Work Permit

Types of Work Permits

A Canadian work permit can be a great option for those who wish to work in Canada for a specific period of time. It’s important to note that work permit holders must comply with the conditions of their permit, and may be required to leave Canada once their permit expires.

In Canada, there are various types of work permits available for individuals who are not Canadian citizens or permanent residents. These work permits allow foreign nationals to work legally in Canada for a specified period. Here are some common types of work permits in Canada:

Temporary Work Permit: This is the most common type of work permit. It allows individuals to work in Canada for a specific job, specific employer, and duration usually up to two years. Temporary work permits are usually issued based on a job offer from a Canadian employer and require a positive Labor Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) in most cases and meet the requirements for the specific work permit category.

International Experience Canada (IEC) Work Permit: This program is designed for young people (ages 18 to 35) from countries that have a bilateral youth mobility arrangement with Canada. It allows them to obtain an open work permit, which means they can work for any employer in Canada for a limited period.The program has three categories: Working Holiday, Young Professionals, and International Co-op.

Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP): International students who have completed a program of study at a designated Canadian educational institution may be eligible for a post-graduation work permit. This permit allows them to work in Canada for up to three years after graduation.

Intra-Company Transfer Work Permit: This type of work permit is for employees of multinational companies who have been employed by a foreign company for at least one year to transfer to a Canadian branch, subsidiary, or affiliate. To be eligible, you must have a job offer from a Canadian branch of the company. It allows them to work in Canada temporarily.

NAFTA Work Permit: Under the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA), certain professionals from the United States and Mexico may be eligible for a work permit to work in Canada. This includes professions like engineers, accountants, scientists, and computer systems analysts.

Caregiver Work Permit: Caregivers, such as nannies or those providing in-home care for the elderly or individuals with disabilities, may be eligible for a work permit through specific caregiver programs.

Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program (SAWP) Permit: This program allows agricultural workers from specific countries to work in Canada on a seasonal basis to address temporary labor shortages in the agricultural sector.

Global Talent Stream Work Permit: This program is designed to help Canadian employers hire highly skilled foreign workers for specialized occupations. To be eligible, the employer must be referred by a designated partner and must commit to certain requirements, such as creating jobs for Canadians and transferring knowledge to Canadian workers.

Provincial Nominee Program Work Permit: This program allows foreign workers who have been nominated by a Canadian province or territory to work in Canada. To be eligible, you must have a job offer from a Canadian employer in the province or territory that nominated you.

What is the Post Graduate Work Permit Program – PGWP

The Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) Program allows foreign students who have graduated from eligible Canadian designated learning institutions (DLIs) to obtain an open work permit to gain valuable Canadian work experience.
Skilled Canadian work experience in Training, Education, Experience and Responsibilities (TEER) categories 0, 1, 2 or 3 that is gained through the PGWP Program helps graduates qualify for permanent residence in Canada through the Canadian experience class within Express Entry.

What is the eligibility to apply for a PGWP?

To be eligible to apply for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) in Canada, you must meet certain criteria. Here are the general eligibility requirements:

Completion of an eligible program: You must have completed a full-time program of study at a designated learning institution (DLI) in Canada. The program should have been a minimum of 8 months in duration and led to a degree, diploma, or certificate.

Study duration: You must have studied full-time in Canada for the entire duration of the program, except for the final semester or term, where part-time study may be allowed.

Program eligibility: The program you completed must be eligible for the PGWP. Not all programs at DLIs qualify, so it’s important to ensure that your program is on the list of eligible programs.

DLI status: The designated learning institution where you completed your program must have DLI status at the time of your application for the PGWP.

Valid study permit: You must have held a valid study permit throughout your studies in Canada. It’s important to note that the PGWP cannot be issued to individuals who hold a visitor visa, a temporary resident permit, or a study permit with a condition stating “This permit does not permit the holder to engage in off-campus employment in Canada.”

Application timing: You must apply for the PGWP within 180 days (approximately 6 months) of completing your program and before your study permit expires. If your study permit has already expired, you are not eligible to apply for the PGWP.

Academic transcript or letter of completion: You will need to provide official documentation from your educational institution, such as an official transcript or a letter of completion, as proof of meeting the program requirements.

It’s important to note that the eligibility requirements for the PGWP may change over time, and there may be additional criteria or specific circumstances that could affect your eligibility.

Open and Close Work Permit

An open work permit and a closed work permit are two different categories of work permits in Canada. Here’s an explanation of each:

Open Work Permit: An open work permit allows individuals to work for any employer in Canada without a specific job offer. It provides flexibility as it is not tied to a particular employer or job. Open work permits are typically issued in specific situations, such as:

Spousal or common-law partner work permits: These permits are granted to spouses or common-law partners of certain individuals studying or working in Canada.

Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP): As mentioned earlier, the PGWP is an open work permit issued to international students who have completed a program of study at a designated Canadian educational institution.

International Experience Canada (IEC): The IEC program, which includes working holiday permits, allows young people from partner countries to obtain an open work permit for a limited period.

Humanitarian and compassionate grounds: In exceptional cases, an open work permit may be granted based on humanitarian or compassionate reasons.

The specific eligibility requirements and duration of an open work permit can vary depending on the program or circumstances under which it is issued.

Closed Work Permit: A closed work permit, also known as an employer-specific work permit, restricts the individual to work for a specific employer in Canada. It is tied to a particular job and employer, and the individual cannot change employers without obtaining a new work permit or going through a new application process.

Most temporary work permits in Canada fall under the category of closed work permits. These permits are typically issued based on a job offer from a Canadian employer, and in many cases, the employer must obtain a positive Labor Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) from Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) before the work permit can be issued.

Closed work permits have a limited validity period that is tied to the duration of the job offer or the employment contract. Once the permit expires, the individual may need to apply for an extension or a new work permit if they wish to continue working in Canada.

It’s important to note that the terms “open work permit” and “closed work permit” are not official immigration terms but are commonly used to describe the nature of work permits in Canada.