Work in Canada
Work in Canada
Foreign workers in Canada are very important as they help to build local economies and contribute to the country’s prosperity overall. Consequently, Canada is committed to facilitate the entry of temporary workers every year. In some industries in specific, such as agriculture and fisheries, foreign workers are vital to their operations.
As a general rule, most individuals interested in working in Canada have to first obtain a valid work permit before being authorized to engage in work activities. Navigating a work permit application can be a complex process as it contains multiple layers and if necessary, it requires collaboration between the applicant and his or her employer.
Processing times also vary and depend on factors such as the type of work in Canada, its length and the applicant’s location. As such, the applicant could be subject to an expediting process or it may require several weeks for the permit to be processed. In addition, there are several federal and provincial streams that allow individuals to obtain work permits. Regardless of the program’s specific conditions, most of them share general requirements that have to be met by either the applicant or the employer.
Work in Canada
The distinction between different types of work permits start with whether an LMIA is required or not to apply for one. Beware that obtaining an LMIA is solely an employer-led process and, if required, it can add some extra weeks to the regular work permit processing time. When an LMIA is mandatory, the employer must obtain a positive decision from Service Canada before providing the job offer to the potential immigrant. On the other hand, the government has also put up some exceptions to the traditional LMIA path, which are covered under the International Mobility Program. Essentially, this is an umbrella program comprising special work permit sub programs as a result of international agreements, federal-provincial agreements, public policy, amongst others.
Once the employer has identified whether or not an LMIA is needed, the second step is to determine if the potential immigrant will need a job offer or not. When it comes to economic immigration programs with employer support, a job is required. However, other groups such as open work permit applicants for accompanying spouses or study permit holders do not require a job offer. When considering job offers, the employer alongside with the applicant needs to comply with all the requirements that make a genuine offer. This can include:
- Matching previous work experience with current job description
- Identifying relevant National Occupation Codes (NOC) to provide an accurate job title and job description to the offer
- If applicable, details about salary, place of work, employer contact information should also be included
- Specific position requirements; such as credentials, education, skills
After the applicant has received a job offer and has applied for a permit, it is very likely that an employer specific work permit will be issued. Often, this type of work permit is also known as a “closed” work permit and it restricts the individual to work for other employers. Therefore, if the foreign worker found a new job opportunity with a different employer, then a new work permit must be issued. Contrary to “open” work permits, where the individual could work for different employers without having to necessarily apply for a new permit.
As a result, obtaining a work permit in Canada has multiple stages. It can also encompass different players such as the Ministry of Immigration, the Ministry of Employment and Social Development (Service Canada) and very often, a Canadian employer willing to make a job offer. Even though obtaining a work permit only allows immigrants to work temporarily in the country, it is still a door to permanent residence. Applicants can gain enough work experience in Canada to then transition through different federal or provincial pathways to permanent residency.
Regards,
SmartImmigrant (Work in Canada)
