• Work permits in Canada include the Restricted Work Permit which only authorized the holders to work for a specific employer, region and occupation AND Open Work Permit allows the holders to work without any restrictions except prohibited occupations.
• Open Work Permit holders must leave Canada by the exipry date of the work, and Restricted Work Permit holders must stop working if their conditions are changed (region, employer, occupation), unless eligible or maintained before the expiry date
• Accompying spouse or common-law partner and dependents may eligible to apply for work and study permit

Immigration Ineligibility

• Change the initial purpose of entry
• Have committed a crime, depends on the seriousness of the conviction
• Have been, are or will be engaging in organized crime
• Have been, are or will be engaging in any activities or organizations that are against Canada, contrary to Canada’s interests or endanger the lives or safety of persons in Canada
• Have a health condition that is dangerous to public health, public safety or may cause excessive demand on health or social services
• Unable or unwilling to financially support yourself and accompanying family members
• Have an immigration application refused for misrepresentation in the past 5 years
• Have been deported for failing to comply with any immigration act or regulation
• Failed to prove the qualifications to perform main duties listed in the employment contract

Open work permit

• International students graduated from an eligible program of 8 months or more
• Spouse and common-law partner of international students or temporary foreign workers who are studying or working in Canada
• Spouse or common-law partner of Canadian or Permanent Resident who resides in Canada and is being sponsored
• Work permit holders who submitted their Permanent Resident application by the expiry date of the current work permit
• International Experience Canada - Working Holiday Visa
  • Only available to citizens of Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Ukraine, United Kingdom.
  • Between 18 to 35 years old
  • Create the profile online, prepare supporting documents and submit a completed application after being invited
• Open work permits for vulnerable workers - International Mobility Program
• Temporary public policy for Hong Kong residents who graduated from at least a 1 year post-secondary program within the last 5 years

Restricted Work Permit – LMIA Required

Eligible employers are required to submit Labour Market Impact Assessment application

• Temporary Foreign Worker Program (Low-wage, High-wage, Agricultural, Seasonal Agricultural)
• Global Talent Stream
• Quebec Facilitated LMIA

Restricted Work Permit – Job Offer Required

Under International Mobility Program (IMP), exempt from LMIA requirements, for citizens from countries which Canada has a trade agreement with, including categories such as:

• Business visitors or potential investors, no job offer required, valid for 6 months and cannot be extended
• Professionals and Technicians under designated occupations, job offer required, valid up to 3 years and can be extended
• Intra-company transferees in multi-national companies, job offer required, valid up to 3 years and can be extended
• Traders and investors, job offer required, valid up to 1 year and can be extended

Each country is qualified for some or all streams noted above. Trade agreements of which Canada is a member:

• CUSMA: US, Mexico
• FTA: Chile, Peru, Columbia, Korea, Panama
• CETA: European Union (Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden)
• CUKTCA: United Kingdom, Northern Ireland
• General Agreement on Trade in Services
• CPTPP (Vietnam, Australia, Brunei, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore)

Regulatory occupations authorized to work without a work permit

• Public speakers
• News reporters
• Media crews
• Military personnel
• Foreign government officers
• Business visitors
• Foreign representatives
• Performing artists
• Examiners and evaluators
• Expert witnesses or investigators
• Emergency service providers
• Pending decision on work permit renewal
• Short-term students in a foreign health care program
• On-campus employment
• Off-campus work
• Transition to work permit
• Registered Indians
• Religious leaders
• Convention organizers
• Athletes and team members
• Crew
• Civil aviation inspector
• Aviation accident or incident inspector
• Judges, referees and similar officials