Canada Work Permit Guide: Types, Eligibility, and How to Apply

Canada issues hundreds of thousands of work permits every year, and for most skilled workers abroad a work permit is the realistic first step toward living in Canada — permanent residence usually comes later, built on Canadian work experience. This guide explains the two permit families, who qualifies, and how the application actually unfolds.

The two families of work permits

1. Employer-specific (closed) work permits

An employer-specific permit ties you to one employer, one role, and one location. Most closed permits under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program require the employer to first obtain a positive Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) — proof that no Canadian was available for the job. If you are being recruited from abroad into hospitality, trades, transport, agriculture, or food production, this is almost certainly your route.

2. Open work permits

An open permit lets you work for almost any employer in Canada, with no LMIA and no job offer required. But you cannot simply apply for one — you must fit a qualifying category: spouses of eligible workers and students, recent graduates under the PGWP, bridging permits for PR applicants, and certain humanitarian categories.

Basic eligibility for any work permit

• Prove you will leave Canada when your authorized stay ends
• Show funds to support yourself and family during your stay
• Have no criminal or immigration-related inadmissibility (police certificates may be requested)
• Be in good health — a medical exam is required for many occupations and countries
• Not plan to work for an employer on IRCC's ineligible list

Documents that make or break applications

Refusals rarely happen because a form was filled in wrong. They happen because the evidence didn't convince the officer. A strong file includes a valid passport, the job offer letter and LMIA number (for closed permits), proof of work experience that genuinely matches the offered role — reference letters with duties, dates, and hours — education credentials, language test results where relevant, and clean financial statements.

Fees and processing times

The government fee is $155 for an employer-specific permit and $255 for an open work permit, plus $85 for biometrics. Online applications typically process in two to eight weeks depending on your country of residence and IRCC volumes — medical exams and biometrics appointments can add time, so book them promptly when instructed.

From work permit to permanent residence

Canadian work experience is the most valuable currency in the immigration system. One year of skilled work in Canada can qualify you for the Canadian Experience Class under Express Entry, and many Provincial Nominee Programs favour applicants already working in the province. We plan this transition from day one.

Frequently asked questions

Can my family come with me?

Often, yes. Spouses of many work permit holders qualify for a spousal open work permit, and dependent children can attend Canadian schools.

Can I apply without a job offer?

Only if you fit an open-permit category. Otherwise the job offer — and usually the LMIA — comes first. Be wary of anyone selling "work permits without a job"; that is a hallmark of immigration fraud.

How long is a work permit valid?

Typically one to three years depending on the LMIA, your passport validity, and the role — with extensions possible from inside Canada.