Each year, thousands of foreign workers come to Canada on temporary work permits to support Canadian businesses and help address labour shortages. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) work together to ensure that hiring foreign workers supports Canada’s economy while protecting opportunities for Canadian citizens and permanent residents.

A work permit allows a foreign national to work in Canada for a specific employer, location, and duration, unless issued as an open work permit.

Work Permit Canada

Steps to Follow Before Applying for a Work Permit

In many cases, a Canadian employer must first offer you a job. Depending on the type of work permit, the employer may need to obtain a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) from Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC).

An LMIA confirms that hiring a foreign worker will not negatively affect the Canadian labour market and that reasonable efforts were made to recruit Canadian citizens or permanent residents.

After a positive LMIA (if required) and a valid job offer are obtained, the applicant can apply to IRCC for a work permit.

Job Offer and Employer Requirements

In most employer-specific work permit cases:

• The applicant must have a valid job offer from a Canadian employer
• The employer may need an approved LMIA (unless the job is LMIA-exempt under international agreements or special programs)
• The employer must comply with current immigration and employment regulations

Some work permits are LMIA-exempt, including certain international agreements, intra-company transfers, and other specialized categories.

Bridging Open Work Permit

A Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP) allows certain permanent residence applicants already in Canada to continue working while waiting for a final decision on their application.

To be eligible for a Bridging Open Work Permit, applicants must generally:

• Be currently in Canada
• Have valid temporary resident status
• Have applied for permanent residence under an eligible immigration program
• Meet IRCC eligibility requirements at the time of application

Eligibility criteria and processing rules may change, so applicants should always check the latest IRCC guidance.