CANADA WORK VISA
There are several Canada work visa options to choose from and apply for depending on the purpose of your immigration to Canada—with LMIA or not.
Find out the most suitable Canada work visa for your profile with Canada Immigration Xperts.
OUR SERVICES FOR CANADA WORK VISA
Canada Immigration Xperts
Business Visitor
When a foreign national visits Canada to take part in business activities, but does not enter the Canadian labour market, they are known as a business visitor and may work without a work permit.
Temporary Work Permit with LMIA
Most foreign workers will require a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) based work permit when working in Canada temporarily.
LMIA Exemptions
A positive Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) is required in most cases by a Canadian employer. Despite this, the need for a LMIA could be waived in some situations. Please feel free to contact us to find out more.
NAFTA Work Permits
Under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), American and Mexican citizens could be eligible for facilitated processing when applying for a temporary work permit.
Intra Company Transfer
Using this permit, a company or enterprise may bring certain employees from an office abroad to Canada, without the need for a LMIA.
Post-Graduate Work Permits
If an international student has completed post-secondary education in Canada and wishes to stay and gain up to three years work experience, they may use a Post-Graduate Work Permit.
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BUSINESS VISITOR
Business Visitor Visa
When a foreign national visits Canada to take part in business or trade activities, but does not enter the Canadian Labour Market, they are known as a business visitor.
Introduction to : Business Visitor VISA in Canada
Due to it being one of the worlds largest and strongest economies, thousands of short-term business visitors travel to Canada every year. Some of these visitors can conduct business or trade activity without needing a work permit, depending on the nationality and type of work.
To be eligible for the business visitor visa, a visitor must:
- Plan to stay in Canada for less than six months
- Not plan to enter the Canadian Labour Market
- Have a main place of business and source of income and profits, outside of Canada
- Meet Canada’s basic entry requirements (have a valid travel document, such as a passport, have enough money for their stay and to return home, plan to leave Canada at the end of your visit, and are not a criminal, security or health risk to Canadians.
Here are examples of why an individual may travel to Canada as a business visitor:
- To attend business meetings, conferences, conventions, fairs, etc
- To buy Canadian goods or services on behalf of a foreign entity
- To take orders for goods or services
- To provide after-sales service, excluding hands-on work in the construction trades
- To be trained by a Canadian parent company for work outside of Canada
- To train employees of a Canadian subsidiary of a foreign company.
To travel to Canada as a business visitor, a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) or Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) may be required. Please get in touch with our immigration consultant Chitra today, who can help you in creating your application and answer any questions you may have.
TEMPORARY WORK PERMIT WITH LMIA
Labour Market Impact Assessment Work Permits (LMIA-based work permits).
Temporary work permits allow over 300,000 foreign workers to travel to Canada each year. Whilst working in Canada temporarily, a work permit will be required by most foreign workers.
Introduction to : Canada Temporary Work Permit.
An offer of employment to a foreign worker is usually required from a Canadian employer before the worker may be granted a Temporary work Permit by Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC). This is a several step process. A temporary Resident Visa (TRV) may also be needed in order to enter Canada, depending upon the foreign workers country of citizenship.
Our Regulated Immigration Consultant can help you in creating your visa application. Please get in touch with us today.
Canada Immigration Consultant
Chitra Bhatia
LMIA EXEMPTIONS
Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) Exemptions.
In most cases, a positive Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) must be received by a Canadian employer to allow a temporary foreign worker to enter Canada. However in certain scenarios, the need for this LMIA could be waived.
Introduction to : Working in Canada without a LMIA
Working in Canada without a LMIA is a possibility, shown below are some common scenarios where an LMIA is not required.
Please note: Despite some pathways not requiring an LMIA to allow an individual to work in Canada, this individual will still require a work permit. Any stream on the LMIA exemption list still legally requires the individual to gain a work permit.
POSSIBLE LMIA-EXEMPT SITUATIONS
Work in Canada.
Significant benefit
You can either be a part of a significant social or cultural benefit ( e.g. scholarly contributions ; publications ; leading role in an organization ; …) or Entrepreneurs/Self-Employed Persons, for Intra-Company Transferees, Dependents Of Foreign Workers, French-Speaking Skilled Workers, Academics, Provincial LMIA Exemptions.
Reciprocal employment
Reciprocal employment agreements allow foreign workers to take up employment in Canada when Canadians have similar reciprocal work opportunities abroad.
It can be with International Agreements or the International Exchange Programs
Canadian Experience Class
In the Canadian context, charity is defined as the relief of poverty, advancement of education or certain other purposes that benefit the community. Religious work normally entails a requirement for the foreign national to be part of, or share, the beliefs of the particular religious community where he or she intends to work.
NAFTA WORK PERMITS
Permit issued under the North American Free Trade Agreement (allow you to work without a LMIA).
Under the North American Free Trade Agreement, a permit may be issued to allow American and Mexican citizens to work without a LMIA, as well as the possibility of facilitated processing when applying for a temporary Work Permit.
Introduction to : NAFTA Work Permits
A Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA), is not usually required for work permits operating under the provisions of NAFTA. Despite this, employers and workers who use the NAFTA program are required to adhere to all provisions governing temporary work in Canada. As American and Mexican citizens do not need a Temporary Resident Visa to enter Canada, NAFTA work permit applications can be done at a Visa office, by paper or online, or at a Port of Entry into Canada (such as an airport or border crossing).
