How to Apply for a Work Permit in Canada

Most foreign nationals need a work permit to work in Canada, even if they already have a job offer from a Canadian employer. The right application route depends on whether you need a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) (sometimes searched as market impact assessment LMIA), whether you qualify under the International Mobility Program, and whether you are applying from outside Canada or inside Canada.

This guide walks through the process in plain language, with practical tips that can help you avoid delays and refusals.

Key Takeaways

• Most foreign nationals need a Canadian work permit to work legally in Canada, with limited exemptions.

• Many employer-specific work permits require an LMIA from Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) to show the hire will not negatively affect Canadian workers.

• Canada’s two main work permit types are employer-specific work permits and open work permit options (including some LMIA-exempt categories).

• Typical government fees include CAN$155 for a work permit and CAN$85 for biometrics, with an additional CAN$100 for many open work permit applications.

• If you apply to extend or change conditions before your permit expires, you may be able to stay (and in many cases keep working) while IRCC processes the application (often called maintained status).

• Processing times vary widely. For the most accurate timelines, use IRCC’s “check processing times” page.

Types of Work Permits in Canada

Canada generally issues work permits in two categories: employer-specific and open.

An employer-specific work permit is tied to one Canadian employer, one role, and often one location. In many cases, it requires a labour market impact assessment (LMIA) first. The LMIA is an assessment by ESDC to determine whether hiring a foreign worker is likely to have a positive or neutral effect on the labour market in Canada.

An open work permit is not tied to a single employer. That flexibility is why people often search for “Canada work permit visa” or “temporary work permit” when what they really need is an open-work-permit pathway. Many open work permits are LMIA-exempt (for example, some spouses and some graduates), but eligibility rules depend on the specific program and the applicant’s circumstances.

If you are not sure which category you fit into, start by identifying whether you are in the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (LMIA-driven) or the International Mobility Program (LMIA-exempt). That single distinction drives most of the “how to apply work permit in Canada” decision-making.

Who Can Apply for a Canadian Work Permit?

Eligibility depends on the specific permit type, but there are a few common threads across most applications.

First, the applicant must be admissible to Canada, including being able to satisfy an officer they will leave Canada when their work authorization expires, having sufficient funds to support themselves (and family members, if accompanying), and being able to meet health and security requirements. IRCC may require a medical exam depending on factors like the intended length of stay, where the person has lived, and the occupation. Officers may also request a police clearance certificate.

Second, applicants must be able to show they meet the requirements of the job, which can include education, work experience, licensing, or trade certification depending on the occupation.

Third, many applicants will need either:

• an LMIA number / LMIA approval package and a detailed job offer letter (for LMIA-required routes), or

• an employer “offer of employment” number submitted through the Employer Portal (for many LMIA-exempt employer-specific routes).

If you are aiming to transition to permanent residence, a work permit can be an excellent bridge. Canadian work experience can strengthen pathways like Express Entry (including the Canadian Experience Class) and some Provincial Nominee Programs, depending on the facts. (This is why people often pair “work permit in Canada” searches with “Express Entry” or “federal skilled worker program”.)

Work Permit Requirements in Canada

IRCC’s baseline requirements for workers are consistent across categories. You generally must show that you:

• will leave Canada at the end of the authorized period

• have enough money to support yourself and return home

• are law-abiding and will comply with Canadian laws

• are not a security risk

• are in good health (and complete a medical exam if required)

• will not work for an ineligible employer, and will not work in certain restricted industries if applicable

• will provide any additional required documents requested by the officer

Two practical points matter a lot in real files:

One, your work permit validity cannot exceed your valid passport expiry. If your passport is expiring soon, renew it before you apply when possible.

Two, you must be consistent about your story and documentation. Work permit refusals often come from credibility gaps (job duties not matching the NOC/TEER level, wages that do not make sense for the role, weak proof of qualifications, or insufficient ties and temporary intent depending on the context). More on refusals below.

