Blog Visa Guides Editorial Staff January 19, 2023 0 Comments

🇨🇦 Explainer Guide: Canada Work Permit Types 2023

To start a professional journey in Canada, you must acquire a work permit to enter Canada and create a bright future. Without a work permit, you cannot enter Canada and start work there.

Canada announces thousands of jobs every year. You can get many opportunities to start your business and invest in talented, skilled, and qualified professionals. Therefore, you need to apply for a work permit. This article will discuss which type of work permit is suitable for your nature of employment or business plans in Canada.

For further details regarding Canada Work Permit Type, check the information below.

Types of Work Permits in Canada 2023

Generally, there are two types of work Permits in Canada, which are further divided into subcategories. The main two types of work Permits are ;

Employer-specific work permit.
Open work permit.

Table of Contents

#1. Employer-specific work permit
#2 Work permit with no LMIA requirement
#3 CETA Work Permit
#4 Canadian Open Work permit
#5 IEC Work Permits
#6 Bridging Open work permit
Candidates Exempted from a Work Permit in Canada 2023

#1. Employer-specific work permit

This work permit allows an employee to work for a specific company or employer. You are not allowed to work for any other company or employer but the one who has allotted the work permit. You will be allowed to work in a particular location and for a specific duration.

Before applying for the Employer-specific work visa, you must acquire a few things from your employer, such as;

Employment offer number
A positive copy of LMIA.

The LMIA is a letter an employer obtains through Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC). This letter indicates that no local candidate is available to perform the job; hence we require a foreign candidate to fill the position.

On the other hand, the Job Offer Letter states your details of the job, pay scale, job duties, hours, etc.

Application Process.

The application process for an employer-specific work permit is easy two steps process.

Employer will request an LMIA letter,
Once received, the employee will apply for a work permit.

The application fee is $155 per head.

#2 Work permit with no LMIA requirement

In this case, there is no need for an LMIA letter, but your employer must provide a valid employment offer, such as;

NAFTA work permit.

The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) allows the Nationals of Mexico and the USA to work in Canada with no LMIA letter. But you must have an experience in the relevant field you are applying to.

You can apply for the NAFTA work permit through

Canada Port of entry,
Canadian visa officer
Inside Canada as temporary residents.

Documents required for NAFTA.

Proof of Mexican or American citizenship
Duration of stay in Canada
Proof of employment in Canada
Credentials proof etc.

The fee for employment offer for NAFTA is $230, while the work permit insurance fee is $155.

#3 CETA Work Permit

This type of work permit is allowed for candidates of the European Union. The CETA) has opened various job opportunities for Candidates from Europe. You can enter Canada without a work permit or LMIA.

Application Process.

You can apply through the Canadian Port of Entry or the visa application Centre.

#4 Canadian Open Work permit

This type of work permit for Canada is divided into the following two subcategories;

Restricted Open work permit
Unrestricted open work permit.

The difference b/w these two is that a restricted Open work permit allows the employee to work a specific job and period. In contrast, an unrestricted work permit will enable you to work for any company or location.

Application Process.

Choose the type of work permit from the two subcategories and submit your application form with complete information and requirements.

The application fee for Open work permit is as follows;

Work permit charges: $155
Work permit holder costs: $100

Sub-types of Canadian Open Work Permit.

The Open work permit is divided into the following sub-types, such as;

Post-graduation work Permits.

All international students who graduated from a university in Canada are eligible for PGWP. You can work for any employer for unlimited hours. It takes up to 180 to Complete the application process for PGWP, and the work permit duration is eight months to three years.

Candidates must be 18 years old and have studied for at least eight months in a Canadian study program.

The application fee for a postgraduate work permit is $155.

Spouse Open work permit

You can apply for a spouse’s Open work permit if your partner holds a temporary Canadian work permit. It will allow you to work for any company or employer but under a few conditions, such as;

You must be in a relationship with your spouse and have no criminal records.
You should be medically fit.

The application fee for a spouse’s Open work permit is as follows;

The work permit fee is $255
The processing fee is $155
The work permit holder fee is $100.

#5 IEC Work Permits

The International Experience Canada (IEC) allows candidates to work and live temporarily in Canada. If you have passed any of the IEC programs, you are eligible to apply for IEC work Permits. The duration of the IEC is one year.

The applicants must be at most 35 years, and the applicant’s country must have signed an agreement with Canada for IEC work Permits.

Application Process.

You must make your IEC account and select your desired program. After getting an invitation, you will only have ten days to accept the offer. After that, submit your required documents with the application and await approval.

There are no charges for application fees.

#6 Bridging Open work permit

The BOWP is for all those international candidates already working in Canada but waiting for their permanent residency application. This permit will allow you to work and stay in Canada for as long as you want.

The application fee for a Bridging Open work permit is as follows;