Work in Canada FAQs

No. A job offer is not required for the Federal Skilled Worker or Canadian Experience Class programs under Express Entry. The Federal Skilled Trades program is the exception: it needs either a valid job offer or a certificate of qualification.

Since March 2025, a job offer no longer adds CRS points. It still matters in other ways: it is the basis of most employer-supported work permits, and some provincial streams ask for one.

A genuine offer comes from a real, legitimately operating Canadian employer and is made in writing. It should state the job title and duties, the wage, hours, location and length of employment. The wage must meet the standard for that occupation and region.

Officers check whether the offer is real and whether you are qualified for the role. A fake or inflated offer can lead to refusal and a misrepresentation finding.

In immigration terms there are two broad types:

• Temporary: valid for a fixed period, such as six months or two years. You usually start work after receiving a work permit.
• Permanent: a full-time position with no end date. It can support a permanent residence application through programs that accept it.

A Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) is a document from Employment and Social Development Canada. A positive LMIA shows that hiring a foreign worker will not harm the Canadian labour market. Many employer-specific work permits need one, and the employer applies for it, not you.

Some jobs are exempt from the LMIA, for example those under certain international agreements or intra-company transfers. In that case the employer submits an offer of employment to IRCC instead.

• It is the quickest route to a work permit and to entering Canada.
• Skilled work in Canada builds Canadian experience, which counts toward the Canadian Experience Class and adds CRS points.
• Time with a local employer can open provincial nominee streams that need work in the province.

It does not guarantee permanent residence, but it strengthens your path.

A permanent, full-time offer gives you job security and a stable base to plan settlement. It can support applications under programs and provincial streams that accept an offer of indeterminate length, and it makes you stronger for employer-driven nomination. Like a temporary offer, it does not on its own guarantee an invitation or approval.

There are things to weigh. An employer-specific permit ties you to one employer, one job and one location, so changing jobs means a new permit. LMIA rules, especially for lower-wage roles, have been tightened and can change, so an offer can be delayed or refused. A job offer is also not a promise of permanent residence.

In general, no. Employers are not allowed to charge foreign workers recruitment fees or to pass on the cost of an LMIA. Be careful with anyone who sells a "guaranteed" job offer or LMIA. Verify the company, ask for the offer in writing, and never pay for the job itself. If you are unsure, get the offer reviewed by a regulated consultant or lawyer before you pay or travel.

A work permit is an official document that allows a foreign national to work in Canada for a set period and, in most cases, under set conditions. It is different from permanent residence, and different from a visa, which only allows you to travel to Canada.

Under Canada's immigration regulations, work means an activity for which you earn wages or commission, or an activity that competes directly with the work of Canadian citizens or permanent residents in the labour market. Unpaid activity can still count as work if it takes a job that a Canadian could do.

Most foreign nationals need one before they start work. A limited set of activities do not require a permit, such as some business visitor activities, certain performers and some diplomats. Because the exceptions are narrow and fact-specific, check your situation before you assume you are exempt. Working without authorisation can affect future applications.

An employer-specific permit lets you work only for the named employer, in the stated job and location. An open work permit lets you work for almost any employer in Canada. Open permits are limited to specific categories, such as post-graduation work permits, some spouses and partners, and some youth exchange programs.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) decides work permit applications. If your job needs an LMIA, a separate agency, Employment and Social Development Canada, decides the employer's LMIA request first. In some cases, the permit document is finalised by a border officer when you arrive at the port of entry.

It depends on your passport. If your country requires a visa, IRCC issues a temporary resident visa with an approved work permit. If your country is visa-exempt and you fly, you need an electronic travel authorization (eTA) before boarding. You also receive a letter of introduction to show at the border, where the permit itself is issued.

Yes. Canadian law recognises "dual intent", which means you can seek permanent residence and also apply for a temporary permit. For the work permit, you still need to satisfy the officer that you will leave Canada when the permit ends if you are not approved for permanent residence.

First, find out which type of permit fits you: employer-specific with an LMIA, employer-specific without an LMIA, or an open permit. The type decides what you need. Then get your job offer, or confirm that you qualify for an open category, and check that your passport and documents are in order.

Most people apply online through an IRCC account. You upload your documents, pay the fees, and give biometrics at a designated centre. A medical exam may be needed depending on your job and where you have lived. Applying at the border, sometimes called flagpoling, is no longer available to most applicants.

It varies by country of application, type of permit and how complete your application is. IRCC publishes current processing times on its website, and they change regularly. Apply well before your planned start date, and keep your documents consistent so your file is not delayed.

The length is set by the officer. It usually follows the job offer or LMIA, your passport expiry and the rules of the program you applied under. Many permits can be extended if you apply before the current one expires. Some, such as certain program-specific permits, cannot be extended, so check yours.

If your permit is employer-specific, you cannot simply switch. You need a new permit for the new employer before you start working for them. Open permit holders can change employers freely. Working outside your permit conditions is a breach of status.

Sometimes. Open work permits for spouses and partners are now limited to specific situations, such as the main applicant's occupation and how long their permit lasts. The rules were narrowed in 2025 and may change, so confirm the latest requirements on the IRCC website before planning around a spousal permit.

Maintained status, also called implied status, lets you stay in Canada and keep working while IRCC decides on an application to extend your permit. It applies only if you applied before your current permit expired. You continue under the same conditions as your last permit.

No. There is no separate application. It applies automatically once you submit a complete extension application before your permit expires. Keep proof that you applied, because your employer may ask to see it.

It lasts until IRCC makes a decision on your application. There is no fixed end date, so it can be short or long depending on processing times. Once a decision is made, it ends, whether the application is approved or refused.

You can continue with what your previous permit allowed. If it was an employer-specific permit, you can keep working for that same employer in the same job. If it was open, you can keep working for any employer. Study rights follow the conditions of your last permit as well.

Your status ends on the date of the decision. You must stop working, and you must leave Canada unless you take another step. In some cases you may be able to apply to restore your status within a limited time, but this has conditions, so get advice quickly.

You can leave, but you may only return as a visitor, and you cannot work until a decision is made on your application. Re-entry is not guaranteed, and the border officer decides. Think carefully before travelling and, if possible, get advice first.

Typically a copy of your most recent permit, proof that you submitted the extension application on time, and the acknowledgement letter or confirmation from IRCC. Keep these safe, since employers, banks and officers may ask for them.

Only under the old permit's conditions. Maintained status does not let you start the new job, employer or activity that the new application covers. Until the new permit is approved, you can keep doing only what the old permit allowed.

It can. Work done without authorisation does not count toward the experience required for permanent residence, such as under the Canadian Experience Class. Time on maintained status is generally counted if you were allowed to work, but confirm your own timeline. A short, clearly documented gap is usually manageable if you are not working in it.