Each year, close to 200,000 foreign skilled workers come to work in Canada on Temporary Work Permits.

In order to work in Canada on a temporary basis, foreign skilled workers must have a temporary offer of employmentfrom a Canadian employer and be granted a Temporary Work Permit by Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC). There are several steps to this process.

Step 1: Employer applies for Labour Market Opinion, if necessary

Before a Canada Work Permit can be issued, the Canadian employer who wishes to hire temporary foreign workers may need to apply for and be granted a positive Labour Market Opinion (LMO) by HRSDC. HRSDC will grant a positive LMO if they are satisfied that there is no Canadian worker available to do the job.
Work Permits may be issued by Canadian immigration officials without the LMO requirement in a limited number of situations, as follows:
- Under international agreements, such as the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA);
- Due to the significant economic, social or cultural benefits the work activity will bring to Canadians;
- As part of reciprocal agreements Canada and its provinces/territories have entered into with other countries, such as youth and teacher exchange programs;
- So that international students studying in Canada can fulfill academic requirements, known as co-op placements;
- To allow the spouses/common-law partners of Work Permit and certain Study Permit holders in Canada to work in Canada;
- Because the nature of the work is charitable or religious;
- In recognition that certain persons in Canada for reasons other than the above-mentioned, such as the making of a refugee claim, need to support themselves.
Step 2: Employer extends Temporary Job Offer
Once the LMO is granted, the Canadian employer can extend a temporary job offer to the foreign skilled worker. The employer must send a copy of the positive LMO along with a detailed job offer letter to the foreign skilled worker.
Step 3: Foreign Skilled Worker applies for Work Permit
With these documents, the foreign skilled worker can apply to HRSDC for a Canada Temporary Work Permit. If the Canadian employer that is hiring is in the province of Quebec, the foreign skilled worker may also need to obtain aCertificat d'acceptation du Québec (CAQ) in order to work temporarily in Quebec.
Step 4: Work Permit is issued
A Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) officer will issue the Canada Temporary Work Permit at the point of entry when the foreign worker arrives in Canada.

Depending upon the foreign worker's country of citizenship, a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) may also need to be obtained in order to enter Canada.

Do you have a Canadian job offer and need a Work Permit?
Are you a Canadian Employer who needs to obtain Work Permits for new employees?

Campbell Cohen's Work Permit Service can take care of the entire Work Permit process for both Canadian employers and foreign workers.

Note that a Canada Temporary Work Permit is for those foreign skilled workers who plan on working in Canada for a finite period of time. To work and live in Canada on a Permanent basis, foreign workers must undertake the Canadian immigration process.

However, a Temporary Work Permit may be a stepping stone to Canadian Permanent Residency. Once in Canada on a Temporary Work Permit, a foreign worker may qualify for Canadian immigration (Permanent Residency) under theCanadian Experience Class (CEC), through a Skilled Worker category, or through one of the Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP).

Work in Canada – Basic Facts

For Canadian immigration purposes, "work" is defined as an activity for which remuneration is earned or as an activity that competes directly with activities of Canadian citizens or Permanent Residents in the Canadian labour market.
Canadian immigration authorities require a Work Permit for a limited number of work related activities in Canada.
A job offer from a Canadian employer is usually a prerequisite to receiving a Canadian Work Permit.
In some instances, Canadian immigration regulations allow for "Open" Work Permits, which are not employer specific.
Work Permits are always temporary in nature, but can often be extended from inside Canada.
Normally, Work Permits will only be granted by Canadian immigration authorities if supported by a positive "Labour Market Opinion" (LMO) letter issued by Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC), indicating that the proposed employment will not adversely affect Canadian workers.

Temporary Resident and Visitor Visas for Canada

Except for Canadian citizens and Permanent Residents, all others require permission to enter Canada as a visitor, with or without a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV).

Canada welcomes more than 35 million temporary residents (non-immigrants) each year.

Unless they are citizens of a visa-exempt country, individuals who wish to enter Canada for a temporary purpose, such as tourists, temporary foreign workers (work permits) and international students (study permits) must apply for and be granted a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV).

The TRV is a document issued by a Canadian Immigration Visa Office outside Canada, showing that the holder has satisfied the requirements for admission to Canada as a visitor. Temporary Resident Visas may be for single entry or multiple entry.

As a general rule, tourists are admitted for a period of six months. Temporary foreign workers and international students are admitted for varying periods of time, as determined on a case-by-case basis. Extensions may be applied for within Canada.

It is important to note that possession of a valid Temporary Resident Visa does not necessarily mean that the Citizenship and Immigration Canada Officer at the Canadian Port of Entry will admit the visitor into Canada. At the Port of Entry, all visitors must demonstrate that the purpose of their visit to Canada is of a temporary nature. Citizenship and Immigration Canada Officers at the Port of Entry will deny admission to all persons who, in their opinion, do not intend to leave Canada at the expiry of their visitor status.

In addition, criminality and medical issues may prevent a visitor from entering Canada. Visitors to Canada must also be able to prove their ability to support themselves during their intended temporary stay in Canada.