Ready to move to Canada from US or Mexico? We can help! Get started by booking a consultation to understand if you are eligible.
CATEGORIES OF TEMPORARY
WORK COVERED UNDER NAFTA
Work in Canada.
NAFTA Professionals
A NAFTA Professional is someone who is qualified to work in one of around 60 targeted professions. An applicant may be required to provide educational credentials and/or proof of work experience in the field, depending on their profession.
NAFTA Intra-Company Transfers
A NAFTA Intra-Company Transfer is transferred to Canada on a temporary basis, to work for a branch, subsidiary or affiliate of their US or Mexican employer.
NAFTA Traders
A NAFTA Trader demonstrates the intention to carry out substantial trade of goods or services between Canada and their country of citizenship, either in the US or Mexico.
NAFTA Investors
A NAFTA Investor demonstrates that they have made a substantial investment in a new or existing Canadian business and that they are seeking entry to Canada to develop and direct the Canadian business.
INTRA COMPANY TRANSFER
These permits will allow a company to bring certain employees to Canada from its offices abroad without a LMIA.
A foreign business who has a Canadian parent company, branch, subsidiary or affiliate has the option to bring key employees to Canada using the Intra-Company Transfer program.
Introduction to : Intra Company Transfer
A Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) is not required when gaining a work permit through this program, although workers and employers who use the Intra Company Transfer must adhere to all provisions governing temporary work in Canada, this includes obtaining a Temporary Resident Visa, if necessary.
To take part in this program, a transferee must have at least one year of full-time work experience with the foreign business and be performing comparable work when at the Canadian affiliate. This work must fall under one of three categories:
- Executive- An employee who directs the management of the business or a major component of it.
- Senior Managerial- An employee who manages all/part of the business and supervises/controls the work of other managers/professional employees.
- Specialized Knowledge- An employee who possesses expertise of the company’s product/service, or an advanced knowledge in the enterprise’s processes and procedures.
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POST-GRADUATE WORK PERMITS
For International Students In Canada
After completing studies in a designated post-secondary learning institution on an eligible program, international graduates may apply for a Post-Graduation Work Permit, allowing them to work in Canada.
Introduction to : Working in Canada after Graduation
To be eligible for a Post-Graduation Work Permit, the following criteria must be met by the international student:
- The student must have studied full-time in Canada in at least an eight month long program.
- An application for the permit must be entered within 90 days of receiving confirmation from their academic institution that they have met the requirements of their program.
- The student must have completed and passed the program of study, receiving written notification that they are eligible to obtain their degree, diploma or certificate.
- The student must have a valid study permit when applying for the work permit.
For any questions about the Post-Graduation Work Permit, and to learn how you can stay and work in Canada once your studies are complete, please do not hesitate to book a consultation with Chitra, our Immigration Consultant.
Disclaimer: There may be other requirements and information that you may need before applying for a visa. For complete and up to date information, please visit Citizenship and Immigration Canada website (cic.gc.ca).
OWNER/OPERATOR WORK PERMIT
Work permit that offers a facilitated route through which majority owners of a company can acquire the right to work in Canada legally.
Canada is the logical choice for many businesspersons around the world, when embarking upon a new business venture or expanding an existing business.
Introduction to : Owner/Operator Work Permits
Many business owners would be dissuaded from considering Canada as an option for the location of their company if they had to go through the same work permit process as other foreign nationals.
For a successful work permit application, the positive approval of a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) is usually required, this is where the difficulty lies in the standard work permit process.
For an LMIA to be approved, an employer must usually demonstrate that attempts were made to hire a Canadian for the position the foreign worker is taking. This involves advertising in specific sources for a certain amount of time, as well as filling in a recruitment report documenting how many Canadians applied and why none of them were suitable for the role. Because of the unwillingness to hire a foreign worker for a job that a Canadian could do, these applications are scrutinized closely and can be rejected if they do not conform to the exact requirements the government employs.
Despite this, many business owners could be eligible for an Owner/Operator work permit, which would mean that it would not be necessary for them to meet the advertising requirements of the LMIA . This makes the process much easier, as it eliminates what is usually the most problematic part of the work permit application.
This work permit, therefore, provides a facilitated route that allows foreign nationals to enter the country and run their business. Most business owners would be extremely reluctant to surrender the helm of their Canadian business due to a lengthy work permit application process, meaning they would often look elsewhere to start or expand their business. Thanks to the option this permit allows business owners, this issue is effectively addressed.
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SEARCH FOR CAREERS
Before immigrate to Canada
Many international students who complete post-secondary education in Canada wish to stay and obtain Canadian work experience.
Introduction to : Work in Canada
- Canada is the world’s tenth largest economy as of 2016, with a nominal GDP of approximately US$1.52 trillion
- Member of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)
- Member of the Group of Eight (G8)
- One of the world’s top ten trading nations
- Ranks above the US and most western European nations on The Heritage Foundation’s index of economic freedom
- Has a relatively low level of income disparity
Average household disposable income per capita is over US$23,900, higher than the OECD average - Toronto Stock Exchange is the seventh-largest stock exchange in the world by market capitalization
Have a look at the careers possible in Canada and find your next job!
