Work Permits

Smiling butcher in a red uniform and backward cap cutting meat at a market counter, with meat displays and another worker behind him. Work permit in Canada.

There are a few options for obtaining a work permit, depending on your situation. They can be tied to an employer or be for open work.

Employer Specific Work Permits

These are work permits that are tied to a specific employer, job, or location. An LMIA (Labour Market Impact Assessment) is completed by an employer to hire foreign workers. If needed, our firm can assist employers with these LMIA applications as well.

LMIA Based Work Permits

Certain work permits are exempt from the LMIA requirement. These include those tied to international free trade agreements, the Francophone mobility program, intra-company transfers, and for specific, in-demand occupations.

Non-LMIA Based Work Permits

Open Work Permits

  • Post-Graduate Work Permit (PGWP) for recently graduated students

  • International Experience Canada (IEC) for youth aged 18 to 35 from specific countries around the world

  • Spouses and Common-Law Partners OWP for those whose partner has a valid work or study permit of their own

  • Permanent Resident Applicants for both family members being sponsored and for workers applying for PR (ie the Bridging Open Work Permit)

  • Vulnerable Workers for those on a work permit that have experienced abuse at their job

These work permits are not tied to any specific employer and do not require a job offer or LMIA. Some of the programs available for OWP status are:

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