Work Permit or Temporary Foreign Worker Program

A work permit is a legal document to take a temporary job within Canada if you are from a foreign country. Each year, Canada issues about half a million work permits to temporary foreign workers around the world. Canadian laws protect every worker in Canada.

If you want to bring your family with you, your spouse or common-law partner and dependent children may be able to work, study or live with you while you work in Canada. They can apply at the same time as you. Working in Canada is also an excellent first step to immigration to Canada.

Some temporary workers require a work permit and some do not. The requirements and processing times depend on the sort of work you will do when you come to Canada. But, for some categories of workers, permits are approved more quickly.

The program also issues work permits to the spouses and common-law partners of work permit and study permit holders in Canada, which enable them to work during their spouse’s or partner’s term of employment or studies.

Individuals who are already legally in Canada as temporary residents such as visitors may apply for a work permit. Visitor, students and workers and who wish to extend their stay in Canada, or change the conditions of their stay, must contact CIC for information on specific application requirements.

Requirements for all applicants:

  • prove to an officer that you will leave Canada when your work permit expires;
  • show that you have enough money to take care of yourself and your family members during your stay in Canada and to return home;
  • have no record of criminal activity
  • not be a danger to Canada’s security;
  • be in good health and have a medical exam, if needed;
  • give the officer any other documents they ask for to prove you can enter the country.

Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP)- Labour Market Impact Assessments (LMIA)

The Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) allows Canadian employers the ability to temporarily hire foreign nationals in order to fill shortages in Canada. The TFWP is jointly operated by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC).
Most employers need an LMIA before they can hire a temporary foreign worker. Before you start the hiring process, you must determine if you need an LMIA.
An LMIA confirms

    •  there is a need for a temporary foreign worker
    •  no Canadians or permanent residents are available to do the job

Open Work Permit

An open work permit lets you work for any employer in Canada. Because it is NOT job-specific, you will NOT need the following when you apply for your work permit:

  •  a labour market impact assessment from Employment and Social Development Canada
  • proof that an employer has submitted an offer of employment through the Employer Portal and paid the employer
    compliance fee

You may be eligible for an open work permit if you

– are an international student who graduated from a designated learning institution and
are eligible for the Post-Graduation Work Permit Program
– are a student who’s no longer able to meet the costs of your studies (destitute student)
– are a dependent family member of someone who applied for permanent residence

– are the spouse, common-law partner or dependent child of a low- or high-skilled worker
– are the spouse or common-law partner of an applicant of the Atlantic Immigration Program
– are a refugee, refugee claimant, protected person or their family member
– are under an unenforceable removal order

– are a temporary resident permit holder
– are a young worker participating in special programs
– are in Canada and being sponsored as a spouse, common-law partner, conjugal partner or accompanying dependent child>

A Spousal Open Work Permit

Gives sponsored individuals the ability to work in Canada while their sponsorship application is being processed. Since
Canada recognizes common-law partnerships, you may be eligible to apply for spousal sponsorship if you and your partner are not married but have been
living together for a period of at least one year

International Mobility
Program (IMP)

Enables Canadian employers to hire temporary foreign workers without the need for a Labour Market Impact Assessment
(LMIA) LMIA-exemptions are majorly granted to International Free Trade Agreements  or Canadian Interest.

Canadian Interests

The employment of a foreign national with specialized knowledge are exempt from obtaining an LMIA, either by being of significant social or cultural benefit to Canadians or through the maintenance of reciprocal employment relationships with other nations.

Agricultural Workers

The Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program (SAWP) allows employers to hire temporary foreign workers (TFW) when Canadians and permanent residents are not available.

These employers can hire TFWs from participating countries for a maximum period of 8 months, between January 1 and December 15, provided they are able to offer the workers a minimum of 240 hours of work within a period of 6 weeks or less.

Caregiver

Families can hire a foreign caregiver to provide care, in a private residence, to children, seniors or persons with certified medical needs, when Canadians and permanent residents are not available. Under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP), families can hire foreign caregivers. The caregivers must be:

  •  provide care on a full-time basis (minimum 30 hours per week)
  •  work in the private household where the care is being provided
  •  meet the requirements set Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC)/Service Immigration,
  •  Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)


These families or private household employers will be able to hire foreign workers, on a live-in or live out basis, for 2 categories of in-home workers, which include:

1. Caregivers for children
Children under 18 years of age
This category could include positions such as:

  •  child care provider
  • live-in caregiver
  • nanny

2. Caregivers for people with high medical needs

  •  Elderly persons, 65 years of age or over
  •  People with disabilities, a chronic or terminal illness