How to Get a Canadian Work Visa in 2023

If you want to work overseas in 2023, Canada is a great location to start. With so many labour shortages in the market, Canada is always eager to welcome foreign nationals to offer their talents and knowledge in occupations that permanent residents or Canadian citizens cannot supply. One method to begin this adventure is to apply for a Canadian work visa, but first you must choose which one is ideal for you.

You must apply for a Canadian work visa if you are eligible to live and work in Canada. There are two kinds of work permits: open work permits and employer-specific work permits. Continue reading to learn how you can join the thousands of newcomers who can now call Canada home.

Step 1: Research Various Work Visas

You may apply for two sorts of work permits, and they all depend on the type of employment you have. These job opportunities feature both an open work permit for Canada and an employee-specific work permit.

An open work permit permits you to work for any Canadian employer, but a specific work permit allows you to work solely for the employer stated in your work permit, which contains your name, the period of the license, and the location of your job.

Popular open work permit schemes include the International Experience Class (IEC, sometimes known as a Working Holiday visa) and the International Mobility Program. A Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) is not required to apply for an open work visa in Canada.

Under the employer-specific work permit, various work visa streams exist. The best option for the candidate is determined by the employment offer received. This work permit requires an LMIA.

Post Graduate Work Permit (PGWP)

The Post Graduate Work Permit (PGWP) was established to help international students who have achieved a tertiary qualification, such as a certificate, diploma, or degree, and have graduated from a relevant Canadian Designated Learning Institution (DLI), live and work in Canada for up to three years. The Canada work permit processing time for the PGWP is 80 to 180 days, so early application is vital.

As an international PGWP student in Canada, you can apply for an open work permit, allowing you to work for any employer in Canada and earn the necessary work experience to apply for permanent residency.

If you can only work for one firm, such as a construction worker, your best permit choice will be an employer-specific work permit because you can only work for one company and in one province.

International Experience Canada (IEC)

The International Experience Canada (IEC) offers young people the opportunity to explore Canada while working. There are three streams in this program:

• Working Holiday
• Young Professionals
• International Co-op (Internship)

The most popular is the working holiday visa. The working vacation visa is ideal for those who want to earn money while seeing Canada. It is valid for 12 to 24 months, depending on your stay in your native country. Only 35 countries with whom Canada has a youth mobility agreement may apply for this permit.

Temporary Foreign Worker Program

This program helps many Canadian firms who need to fill positions that citizens or permanent residents cannot complete. When a Canadian firm hires a foreign national, they bring fresh talents and expertise that would not have been available in Canada, which requires the companies to get an LMIA for most occupations.

The Global Talent Stream (GTS)

The Global Talent Stream (GTS) is a government effort designed to benefit both Canadian companies and overseas employees by reducing application processing time. This stream's Canada work permit processing time is less than two weeks! Applicants that have a job offer in Canada are applying from outside Canada and satisfy the standards in any category listed below can apply through the Global Talent Stream. This allows Canadian firms to engage highly skilled temporary foreign employees in one of two categories:

Category A

This category is for employers that have been suggested by one of GTS's 45 certified partners and are looking for a unique and specialized foreign talent.

Category B

This category is for employers who want to fill jobs in Canada by hiring highly-skilled foreign workers whose occupations are on the Global Talent Occupations List.

Home Support Worker Pilot

When Canadians and permanent residents are unavailable, the Home Support Worker Pilot permits Canadian families to hire foreign nationals to provide care in private dwellings to elders, children, or individuals with disabilities. Employers may request that their caregivers reside with them.

In-home carers are classified into two types: caregivers for persons with severe medical requirements and caregivers for children. Not sure which of these would suit your needs? Get in touch with an RCIC who will guide you through the immigration pathways, and find the best one for your skills, experience and education level.

Terms you need to know:

Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA)

A Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) is a document that is given by the Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC), to assess the type of effects that hiring international workers may have in Canada.

The LMIA aims to ensure that all Canadians receive the highest possible quality of life by promoting a highly-skilled workforce to improve Canada's labour market.

National Occupational Classification (NOC) and Training, Education, Experience and Responsibilities required for occupations (TEER)

You must know and submit your NOC code when applying for your work visa. Your NOC will correspond with the TEER category. The TEER category is what is used to determine the type of education and qualifications required for the work category.

The National Occupational Classification (NOC) is a standardized system in Canada that assigns a four-digit number and job description to each current occupation in the Canadian labour market.

The NOC matrix is used by Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to evaluate an immigration applicant's employment experience. The method streamlines recruiting qualified and competent workers to fill positions in Canada.

