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The reason individuals explore how to apply for a Canadian work visa from Saudi Arabia can be due to many factors. These include cheaper living costs, a wider range of work benefits or something as simple as a change of climate.
Perhaps the free education and world-class health care entice you, or it could even be the affordability of living in Canada. With Canada’s goal to welcome over 1.2 million immigrants in the next three years plus all the benefits mentioned, applying for a work visa couldn’t be done at a better time.
The specifics of the Canadian work visa can be confusing, but not to worry, below we mention a few ways you can get a work visa in Canada.
How to Get a Canadian Work Visa
The two types of work visas available in Canada are an open work permit and an employer-specific work permit. The type of work permit you need is based on your job in Canada.
What Is an Open Work Permit>
An open work permit will allow you to have any job in Canada concerning your employer or location in Canada. There is a restricted open work permit that allows you to work for any employer but can bind you to the type of job you do.
The open work permit means that you are exempt from needing a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). This is a document proving that no Canadian citizen or permanent resident is willing or able to fill a specific position in Canada, allowing the employee to hire a foreign worker.
The International Mobility Program (IMP) allows Canadian employees to hire temporary foreign workers without the need for the LMIA, making IMP a very popular program because it’s a much quicker and simpler process.
The International Mobility Program serves Canada’s broader economic and cultural interests. One of these interests is the Post-Graduation Work Permit.
Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP)
The Post-Graduation Work Permit allows students who have graduated from a Designated Learning Institute (DLI) to obtain an open work visa.
With the PGWP you can work in Canada and are free to change jobs or locations within Canada. The work visa is valid for up to three years, depending on the length of the program.
You can apply for a PGWP if:
- your study permit is still valid
- you have a valid visitor record
- you have maintained full-time student status in Canada
- you submitted an application to extend your study permit before it expired and no decision has been made on your application
- you studied program at a designated learning institution that was at least eight months long
If you want to apply for a Canadian work visa from Saudi Arabia through this avenue but haven’t studied in Canada, it’s no problem! There are many affordable tertiary institutions to study in Canada. This is a great way to obtain an open work visa for Canada and in the right direction of getting a Canadian permanent residency.
What Is an Employer-Specific Permit?
Most foreign nationals looking to work in Canada are most likely to get an employer-specific work permit, also known as a closed work permit.
An employer-specific permit allows you to work as a foreign national under certain conditions or limitations on the work permit. It also limits you to one employer and position.
The limitations to an employer-specific work visa for Canada can include restrictions such as:
- Name of the employer you can work for
- How long you can work for this employer
- The location where you can work (if applicable)
One way you can get an employer-specific work visa from Saudi Arabia is through the Temporary Foreign Worker Program.
Temporary Foreign Worker Program
The Temporary Foreign Worker Program provides a solution to Canadian employers because they allow them to temporarily hire foreign nationals to fill Canada’s labour shortages and bring new skills and knowledge to help the country's economy grow.
Examples of streams you can apply for a work visa through, from the Temporary Foreign Worker Program are:
- Global Talent Stream
- Agricultural Stream
Global Talent Stream
The Global Talent Stream (GTS) is a service by the government to help employers access highly skilled global talent and expand the workforce in Canada. The benefit of going through the Global Talent Stream is that it has a much quicker processing time of as little as two weeks.
The Global Talent Stream has two categories. They are as follows:
Category A
This category is for employers who have been referred to the Global Talent Stream by one of the stream’s designated partners. Employers also need to hire individuals with unique or specialized talent.
To be eligible for category A, you need to meet the following requirements:
- Have a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA)
- You must have a job in Canada
- Must prove that you will leave Canada after your work permit expires
- Prove that you can finance your stay and your family’s stay in Canada and that you have enough funds to go back to your home country
- Have a clean criminal record
- Prove that you are not a threat to the national security of Canada
- Be in good health
Category B
This category is for employers seeking to hire highly skilled foreign workers to fill positions for in-demand jobs in Canada found on the Global Talent Occupations List.
The list includes occupations such as:
- Computer and information systems managers;
- Database analysts and data administrators
- Computer programmers and interactive media developers
If you have work experience in occupations that are on the Global Talent Occupations List, you could qualify for an employer-specific work visa.
Agriculture Stream
This stream allows you to work as a foreign temporary worker for a period of 24 months. The great benefit of this stream is that the employer must pay your round-trip transportation costs, provide affordable housing and pay for your private health insurance!
Other streams under the agricultural streams include the stream for high-wage positions and the stream for low-wage positions.
FAQ About Work Visas In Canada
Can I Appeal a Decision on a Work Permit Application?
The Immigration and Refugee Protection Act states that you have no formal right of appeal and can only reapply instead. That’s why it’s important to have the help of our Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants (RCIC) to ensure your documents are filled in correctly.
Can I Extend My Work Visa From Inside Canada?
You should apply to extend your work permit at least 30 days before your current work visa expires. Make sure your passport doesn’t expire before the requested end date of your work permit, as you won’t be able to extend it.
Where Do I Find Out if the Employer Who Offered Me a Job Is an Eligible Employer?
There is a list that shows employers who are eligible to hire a temporary worker through either the Temporary Foreign Worker Program or the International Mobility Program. This is important as your work visa can be denied if your employer is listed as ineligible.
Working in Canada as a Foreigner
The great thing about working in Canada under a work visa is that you will gain Canadian work experience which will allow you to qualify for other immigration programs, such as the Canadian Experience Class (CEC). This means that you’d be eligible for permanent residency In Canada.
Now that you know how to apply for a Canadian work visa from Saudi Arabia, the next thing to do is get in touch with one of our Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants (RCIC) and see if you qualify!