Applying for a Work Permit in Canada: Step-by-Step Process

This section is the core “how to apply work permit in Canada” walkthrough. Even though the details vary by program, the workflow is surprisingly consistent.

1) Determine the Type of Work Permit

Start with three questions:

• Are you applying from outside Canada or inside Canada?

• Do you have a Canadian job offer (and an employment contract or job offer letter)?

• Does the job require a labour market impact assessment LMIA, or are you LMIA-exempt under the International Mobility Program?

If your employer is hiring through the LMIA route, the employer usually applies for the LMIA first through ESDC, and only after approval does the worker apply to IRCC for the work permit.

If you are LMIA-exempt but still employer-specific, your employer usually submits the offer in the Employer Portal and pays the employer compliance fee (unless exempt), and you apply with the offer number.

If you are applying for an open work permit, you will focus less on employer documents and more on proving you meet the specific open-work-permit category requirements (for example, spouse/common law partner eligibility, in-Canada eligibility, or other public policy categories).

2) Gather Required Documents

Your checklist is created by IRCC’s online tool and depends on your answers, but these are commonly requested items in many work permit applicants files:

• Valid passport (all relevant pages)

• Digital photo (passport-style)

• Job offer letter and/or employment contract (especially for employer-specific permits)

• LMIA approval letter and LMIA number (if LMIA-required)

• Employer Portal “offer of employment” number (often starts with “A”) for many LMIA-exempt employer-specific permits

• Proof you meet the job requirements (education, reference letters, licensing, trade certificates)

• Proof of sufficient funds (bank statements, pay stubs, financial support evidence)

• Police clearance certificate (if requested)

• Medical exam confirmation (if required, or if you choose an upfront medical where appropriate)

If you have a common law partner and you are relying on that relationship for an open work permit pathway, you should expect to provide relationship evidence and, in many cases, a statutory declaration where required in the category checklist. (The exact evidence depends heavily on the program you are using and where you are applying from.)

3) Submit Your Application (apply online, inside Canada vs outside Canada)

For most people, the best route is to apply online through an IRCC online account. IRCC’s worker guide explains that you need a scanner/camera for electronic copies and a credit or debit card to pay the fees.

Where you apply from matters:

• Outside Canada: If approved, you usually receive a Port of Entry letter of introduction (often called a POE letter) and then receive the physical work permit at the Canadian port of entry when you arrive and are examined by CBSA.

• Inside Canada: You typically apply online and, if approved, IRCC issues the document to you in Canada (and you must be mindful of maintained status, travel risks, and timing).

A specific caution for graduates: IRCC has stated that as of June 21, 2024 you cannot apply for a post-graduation work permit at a port of entry.

4) Pay the Application Fee (typical costs)

Government fees depend on the application type, but the worker guide sets out common fees clearly:

• Work permit fee: CAN$155 per person

• Biometrics: CAN$85 per person (with family caps in some situations)

• Open work permit holder fee: CAN$100 (in addition to the work permit fee) for many open work permit applications

Typical government fees (most common scenarios)

Fees can change, and some categories have exemptions, but these figures are the standard amounts reflected in IRCC’s worker guide.

5) Provide Biometrics

If biometrics are required, you pay the biometrics fee when you apply, then wait for the biometric instruction letter, and then book an appointment at a collection point (often a VAC). IRCC also notes biometrics are generally valid for 10 years, but they cannot issue a visa/permit longer than 10 years from the last biometrics date, and you may choose to give biometrics again in some circumstances.

6) Wait for Processing

Processing time depends on the category and where you apply from. The most reliable approach is to check IRCC’s official processing time resources rather than relying on general estimates.

If your file requires an LMIA first, you should factor that in. ESDC publishes LMIA processing times (updated regularly), and in many cases LMIA processing can take months, depending on the stream and context.

7) Receive Decision and Travel to Canada

If you applied from outside Canada and you are approved, IRCC generally issues a letter with instructions for receiving your work permit at the port of entry. You present the letter and supporting documents to CBSA on arrival, and CBSA issues the physical work permit if you still meet requirements at that time.

