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Where to Apply for Your Work Permit

In most situations, you must apply for a work permit from outside of Canada. You can apply at a visa office at a Canadian embassy, high commission or consulate.

Applying for a Work Permit at the Canadian Border

You can only apply for a permit when you arrive in Canada if:

• You do not need a medical examination.
• You are from theUnited States, Greenland or Saint-Pierre and Miquelon.
• You do not need a temporary resident visa (TRV) to visit Canada and your job does not need confirmation from Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC).
• You do not need a temporary resident visa to visit Canada, your job requires you to have HRSDC confirmation and it has been issued by the time you arrive.
• Check to see if you need a medical examination.
• Check to see if you can visit Canada without a TRV.
• Check to see if your job needs to be confirmed by HRSDC.

Applying for a Work Permit from Inside Canada

You may apply for a work permit after coming to Canada if:

• You, or your parents, have a study permit or work permit.
• You are authorized to do one job in Canada without a work permit but want a permit to do another job. To qualify for this, you must not be a business visitor.
• You have a temporary resident permit (TRP) that is valid for six or more months.
• You are in Canada because you have an inland application for permanent residence. However, you will have to pass certain stages in the principal application before you are eligible to receive a work permit.