We tell you what a Work Permit is, what is needed to obtain a work permit in Canada for Russians and residents of CIS countries, a list of necessary documents for obtaining a visa.
A program for simplified entry into Canada has begun for citizens of Ukraine and their close relatives .
Work Permit – a permit to work in Canada, which:
- Allows a person who is not a Canadian citizen or permanent resident to work in Canada. If you have not yet found an employer, we recommend our article – how to find a job in Canada ;
- necessary if you want to work in Canada, even if your employer is located outside of Canada;
- generally valid only for a specific employer, job, and length of time;
- issued on the basis of a permit for an employer to hire a foreign employee (LMIA), or on the basis of an offer of work from an employer who is exempt from obtaining this permit.
Below we will tell you in detail about each point and describe how to obtain work permits in Canada.
The visa on which you come to Canada is not a work permit, it is a visa that allows you to stay in Canada. Work Permit is a separate document that is issued when you first cross the Canadian border on a work visa.
We have posted the latest ranking of in-demand professions in Canada .
Is it possible to enter Canada now on a work visa?
Yes. There are no restrictions specifically for Russians. Also, on October 1, 2022, coronavirus restrictions were lifted. Read more in the article: how to travel to Canada in 2024 .
Types of work permit
Work permits can be of several types depending on the applicant’s situation. They are divided into:
- Work Permit : a regular work permit, which is issued if you have already received a job offer from a Canadian employer and have issued a work visa;
- Open Work Permit : An open work permit that is issued in certain cases. It does not require a valid job offer.
This article is about a regular work permit. You can read about open permission in a separate article Open Work Permit .
Requirements for the employer
To go to Canada on a work visa, when submitting documents you need to take into account that in order to make a positive decision, not only you as the applicant must meet the requirements, but also the employer.
In particular, he must:
- provide a valid and genuine offer of employment;
- have a positive reputation for the last 6 years in hiring foreign workers, namely: complying with the conditions for wages, workplace and work performed;
- comply with all national and provincial laws.
At the same time, not every company owner will be able to issue an invitation to a foreigner. Canada has a policy that anyone who wants to hire a citizen of another country must demonstrate the need to do so. Namely, to justify why he cannot find an employee among his fellow citizens.
This document is called LMIA , and it means that the employer can hire a foreigner.
Requirements for the applicant
Since the Work Permit is issued for a certain period of time, it is important for the immigration service that you do not remain an illegal immigrant after the end of the contract. To do this, you will need to prove your connection with your country.
Of course, the standard requirements for applicants also remain in force.
And this means that you:
- must prove their connection with the current place of residence: real estate, family;
- are not in trouble with the law and do not pose a potential danger to Canada;
- do not plan to work for an employer on the list of those who do not meet the requirements;
- do not plan to work in the erotic sphere, striptease and other related areas;
- you do not have a serious illness that requires constant care and medical supervision.
List of documents for a work visa
There are quite a lot of documents required for this type of visa , and all of them are very important. Missing any of them can significantly reduce your chances of getting a visa.
To apply for a visa you will need:
- A valid travel document is a foreign passport.
It must have at least 2 blank pages.
- Photo.
For personal submission (not currently relevant) you will need 2 photos, and for online submission – 1 electronic photo. Learn more about photo requirements for a Canada visa .
Photo requirements for a Canada work visa - Proof of job offer:
- if the employer is exempt from LMIA, an employment offer number (starting with the letter “A” and followed by seven digits) must be provided;
- If the employer has received an LMIA, a copy of this document must be provided, as well as a copy of the employment contract.
- Proof that you are suitable for the job.
For example, a valid certificate from a Canadian province or territorial trade certificate, or the presence of diplomas and certificates of education, or experience in a similar position.
- If you plan to work in Quebec, a copy of the Certificate of Acceptance of Quebec (CAQ) from the Ministry of Immigration, Diversification and Social Security (MIDI).
However, if the employer is exempt from the LMIA, a CAQ is usually not needed.
- Marriage registration certificate.
If your spouse remains in your home country, this will be a connection to your current place of residence. But, if he (s) accompanies you, then this document is necessary to prove the relationship with the accompanying person.
You can also confirm your civil relationship by additionally completing Form IMM 5409 .
- Birth certificates of minor children.
By analogy with spouses, children increase their chances by remaining in their home country. But when accompanied, certificates will be required to prove relationship.
- Birth certificates of other family members.
They will be required to prove your relationship if they accompany you.
- Certificates for real estate in your home country or country of residence.
These documents will increase your chances, as they connect you with your homeland.
- Business ownership documents.
They will help confirm additional financial support for your trip, and will also give you a slightly better chance of connecting with your homeland.
- Documents confirming status in the country of residence.
If you are not currently residing in the country as a citizen, you will need to provide a document confirming your official status.
- Bank account statement for the last 4 months.
Despite the fact that you are traveling to work and earn money, you will need to support yourself and accompanying family members at least for the first time.
- Questionnaires IMM 1295 and IMM 5645 or IMM 5707.
The exact list of questionnaires will be provided to you by a visa specialist when submitting documents in person, or the system will provide you with it after registering in your personal account .
All Canada work visa documents must be translated into English or French if provided in another language.
Rules for document translation:
- the translation must be accurate;
- it cannot be executed by the applicant or any member of the applicant’s family;
- it must be certified by the round seal of the translator company, as well as the signature of the translator himself;
- must contain contact information, as well as the name of the person who carried out the translation.
Application process and fees
The application is submitted online through Canada’s official website canada.ca .
Fees must be paid to complete the application process. The cost of a work permit and visa is 155 CAD. And also for everyone over 14 years old, biometrics will be required. The fee for it is 85 CAD.
After successful payment, you will receive a request to submit biometrics within 24 hours . This must be done within 30 days, otherwise the application will be cancelled.
Also, in most cases (99%) you are required to undergo a medical examination; you will receive an additional request for this in your personal account.
The work permit itself – Work Permit – will be given to you by a border service officer when crossing the border. Please note that the visa in your passport does not guarantee you 100% success, so be careful and follow all the instructions of the border guards; they make the final decision.
If you need any assistance, check out our visa services and then contact us for the right one.