Remember: a work permit is not a travel document. Depending on your citizenship, you may also need a temporary residence visa or electronic travel authorization to travel to Canada. IRCC’s guidance is explicit that the permit itself does not authorize travel.

Applying for a Work Permit Inside Canada

Many people search “inside Canada work permit” when they are already here as visitors, students, or workers. The first step is determining whether you are eligible to apply from inside Canada under the “in-Canada” rules (for example, you have a valid work or study permit, you are eligible for a post graduation work permit with a still-valid study permit, you are a protected person, you are a spouse/common-law partner in an eligible situation, or other specific categories).

If you are extending or changing conditions, applying before expiry is critical because it may allow you to remain in Canada legally while IRCC processes the file (maintained status). IRCC also gives specific timing mechanics, including that online submissions are assessed using UTC cutoffs.

A practical warning that matters in real life: if you leave Canada while on maintained status, you can lose your ability to work when you return until the new work permit is approved, depending on how you re-enter and what is issued. Travel planning should be done carefully when a work permit extension or change is in process.

Common Reasons for Work Permit Refusals

Refusals are not always about one missing document. They are often about the officer not being satisfied on a key legal test.

Here are frequent refusal themes we see in practice:

• Job offer credibility issues: duties do not match the claimed NOC/TEER level, wage does not align with the role, or the employer’s need is not persuasive (especially when the LMIA narrative or recruitment logic is weak).

• Insufficient proof of qualifications: the applicant has a job title but no documentary evidence showing they meet the requirements of that job.

• Temporary intent concerns: the officer is not satisfied the applicant will leave Canada at the end of the authorized period, especially where ties and circumstances are not clearly explained.

• Documentation gaps: missing required forms, missing translations, inconsistent dates, or an “incomplete” submission. IRCC’s guide warns that incomplete applications can be rejected and treated as not submitted, which can create serious status problems.

• Medical or security admissibility issues: a medical exam is required but not completed, or police certificates are requested and not provided.

If you have received a refusal, you can review AKM Law’s resource here: Work Permit Refusal

Extending or Changing a Work Permit

If your permit expires, do not assume you can just keep working. The rules depend on whether you applied before expiry, what status you held, and what you are applying for.

IRCC explains that if you apply to extend or change conditions before your work permit expires, you are legally allowed to stay in Canada while they process the application, and in many cases you may keep working under the same conditions (for employer-specific permits, that means the same employer, occupation, and location).

If you miss the deadline and lose status, restoration may be possible within 90 days in some situations, but it is discretionary and there is no guarantee. IRCC’s worker guide addresses restoration and the risks of being out of status.

If you are changing employers on an employer-specific permit, you generally need a new permit before switching. IRCC has also published a process to request interim authorization to start working for a new employer while the application is in process in some situations (this is very fact-specific and should be handled carefully).

How an Immigration Lawyer at AKM Law Can Help

A work permit application is not just a form. It is a legal case you are presenting to a visa officer, often under time pressure, and sometimes with multiple moving pieces (LMIA timing, employer compliance, family members, travel documents, medicals, and future permanent residence strategy).

At AKM Law, we typically help clients by:

• identifying the correct work permit category (LMIA vs LMIA-exempt under the International Mobility Program) and confirming eligibility requirements before you spend time and money

• advising employers on the documents that actually matter to IRCC (offer letter content, job duties alignment, wage logic, and consistency)

• building a clean evidence record that explains the role, the worker’s qualifications, and why the application should be approved

• preparing strong submissions when there are complications (past refusals, status gaps, complex travel histories, or credibility issues)

• planning for the next step, including pathways to permanent residency through Express Entry or provincial nominee programs where appropriate

And if you are dealing with a refusal or you want a second set of eyes before you reapply check out our article here.

This article is for general information only and does not constitute legal advice. For tailored guidance on your application, please contact our office.