Step 2: Check Your Eligibility

If you've ever considered moving to Canada, you've certainly heard about the criteria for obtaining a Canadian visa. When applying for a work or permanent visa in the nation, you must first determine whether you are eligible to live there.

Given that Canada is recognized as the finest location to live in the world, followed by Japan and Germany, it's logical that the country has highly precise procedures and legislation that prevent anyone who doesn't satisfy certain requirements from the country.

Each program has its eligibility requirements. Generally, an employment offer from a Canadian company is required to qualify for a Canada work permit.

If you seek an employer-specific work visa, you must get an LMIA from your Canadian employer. Once granted, include a copy of your work permit application. There is no need to do so if you are applying for an open work visa. If you require an LMIA, you can submit your work permit application after you obtain it.

When you apply for a work visa, you may also be able to get permits for your spouse and dependent children (under the age of 22) if they are accompanying you to Canada. However, this depends on the work position level provided to you. The higher your position, the more likely your spouse and children will be granted an open work permit.

This, unfortunately, does not apply to The Working Holiday visa. Your dependents will not be able to join you in Canada.

You must prove that you will leave Canada before your visa expires, which depends on the duration of your contract. However, remember that if you gain valuable work experience while you work in Canada, you can apply for a permanent visa.

Apart from the work permit you choose, other specific requirements that must be met when you apply for a work permit includes:

• Showing that you have enough funds to care for yourself and your family members during your stay in Canada and when you return home
• Provide proof of a clean criminal record
• Be in good health and submit a clean medical exam
• Do not work for an employer that is marked ineligible on the list of employers that fail to comply with work conditions in Canada
• Do not pose a danger to Canada's security
• Give the officer other documents they ask for, such as a passport or travel document, to prove that you may enter the country.

Checking your eligibility for a specific visa is vital for your application process. The best way to ensure you apply for the correct visa is by taking an evaluation questionnaire and contacting a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC), a professional in all Canadian Immigration Matters. They'll be able to tell you exactly which visa you qualify for based on your country of origin, skill, career and demand for your occupation in Canada.

Step 3: Apply for The Correct Work Visa

You are almost ready to submit your application once you have picked the work permit program to apply for and have satisfied all of the requirements.

Of course, the ideal way to go about your Canadian work permit application is to apply online, saving you money on courier costs and eliminating delays in properly submitting your application.

This will also guarantee that all papers are uploaded with your application as part of the criteria, increasing your chances of applying the first time successfully.

The Canada work permit processing time can range from 6 to 33 weeks, which can be decreased with the assistance of a trustworthy RCIC that can review your application and notify you if it requires any further information, fields that have not been satisfied, or other supporting evidence.

Contacting an RCIC will assist you in expediting the application process. This can help you avoid making mistakes that will force you to renew and resubmit your Canadian work visa application. You will also receive a curated CV with your NOC experience listed to make the job search easier

Your Canadian work visa application will be accepted in no time if you follow these three crucial procedures. When you are accepted, you will receive a letter indicating that you are legally authorized to relocate to and work in Canada, which you must provide when you enter the country.

This letter does not constitute your work permit. When you arrive in Canada, you will most likely be given a work permit that specifies the job you may perform, the organizations or enterprises you can work for, the region, provinces or territories, where you are authorized to work. The period you are legally allowed to work.

Your desire to move to Canada may become a reality and a possibility that leads to permanent residency in the future with correct direction and assistance during the Canadian work visa application process.

FAQs

How Long Does it Take to Get a Canadian Work Visa?

The processing time will be determined by how accurately you filled out your application and the office to which you submitted it. It can take up to 27 weeks to process your permit application.

What are The General Documents Required for a Working Visa in Canada?

• A valid passport
• Two passport-sized photographs that are recent
• Educational qualification certificates
• Proof of adequate funds
• Medical examination
• Application fee

How Do Work Permits Differ from Express Entry?

A work visa is a temporary residency, whereas Express Entry is an application mechanism for skilled employees seeking permanent residence in Canada.

Let's Help You Get a Work Visa

As an official Canadian immigration service, we offer guidance and assistance through the visa application process.

Our certified RCICs (Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants) are extremely knowledgeable in all Canadian immigration policies. The Canadian government permits them to liaise with them on the applicant's behalf.

Our RCICs will first evaluate all candidates to see whether or not they can apply for one of 100 immigration programs, visas and streams. Once we know which options you can apply for, you can confidently select your preferred immigration program. Your designated consultant will ensure that all your documents are completed accurately and submitted on time.