How to Apply for a Canadian Work Permit
Canadian work permits come in two types. An employer-specific permit ties you to one employer and an LMIALabour Market Impact Assessment — The document showing a Canadian employer could not find a citizen/PR for a job, needed for many employer-specific work permits.Click for official info ↗. An open permit lets you work for any employer. Open permits include post-graduation, spousal, and IEC working holiday permits. You apply online through the IRCCImmigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada — The Canadian government department that runs Express Entry, work and study permits, PR cards, and citizenship.Click for official info ↗ portal. You need your employer's offer details: the LMIA number, or the LMIA-exempt category. You also need biometrics, and proof that you will leave at the end.
At a glance
- Cost:
- Employer-specific: $155 + $85 biometrics = $240; open permit: $155 + $100 + $85 = $340
- Total time:
- Varies by stream and country — check current times on canada.ca
- Steps:
- 8 steps
- Where to apply:
- canada.ca
Last reviewed October 2026 against official sources. Re-checked every 6 months · next review due April 2027.
The Steps
Follow these in order
Each card shows the phase, expected time, and any cost. Data checked against official CAN sources(October 2026).
0 of 8 steps
- Before You Go 1–2 hours
Identify your permit route
There are four broad routes. (1) LMIA-backed employer-specific: your employer proves no Canadian is available for the job. (2) LMIA-exempt: international agreements (USMCA for Americans and Mexicans, CETA transfers), transfers inside a company, or "significant benefit". (3) Open permits: post-graduation (PGWPPost-Graduation Work Permit — The open work permit letting international graduates of eligible Canadian programs work for any employer.Click for official info ↗), spouse of a student or worker, IEC working holiday. (4) A provincial nomination with a job offer. Each route needs its own set of documents. So choose your route first.
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- Before You Go 1–2 weeks
Get documents translated (non-English/French)
Reference letters, diplomas, trade certificates, or police clearances that are not in English or French need certified translations. Send the translations with the originals. The translator must be certified by a Canadian provincial or territorial translators association. Or the translator must be officially sworn in the country that issued the document. Job offer letters are usually in English already. Supporting documents often are not. Certified services charge $25–$60 per page. This guide is also available in Hindi, Nepali, Português (Brasil), and Español. Use the language dropdown at the top of the page.
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- Go Weeks to months (employer-driven)
Get the offer and LMIA (or exemption code)
For an LMIA-backed permit, your employer files with Employment and Social Development Canada. The employer pays the $1,000 fee. First, the employer advertises the job. The employer also shows the wage is above the median for the NOCNational Occupational Classification — Canada's system for categorizing jobs. Your work experience must map to a TEER 0–3 NOC for Express Entry.Click for official info ↗. A positive LMIA is tied to one job offer, and it names you. LMIA-exempt offers have an exemption code. The employer puts the code in the offer letter and in the portal.
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- Fill / Prepare 2–4 hours
Submit the online application
Apply through the IRCC portal. Answer the eligibility questions. Upload your offer letter (with the LMIA number or exemption code), your passport, your photos, and your supporting proof. Processing times differ by stream and by country. Check the current times on canada.ca. Paper and complex cases take longer. Fees: $155 + $85 biometrics for an employer-specific permit. For an open permit, add the $100 open work permit holder fee.
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- Submit & Pay 15 min + booking
Give biometrics
After you apply, you get a biometrics instruction letter within 24–72 hours. Book at a VAC (Visa Application Centre) within 30 days. The fingerprints and photo take 15 minutes. The fee is $85, or $170 for a family. IRCC can reuse your biometrics for 10 years, across all your applications.
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- Wait Varies by stream and country
Wait for the decision and passport request
IRCC may ask for more documents. IRCC may also ask for an upfront medical exam. This applies to healthcare and food-handling workers, and to applicants from certain countries. Once you are approved, you get one of two things. If you applied from abroad, you get a port-of-entry letter of introduction. Show it at the border. The officer there gives you the actual permit. If you applied from inside Canada, the permit comes by mail.
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- Follow Up 1–2 hours
Land and start work correctly
At the border, the officer prints your work permit. Check the employer name, the NOC, the location, and the expiry date BEFORE you leave the counter. Errors are easy to fix on the spot. They are painful to fix later. Then apply for your SINSocial Insurance Number — Your 9-digit Canadian work and tax number. You need it to work, open accounts, and receive benefits.Click for official info ↗. Your permit is your status document. Also register for provincial health coverage if your permit is 12+ months. This depends on the province.
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- Receive —
Know your permit conditions
An employer-specific permit ties you to one employer, one location, and one role. If you change jobs, you need a NEW permit before you start. An open permit lets you work for anyone in Canada. Both permits stop on the day they expire. Apply for an extension at least 30 days before the expiry date. This gives you maintained status.
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FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Can my spouse work while I am on a work permit?
Often, yes. But a spouse or common-law partner can get an open work permit only in certain cases. The worker must be in TEERTraining, Education, Experience and Responsibilities — The 0–5 skill level within the NOC system. TEER 0–3 jobs qualify for Express Entry.Click for official info ↗ 0 or 1. Or the worker must be in a select TEER 2/3 occupation. These are natural and applied sciences, construction, health care, natural resources, education, sports, and military. The worker must also have a work permit or authorization of at least 16 months. These rules have been in force since 21 January 2025. The rules changed in 2025, and spousal open permits were narrowed. So check the current policy for your NOC before your partner counts on it.
What is maintained (implied) status?
If you apply to extend before your permit expires, you keep working under the same conditions until IRCC decides. This does not apply if your permit has already expired. Then you must stop work. You may need restoration. The cost is a $246.25 restoration fee + $155 for a new work permit = $401.25 total. You have a 90-day window.
Do US citizens need an LMIA?
No, not for USMCA (former NAFTA) professional occupations. Americans and Mexicans in listed professions get LMIA-exempt employer-specific permits. They need a job offer and the right qualifications. These are usually processed in weeks.
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