Canadian Immigration Xperts

Work Permits

Prospective employees are required to obtain a Work Permit prior to arriving to Canada and engaging in work for a Canadian employer.

Canada is protective of its domestic work force. Nevertheless there are certain areas where a shortage of workers has been acknowledged by both the federal and provincial governments. Such shortages and positions are usually filled by workers from overseas, who are prepared and willing to bring their expertise and skills to Canada. In most cases, the foreign workers are expected to be educated professionals with past experience and a particular level of knowledge of English.

In most cases, obtaining a Canadian Work Permit is a two step process:

1. The Canadian employer must receive validation of the job offer they have extended to a foreign worker from Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC), also known as Service Canada. The process of the application for the validation is called Labour Market Opinion. When applying for this validation, the Canadian employer must demonstrate an extensive effort made to hire from the local labor market, as well as ensure that the foreign worker will be remunerated for his or her job adequately and in compliance with the existing provincial wage standards;
2.  Once the validation of a job offer extended by the Canadian employer is received, the application for the Work Permit must be brought to the Canadian Visa Mission of the applicant seeking entry to Canada as a foreign worker. If the prospective foreign worker is granted the Work Permit, he or she will be obligated to undergo medical examination. Furthermore, citizens of countries which are exempt from certain Canadian visa requirements may seek the issuant of their Work Permit at the ports of entry to Canada instead of the Canadian Visa Missions overseas.

There are certain occupations which are exempt from the requirement for obtaining HRSDC validation for the job offer extended by the Canadian employer.

The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) provides an opportunity for certain citizens of the United States and Mexico to apply for a Work Permit in Canada without having to seek HRDSC validation. If you would like to learn more about coming to Canada to work under NAFTA, please visit our NAFTA web page.

Should a foreign worker in Canada decide to change his or her Canadian employer, and as long as a validation of the new employer`s job offer is received, the conditions of the Work Permit can be changed without leaving Canada and through the Canadian Immigration Centre in Vegreville, Alberta.

Jane Katkova & Associates handles all types of applications for Work Permits and obtaining Labour Market Opinions from HRSDC. If you are a Canadian employer who wishes to hire a foreign worker or a foreign worker who has been found by a Canadian employer and wishes to obtain a Work Permit, we will carry out every step of your case. We will define a strategy for your case beginning from finding a NOC (National Occupation Classification) most suitable in your specific situation to filing applications for Labour Market Opinions and presenting your case to the HRDSC. We will further assist the foreign worker with preparation of a Work Permit application package. We will advise you on all other issues pertaining to the permit and answer all of your questions that may arise in the course of working with your case.