How to Get a Canadian Work Visa from the UK

The reasons for one person to move to Canada from a first-world country, like the U.K., may largely differ from anyone that would like to move to the Great White North from a third-world country. While living in the UK has many benefits, Canada offers a whole new relaxed lifestyle, which although accompanied by hard work and a dedicated mindset, is thought of as less demanding than U.K. work environments.

To get a Canadian work visa from the U.K. can be quite simple. There are only three steps you need to follow to get from one of the richest nations in the world to another.

Since Canada is seeking a variety of skilled professionals, most people that apply are in luck for finding work in Canada that suits them best.

3 Steps to Qualify for a Canadian Work Visa

With Canada planning on inviting over 1.2 million foreigners to apply to live and work in Canada by 2023, it’s probably the best time ever for you to proceed with your application for a Canadian work permit.

The country is favored above many other options for being rated the number one country offering the highest quality of life in the world. With top in-demand jobs that offer incredible career opportunities, Canada is considered one of the top picks for professionals globally.

There are many different options to choose from if you want to immigrate to Canada, up to 100 programs. However, if your goal is to work in Canada, the best route to go is to get a

Canadian work visa, which can secure your permanent residency in the country. For more information on how to become a permanent resident in Canada through landing a job, or studying or working while taking a holiday in Canada, find out more here.

The three steps you need to follow to qualify for a Canadian work visa from the UK include:

Step 1: Choose a work permit that works for you

The work permit that you choose to apply for will mainly depend on the type of employment you seek. Although there are over 100 immigration programs to choose from, there are only two work visas, which makes choosing the right work permit for you, much easier.

1. Open work permit - A work permit that allows you to work for any employer in Canada.
2. Employer-specific work permit - An alternative work permit option that allows you to work in line with specifications laid out in your work permit, including the length of your work permit, your employer’s name, and your employment location.

An open work permit can be retrieved by anyone who has immigrated to Canada through the Express Entry system, as it allows you to reside and work in Canada. Should you apply through a Provincial Nominee Program, you will require an Employer-specific Work Permit due to only being able to work for a particular employer in a set destination in Canada.

Step 2: Check your eligibility to move to Canada

As one of the most important steps, to know whether you can get a job and move to Canada, you must meet a list of requirements. It’s better to be aware of these requirements and meet them before you apply to immigrate to Canada, as this will save you time, in case you have applied, waiting to be approved, and could get rejected.

To be considered eligible to work and live in Canada, to apply for your work visa, you must do the following:

• Prove that you will leave the country as soon as your work permit expires if you have a temporary work permit.
• Have a clear criminal record in the country you reside in now and wherever you may have before.
• Present a clear medical record.
• A valid passport that is issued by the United Kingdom to British National Overseas (BNO)
• Graduated with a diploma or degree (a minimum two-year program) that isn’t longer than five years before applying for an open work permit.
• Show proof of funds to display that you can support yourself and your family members that have immigrated with you, including during your stay in Canada, and have a budget to return home.

Step 3: Submit a work permit application

The easiest way to apply for a Canadian work permit is by doing so online. With this, you won't have to pay courier fees and can reduce your application time. This will also prevent potential delays, particularly if any supporting documents are requested. By submitting all the required documents with your application online, you can rest assured that your application will be complete.

Requirements to Work in Canada

If you are interested in working in Canada but are yet to land a job in one of the 13 provinces or territories, then you can start seeking employment by applying for jobs. Since you can manage your entire Canadian work permit application from the comfort of your home in the UK, you’ll be able to land a job in Canada in no time. By getting a job in Canada before you apply for a work visa, your application could be pushed to the very top as one of the most prospective.

Should you still need to apply for a job, you can still apply for a Canadian work permit. With the necessary skills, education, the possibility of speaking either English or French fluently, or perhaps even both, can count in your favor. If you have any previous work experience in Canada, your application will also be favored and you will be considered for permanent Canadian residency. By bringing value to the country and adding to the Canadian economy, whether it is by filling a role in a company, investing in local companies, or building some of your own, the government favors all such applicants.

Another big deal breaker to get your application pushed to the top if you are yet to apply for a work visa, is being a skilled foreign worker. If you apply for a skilled position, you must be able to show that you are qualified to fill it. Since there are countless companies in Canada looking for skilled workers, it’s not as difficult to get a job in the country, especially if you meet all of the criteria that the company is looking for.

For skilled positions, the Temporary Foreign Work Permit (TFWP), requires you to provide proof of education. If a company requests it, you will also require an Education Credential Assessment (ECA), which will show that your qualifications meet Canadian standards. An ECA can be retrieved from a designated organization, such as the following:

• World Education Services
• Comparative Education Service
• Credential Assessment SerInternationalvice of Canada
• International Credential Evaluation Service

Additional documents and information may also be required, which depends on the work visa that you are applying for.

If you are wondering if anyone else can apply to move with you to Canada with you, you will be happy to learn that a spouse or common-law partner of the Atlantic Immigration Pilot program can immigrate with you. A dependant family member of a person who has applied for permanent residence, International students that would like to work over 20 hours per week, and recent graduates from Hong Kong.

Make Your Professional Move Today

The decision to move from your country of current residence, which now is the U.K., to Canada, must have been a big and very significant one to make. While getting a Canadian work visa from the UK as a skilled professional is relatively simple and can seem easy, if you are serious about moving to Canada, you’re in for a real treat.

While the U.K. has many plus points, including its diversified culture with immigrants from all over the world, Canada is filled with cultural diversity with more than 250 ethnic nationalities that make up the Canadian population. Every year, between 6,000 and 10,000 citizens from the U.K. become permanent residents by applying as skilled workers through the Express Entry system in Canada, which is something you can do today too.

Since applying for a Canadian work permit is as simple as filling an application online, you can be on your way to following your dream career in one of the greatest nations in the world sooner than you think.

For more assistance on Canadian immigration and how to get there fast, consult one of our government-approved Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants (RCICs). Get Started Today