrics – per individual 85.00 Biometrics – per family of 2 or more eligible people Maximum fee for a family of 2 or more people applying at the same time Family members eligible for this fee are your spouse or common-law partner your dependent children and their dependent children Check if your child is a dependant. 170.00 Biometrics – per group of 3 or more performing artists Maximum fee for a group of 3 or more performing artists applying for a work permit at the same time 255.00
Official sources
- Official page — Official page, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
- How to apply — How to apply, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
- Fees — Fees, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
- IMM 1295 — Application for a Work Permit Made Outside of Canada — Official form, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
- Work permit: Check if you can apply — Eligibility, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada