Home Visas and Immigration IMPORTANT INFORMATION Work Permit Information

Work Permit Information

In general, persons who are not Canadian citizens or permanent residents and wish to work temporarily in Canada must obtain a Work Permit. A Job Offer Confirmation may also be required from the Human Resources Department in Canada (HRDC) for an Economic Effect Determination (EED) to confirm that job opportunities for Canadian residents will not be negatively impacted by the recruitment of a foreign worker.

Given the great variety of work situations and individual circumstances it is advisable to contact a Canadian visa office before departing for Canada to find out specific requirements. However we suggest that you check the following important information:

• Where to Apply for Your Work Permit
• Jobs Exempt from Work Permit Requirement
• Common HRDC Confirmation Exemption Categories of Work to determine whether you need to apply for a Work Permit.

Applications for Work Permit may be filed in person at the Consulate General. The applications will be processed within the same day if the application is submitted in person and presents no particular complexity; two weeks minimum from receipt of the complete application; eight weeks minimum if a medical examination is required. Application may also be filed by mail. The same processing times apply - please allow extra time for mailing.

Successful applicants who do not require a Temporary Resident Visa will be provided an approval letter from the visa officer which can be presented at a port of entry to Canada to obtain the Work Permit. Successful applicants who require a Temporary Resident Visa to visit Canada, will be issued a visa with the approval letter.

MANDATORY REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL APPLICANTS:

Your application for Work Permit MUST include the following:

• A completed application form; click here to download the form or use our Fax Back Service
• Processing fee: Click here for Fee Schedule

PLEASE NOTE that the Processing fee is NON-REFUNDABLE.

• A confirmed offer of employment provided by your prospected employer and Job Offer Confirmation from a Human Resources Development Centre in Canada
• A written job offer or contract from your prospective employer in Canada describing your intended position, duties, length of employment and compensation
• If your intended employment is in the Province of Québec, you must obtain and submit a Certificat d'Acceptation du Québec (CAQ). Please contact a Québec Immigration Service Office or check Québec's Immigration Website for more information.
• Letters of reference from current and / or previous employers describing your occupation, duties, length of employment etc.
• Resume of previous work experience
• Educational, trade or apprenticeship certificates
• Personal income tax statements / assessment form indicating occupation; or official identification card, or an government document issued to recognize your occupation
• Two recent passport size photographs (no copies or scanned photos will be accepted)
• Proof of citizenship for U.S. citizens or copy of resident alien card (Green Card) for U.S. permanent residents. For temporary residents, copies of the bio-data pages of your valid passport and copies of the U.S. visa and I-94 card
• A list of ALL countries in which you have lived during the past twelve (12) months indicating the period of time specify EACH country, including your own
• If you are a citizen of Kosovo, Rwanda, Yugoslavia (and its former republics other than Slovenia), and Iraq, you MUST complete and submit the proper questionnaire.

NOTE: Documents in languages other than English or French MUST be accompanied by a certified translation.

MEDICAL EXAMINATION REQUIREMENTS:

• Applicants for Work Permit are required to undergo an immigration medical examination if they have resided for six (6) months before entering Canada in an area designated by Health and Welfare Canada to be of increased public health risk or if they will work in certain specified occupations in Canada (or both). Further details in this regard will be provided after your application is reviewed.
• Occupations requiring an immigration medical examination include physicians on short-term locums, all workers in the health services field including those in hospitals, clinical laboratories, nursing and geriatric homes, teachers up to and including the secondary school level, live-in caregivers, camp counsellors and all those who give care to children, the elderly and the disabled.
• Work Permits usually are not issued to persons requiring immigration medical examinations until the Consulate General is notified by Health and Welfare Canada that the applicant has met the health requirements for admission to Canada. This usually takes one to three months from the time that the applicant is examined by the physician designated by the government of Canada to perform immigration medical examination.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

• If you wish to submit your application by mail, you should include a prepaid, self-addressed return envelope (we suggest U.S. Postal Express/Priority). If you do not include a prepaid Express/Priority mail envelope, your documents will be returned by certified mail. Note that certified mail adds a minimum of seven (7) working days to the return mailing time.
• If you are currently residing in Canada on a Employment Authorization or Work Permit, and are applying for a new visitor visa, DO NOT submit a return mail envelope. We are only able to return your passport and documents by REGISTERED MAIL.

  Please note we will not return your documents using ANY courier services (UPS, FedEx, DHL) even if you have an account with them.

  To apply for Work Permit as a Live-In Caregiver, please click here.