Canada · Work Visa
Work permit categories, eligibility, sponsorship, application steps, and processing times.
Official route — published facts
Read off the responsible authority's own page. Only what it publishes appears here — a field we could not confirm is left out rather than estimated.
- Route
- Work permit — employer-specific
- Streams
- Employer-specific work permit · Open work permit
- Employer sponsorship
- Required — an employer must sponsor or nominate you
- Annual cap
- No published cap found — this is not the same as the route being uncapped.
IRCC issues two types. The employer-specific permit is the common route and needs a job offer; the employer may also need a Labour Market Impact Assessment. An open work permit needs no job offer but is limited to specific situations.
Canada publishes no single national salary floor for a work permit: the wage is assessed against the prevailing rate for that occupation in that region, so no one figure applies countrywide.
Official page: Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) ↗ · Read 2026-08
AI-drafted, editorially reviewed. Confirm specifics with the official authority.
Most foreign workers need a work permit — either employer-specific (often requiring a Labour Market Impact Assessment, LMIA) or an open work permit. Programs like the Global Talent Stream speed up skilled hires. Permits are issued by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
Work permits and immigration are administered by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). Employer-specific permits often require a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) from ESDC.
- Work permits are either employer-specific (often LMIA-based) or open.
- Express Entry manages applications for several economic permanent-residence programs.
- Some workers are LMIA-exempt under international agreements or mobility programs.
- 1
Determine the work-permit type
Decide between an employer-specific work permit and an open work permit; most employer-specific permits need a positive Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) or an LMIA-exempt offer.
- 2
Employer obtains an LMIA or offer of employment
The employer applies for an LMIA through Employment and Social Development Canada, or submits an offer of employment under an LMIA-exempt program (such as an intra-company transfer or a trade agreement).
- 3
Apply for the work permit
Apply to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) online with the job offer, LMIA number and supporting documents; some applicants use the Global Skills Strategy for faster processing.
- 4
Provide biometrics and medicals
Give biometrics and complete any required medical exam.
- 5
Receive the permit and enter Canada
On approval you receive a port-of-entry letter; the work permit is issued when you enter Canada.
- 6
Consider permanent residence
Canadian work experience can support permanent residence through Express Entry or a Provincial Nominee Program.
- Work-permit type chosen (employer-specific or open)
- LMIA or LMIA-exempt offer of employment
- IRCC work-permit application
- Biometrics + medical exam if required
- Proof of funds / supporting documents
- Port-of-entry letter (approval)
- Work permit issued at entry
- PR pathway (Express Entry / PNP) considered
- Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)
Visas, work permits and permanent residence.
- Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC)
Labour Market Impact Assessments (LMIA).
Frequently asked questions
Do I always need an LMIA?
No — LMIA-exempt routes exist (intra-company transfers, certain trade agreements, and open work permits for some spouses and graduates), but many employer-specific permits require one.
How long does a Canadian work permit last?
Duration varies by program and job offer, commonly up to a few years, and many permits are renewable while you remain eligible.
Can a work permit lead to permanent residence?
Yes — Canadian work experience helps in Express Entry and Provincial Nominee Programs, both common paths to PR.
Government portals
- Government of Canada — Canada's federal service portal — immigration, taxes, benefits, and travel info
- Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada — Express Entry, Provincial Nominee Program, work/study permits, and PR card applications
- Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) — T1 personal tax returns, corporate taxes, GST/HST, and benefit applications (CCB)