Work Permit

Foreign workers require a work permit in order to work in Canada on a temporary basis. The Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) is designed to enable Canadian employers to hire foreign workers in response to labour shortages.

You can apply for a work permit in the following streams:

Temporary workers
Business people
Students

1. Temporary Worker

In most cases, you require a work permit in Canada. However, there are some scenarios where you may not need it. Click here to find out which occupations require a work permit. There are 2 types of work permits:

open work permits
employer-specific work permits

Click here to view which type of work permit you can apply for.

Whether you are applying from inside or outside Canada, you must meet all of the following requirements:

prove that you will leave Canada once your permit expires
prove that you have enough funds to support yourself and your family
obey the law, engage in no criminal activity, and not be a danger to Canada's security
be in good health (a medical exam may be required)
not work for an ineligible employer

Additional requirements must be met depending on your situation.

2. Business People

Business people can work in Canada if they qualify under the following free trade agreements:

North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)
Other Free Trade Agreements (FTAs)
General Agreement on Trade and Services (GATS)

3. Students

International students in Canada can work on or off-campus if their study permit allows. Students can only start working once their studies have begun.

3.1 Work On-Campus

In order to work on-campus without a work permit, you must:

be a full-time post-secondary student
have a valid study permit
have a Social Insurance Number (SIN)

3.2 Work Off-Campus

In order to work off-campus without a work permit, you must:

have a valid study permit that allows you to work off-campus
be a full-time student at a Designated Learning Institution
have started studying
- the study program must be at least 6 months long or lead to a degree, diploma, or certificate
have a Social Insurance Number (SIN)

3.2 Co-op or Internship

In order to work as a co-op student or intern, you can apply for a work permit if:

you have a valid study permit
the work is required to complete your study program
you have a letter from your school confirming that the work term is required
the co-op or internship totals 50% or less of the study program

3.3 Work Permit for a Spouse or Common-Law Partner

A student's spouse or common-law partner can apply for an open work permit if you:

have a valid study permit
are a full-time student at a public post-secondary school, private college-level school, or a Canadian private school that can legally reward degrees

Work Permit

1. Temporary Worker

​

In most cases, you require a work permit in Canada. However, there are some scenarios where you may not need it. Click here to find out which occupations require a work permit. There are 2 types of work permits:

​

open work permits

employer-specific work permits

​

Click here to view which type of work permit you can apply for.

​

Whether you are applying from inside or outside Canada, you must meet all of the following requirements:

​

prove that you will leave Canada once your permit expires

prove that you have enough funds to support yourself and your family

obey the law, engage in no criminal activity, and not be a danger to Canada's security

be in good health (a medical exam may be required)

not work for an ineligible employer

​

Additional requirements must be met depending on your situation.

​

2. Business People

​

Business people can work in Canada if they qualify under the following free trade agreements:

​

North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)

Other Free Trade Agreements (FTAs)

General Agreement on Trade and Services (GATS)

​

3. Students

​

International students in Canada can work on or off-campus if their study permit allows. Students can only start working once their studies have begun.

3.1 Work On-Campus

​

In order to work on-campus without a work permit, you must:

​

be a full-time post-secondary student

have a valid study permit

have a Social Insurance Number (SIN)

​

3.2 Work Off-Campus

​

In order to work off-campus without a work permit, you must:

​

have a valid study permit that allows you to work off-campus

be a full-time student at a Designated Learning Institution

have started studying

the study program must be at least 6 months long or lead to a ​degree, diploma, or certificate

have a Social Insurance Number (SIN)

​

3.2 Co-op or Internship

​

In order to work as a co-op student or intern, you can apply for a work permit if:

​

you have a valid study permit

the work is required to complete your study program

you have a letter from your school confirming that the work term is required

the co-op or internship totals 50% or less of the study program

​

3.3 Work Permit for a Spouse or Common-Law Partner

​

A student's spouse or common-law partner can apply for an open work permit if you:

​

have a valid study permit

are a full-time student at a public post-secondary school, private college-level school, or a Canadian private school that can legally reward degrees

​

Get Started

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Contact us today to learn about which program is right for you!

the study program must be at least 6 months long or lead to a degree, diploma, or certificate