Temporary Residents

Work Permits

There are 2 types of work permits:

1. Employer-specific work permit

An employer-specific work permit authorizes you to work in Canada for a specific employer. This work permit is subject to some conditions, such as:

• Employer’s company
• how long you will be able to work for the employer
• the location where you will work during your time in Canada.

2. Open Work Permit

An open work permit gives you the chance to work for any employer in Canada, with the exception of an employer that:

• is included in the list of employers who did not comply with the conditions or (non-compliant list)
• offers striptease, erotic dance, escort services or erotic massages.

The open work permit is available for:

• Spouses of full-time (non-ESL\ General courses) foreign students (spouse is enrolled in full-time studies.
• Spouses of 0, A, B foreign workers with work permit of more than 6 months.
• People under International Experience Canada program (IEC).
• Workers under international agreements
• Workers nominated by a province for PR with a job offer.
• Entrepreneurs and workers transferred within a company.
• Workers, their spouses and dependents eligible for work permit under a pilot project.
• Academics (researchers, visiting professors, guest lecturers, etc.)
• Co-op students
• Religious workers
• Post-doctoral fellows
• Refugee claimants

Work Permit Programs

– International Experience Canada:

This program is the best option for youth citizens between 18 to 35 years old from over 30 countries and territories around the world that want to come to Canada to work temporarily either to add Canadian work experience to their resumes to experience what it is like working in Canadian land while they travel across the country. 

There are 3 categories under this program:

1. Working Holiday Visa
2. Young Professionals
3. International Co-op (Internship)

– Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program

This program gives the opportunity to employers to hire foreign workers from Mexico and some Caribbean countries to do seasonal work related to farm primary agriculture for a period of 8 months.

Only can participate citizens from the following countries:

• Mexico
• Caribbean countries of:
  • Anguilla
  • Antigua and Barbuda
  • Barbados
  • Dominica
  • Grenada
  • Jamaica
  • Montserrat
  • St. Kitts-Nevis
  • St. Lucia
  • St. Vincent and the Grenadines
  • Trinidad and Tobago

– Global Skills Strategy

It is a stream to speed up the work permit application process if a Canadian company wants to hire talent around the world. There are two categories under this stream:

The category A is for those companies who have been referred to some specific designated partners linked to this stream and want to hire a foreign worker with exceptional talent. 

On the other hand, the category B is for those employers who want to hire very qualified workers to cover occupations extremely demanded included in the Global Talent occupations directory.

Usually the work permit is issued within 2 weeks.

– LMIA employer-specific Work Permit

It is a closed work permit that limits the foreign worker to work only for one employer and in the same job position.

– LMIA exemptions:

International Mobility Program:

• CUSMA (Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement):

This agreement has 4 categories and are the following:

1. Business Visitors
2. Professionals
3. Intra-company transferees
4. Traders and investors

• CETA (Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement)

This agreement benefits two kind of professionals from EU:

1. Contractual service suppliers
2. Independent professionals

There is a list that includes all service sectors applicable to these categories. Please, find more information in the link below:

https://www.international.gc.ca/trade-commerce/trade-agreements-accords-commerciaux/agr-acc/ceta-aecg/text-texte/10-A.aspx?lang=eng#e

• GATS (General Agreement on Trade in Services)

 This agreement includes two categories:

1. Business visitors
2. Intra-company transferees:
   > The Gats professional occupations includes:

• Engineers
• Architects 
• Agrologists 
• Forestry professionals, 
• Geomatics professionals, 
• Land surveyors 
• Foreign legal consultants 
• Urban planners 
• Senior computer specialists 

• Canada – Panama Free Trade Agreement:

This agreement includes two categories:

1. Business Visitors
2. Professionals

• Canada – Peru Free Trade Agreement (FTAs)

 It includes 3 categories:

1. Business visitors
2. Intra-company transferees
3. Professionals and Technicians

The main difference with other international trades agreements is  that permanent residents in Peru can participate as well and not only citizens.

Other LMIA exemptions:

• Spouses of full-time (non-ESL\ General courses) foreign students
  (spouse is enrolled in full-time studies).
• Spouses of 0, A, B foreign workers with work permit of more than 6 months.

• People under International Experience Canada program (IEC).
• Workers under international agreements
• Workers nominated by a province for PR with a job offer.
• Entrepreneurs and workers transferred within a company.
• Workers, their spouses and dependents eligible for work permit under a pilot project.
• Academics (researchers, visiting professors, guest lecturers, etc.)
• Co-op students
• Religious workers
• Post-doctoral fellows
• Refugee claimants

Students

Study Permit

There are two streams:

1. Regular Stream
2. Direct Stream: China, India, Morocco, Pakistan, Philippines, Senegal
   and Vietnam.

Where can we apply from:

• Outside Canada
• Inside Canada
• At POE: nationals or permanent residents of the United States, residents of Greenland, and residents of St. Pierre and Miquelon.

Temporary Resident Visa

Visitor Visa

There are people from certain countries who need to apply for a visitor visa in order to enter Canada. It is needed:

• A valid passport,
• A medical exam
• Enough money to cover the stay in Canadian land.
• Ties in the home country (job, family, property, assets). 
• Intent to leave Canada at the end of visit.

Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA)

Some foreign nationals are visa-exempt and only require applying for an eTA to fly to or transit through Canada. This electronic travel authorization is usually issued on the same day of the application or days later.

Super Visa

 This visa is for parents and grandparents of permanent residents and Canadian citizens. It is a multi-entry visa valid up to 10 years which can be used for a   period of 2 years each time. The mission of this program is the family reunification since some parents and grandparents want to enjoy more time with their relatives.

Visas Extension (tourist, student, worker)

Foreign nationals can apply to extend their status in Canada if they meet the requisites.

Visas Restoration (tourist, student, worker)

Foreign citizens who held a valid status in Canada can restore their status in order to stay longer in Canadian soil.