In order to work on a temporary basis in Canada, a foreign skilled worker must have a temporary offer of employment from a Canadian employer. If you or a family member are applying for a PR card, you can also apply via an Open Work permit.

If you are looking for a job, certain positions in Canada may require a person to know their National Occupation Classification Code (NOC Code). This code is used to classify all types of employment by Canadian standards.

Four basic steps to getting a temporary Work Visa

• Employer applies for labour market opinion (if necessary)
• Employer extends temporary job offer to foreign worker
• Foreign skilled worker applies for work permit
• Work permit is issued

Types of Work Permits

There are two main types:

Open Work Permit (not job-specific)

• Temporary Work Permits for Spouses or Partners
• Post Graduation Work Permit
• Temporary Resident Permit
• World Youth Program Permit
• Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program Spousal Permit
• Regular Open Work Permit
• Bridging Open Work Permit

Employer-Specific Work Permit

• The name of the employer you can work for
• How long you can work
• The location where you can work (if applicable)

A Visitor Visa (Temporary Resident Visa / TRV) is an official document placed in your passport by a Canadian visa office confirming you meet the requirements to enter Canada as a temporary resident. Most visitors can stay for up to 6 months.

Visitors are foreign nationals legally authorised to enter Canada to holiday, visit family, or conduct business. They are restricted in length of stay and subject to various conditions.

Make sure you need a visitor visa before you apply

You may need a visitor visa or an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA). The document you need depends on your travel document type, issuing country, nationality, and method of travel.

• Type of travel document you plan to use
• Country that issued your travel document
• Your nationality
• Your method of travel to Canada

At the port of entry, the border services officer may allow you to stay for less or more than 6 months. If so, they will put the date you need to leave by in your passport. If you don’t get a stamp, you can stay for 6 months from the day you entered Canada or until your passport expires, whichever comes first.

The Canadian education system is one of the most respected in the world. Thousands of researchers and international students choose to study in Canada every year. Canadian credentials are valued globally and graduates are highly sought after.

Step-by-step guide

• Step 1 — Choose your course and school: Only Designated Learning Institutions (DLIs) can admit foreign students.
• Step 2 — School requirements: Each school has specific admission requirements; consult them directly.
• Step 3 — Submit your application: Most applications are online; admin fees vary from CAD $100–$2,500.
• Step 4 — Wait for admission: Results are normally released within 2 weeks.
• Step 5 — Apply for a study permit: Begin as soon as possible — processing can take 20–70 days.
• Step 6 — Travel to Canada: Plan travel after your permit’s start date.

Most international students can work up to 20 hours per week. After graduation, the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) lets you gain Canadian work experience toward permanent residence.

The Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot (RNIP) is a community-driven program designed to spread the benefits of economic immigration to smaller communities by creating a path to permanent residence for skilled foreign workers who want to work and live in a participating community.

Who can apply

• Have qualifying work experience or graduated from a publicly funded post-secondary institution in the recommending community
• Meet language and educational requirements
• Prove sufficient funds to support your transition
• Intend to live in the community
• Meet community-specific requirements

Participating communities include North Bay, Sudbury, Timmins, Thunder Bay, Brandon, Moose Jaw, Vernon, and others across Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, and BC.

International students exemption

You are exempt from the work experience criteria if you graduated with a credential from a post-secondary program of 2+ years (studied full-time, received credential no more than 18 months before applying, and were in the community for at least 16 of the last 24 months) or a master’s degree or higher (studied full-time for the duration and were in the community throughout).

Language requirements

• NOC 0 and A: CLB/NCLC 6
• NOC B: CLB/NCLC 5
• NOC C and D: CLB/NCLC 4

Results must be from a designated language test and less than 2 years old when you apply.

Educational requirements

You must have one of: a Canadian secondary school diploma, a Canadian post-secondary certificate/diploma/degree, or an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) report showing your foreign credential equals a Canadian secondary or post-secondary credential (ECA must be less than 5 years old).

The Caregiver Pilot Program is for individuals who wish to migrate and work in Canada as caregivers. Two programs were launched in 2019: the Home Child Care Provider Pilot (HCCP) and the Home Support Worker Pilot (HSWP).

Caregivers receive a work permit upon securing a job offer in Canada. After 2 years of Canadian work experience, they may apply for permanent residence.

Basic eligibility (employees)

• Work experience under NOC 4411 or NOC 4412; at least 2 years required for PR
• Genuine and valid job offer from a Canadian employer
• At least CLB 5 language skills
• At least 1 year of post-secondary education

Job Offer Criteria (for employers)

• Job offer must be made using Offer of Employment IMM 5983
• Job must be full-time and located anywhere in Canada except Quebec
• Job offer must match NOC 4411 or NOC 4412
• Employer must demonstrate inability to fill the role through a Canadian citizen or permanent resident

A positive LMIA is generally required before a Canadian employer can hire a temporary foreign worker. Employers must advertise the position for at least four weeks and demonstrate that no qualified Canadian citizen or permanent resident was available.

The LMIA process distinguishes between high-wage and low-wage employees based on the provincial/territorial median wage. Applications are detailed and require extensive documentation.

Work permit streams that are LMIA-exempt fall under the International Mobility Program. Our expertise can help save your business time and costs throughout this process.

If you are a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, you can sponsor your spouse, common-law or conjugal partner, dependent children, or parents to immigrate to Canada.

As a sponsor you must prove you can meet basic needs — food, clothing, and shelter — support your relative financially, and ensure they do not need government financial assistance.

Spousal & common-law sponsorship

Canadian citizens and permanent residents may sponsor their spouse or common-law partner for permanent residence. Both the sponsor and sponsored person must be approved by IRCC. Key considerations include civil status, shared location, and whether the sponsor is a citizen or PR.

Express Entry is a competitive immigration system that ranks eligible candidates and invites the highest-ranked to apply for Canadian permanent residence. It manages applications across three federal programs: the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP), and Canadian Experience Class (CEC).

Candidates are ranked by age, education, language proficiency, work experience, and other factors. Successful applicants can expect processing within six months of submitting their application.

Two-step process

• Step 1 — Complete your Express Entry profile: You are ranked against other candidates in the pool. The highest-ranked and those with valid job offers or provincial nominations receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA).
• Step 2 — Invitation to Apply: Once invited, you have 60 days to submit a complete electronic application. CIC aims to process within six months.

The Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program (AIPP) is an employer-driven federal immigration program designed to help Atlantic region employers fill permanent labour shortages by supporting foreign nationals for permanent residency.

Three programs under the AIPP

• Atlantic High-Skilled Program: For skilled workers with management, professional, or technical experience. Job offer must last at least one year.
• Atlantic Intermediate-Skilled Program: For candidates requiring high school education and/or job-specific training. Job offer must be permanent.
• Atlantic International Graduate Program: For graduates from publicly-funded Atlantic institutions. Work experience not required. Job offer must last at least one year.

All candidates require a Settlement Plan after receiving a job offer. Certain candidates may also apply for a temporary work permit while their PR application is processed.