One of the top nations for living and working is Canada. It is a friendly, multicultural nation with a high standard of living, first-rate healthcare, top-notch educational opportunities, and a robust economy. The populace of the nation is diversified and noted for being hospitable, celebrating a variety of cultures and languages. 

There are various different kinds of work visas in Canada, including the Provincial Nominee Programs, the International Mobility Program, and the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) (PNP). Depending on your qualifications, the job offer, and the province or territory you want to work in, you may qualify for a certain sort of work visa.

Employment Offer: Prior to submitting an application for a work visa, you will often require a legitimate job offer from a Canadian business. Unless you are exempt under the IMP, the employment offer must be accompanied by a favourable Labor Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) from Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC).

Work Permit: 

You can apply for a work permit once you have a legitimate employment offer and LMIA (if necessary). Having a work permit enables you to legally work for a specified employer in Canada for a predetermined amount of time. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada is the issuer (IRCC).

Eligibility Requirements: 

In order to be eligible for a work visa in Canada, you typically need to meet a number of requirements, such as having a legitimate job offer, proving that you’ll leave the country when your visa’s validity expires, demonstrating that you have the money to support yourself and any accompanying family members, getting a medical exam, and providing a police clearance certificate.

Application procedure: 

To apply for a work visa in Canada, you must submit the necessary paperwork, pay the application cost, and sometimes go to an interview or provide biometric data as well. While processing times can vary, it’s crucial to plan ahead and apply long before the day you want to start working.

The length of a work permit is determined by a number of variables, including the type of work visa, the nature of the job offer, and the LMIA (if required). The duration of a work permit might range from a few months to several years, and it can occasionally be renewed or extended.

TYPES OF CANADIAN WORK VISA 

In Canada, the provinces and territories can nominate skilled workers, business owners, and other suitable people to settle in their respective regions through the Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs). Apart for Quebec, every province and territory in Canada has its own PNP, complete with unique eligibility criteria and application procedures.

The province or territory you are applying to may have different eligibility requirements for PNPs, but in general, you must meet the following standards:

Occupation:

In the province or territory you are applying to, you must have work experience in a profession that is in demand or has labour market needs.

Education:

In order to be considered for a position, you must have the education or training required. To demonstrate the adequacy of your foreign education, you may need to receive a Canadian Educational Credential Assessment (ECA).

Language Proficiency:

This typically entails taking a recognised language test, such as the IELTS or the Canada English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP).

Work Experience:

Depending on the province or territory, you must have a minimum of one to two years of relevant work experience in your field.

Work Offer:

It’s possible that you’ll need to have a legitimate employment offer from a company in the province or territory where you’re applying. A favourable Labor Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) from Employment and Social Development Canada may be required to support the job offer (ESDC).

Provincial Nomination:

If you are qualified to apply for permanent residence in Canada and meet the conditions of a particular province or territory, you must first receive a nomination from that province or territory. Each province or territory has its own nomination guidelines, which may include submitting an application, supplementary materials, and processing fees.

Application Process: 

The steps below are typically included in the application procedure for PNPs:

Choose a Province or Territory: Do your homework and pick the province or territory that best matches your qualifications and immigration objectives.

Examine the qualifying conditions of the particular PNP you are interested in, and make sure you meet them all.

Application Submission: Send your nomination application to the province or territory together with all necessary paperwork and the processing fee.

A nomination will be sent to you by the province or territory if your application is accepted. You can apply for Canadian permanent residency with this nomination.

Apply for Permanent Residency: After receiving a nomination, you can contact Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada to submit an application for permanent residence with the Canadian government (IRCC). Further paperwork, medical exams, police clearance certificates, and payment of appropriate fees are also required.

Permanent Residency: If your application for permanent residency is accepted, you will receive a COPR and, if necessary, a permanent resident visa that will allow you to live and work continuously in Canada.

IMP

Employers may hire temporary foreign employees under the International Mobility Program (IMP), a Canadian immigration programme, without first doing a Labor Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). When hiring a foreign worker, firms normally need to get an LMIA to show that the position cannot be filled by a Canadian citizen or permanent resident. The IMP is intended to make it easier for foreign employees to enter Canada for particular objectives, such as addressing labour shortages, fostering economic growth, and encouraging cross-cultural interactions.

Eligibility: Depending on the precise category for which you are seeking, the IMP’s eligibility requirements may change. The following are some typical IMP categories:

Intra-Company Transfers: Under this category, foreign employees who are currently working for a company abroad may move to a branch or subsidiary of that company in Canada.

International Free Trade Agreements: The employment of foreign nationals from nations that have free trade agreements with Canada, such as NAFTA, CETA, or CPTPP, is permitted in Canada for certain occupations.

Employment on a Reciprocal Basis: This category enables Canadian and international workers to swap employment opportunities in order to get experience working in each other’s nations.

International Experience Canada: With initiatives like the Working Holiday, Young Professionals, and International Co-op, this category offers young people (18-35 years old, depending on the nation) from specific nations the chance to work and vacation in Canada.

Additional Categories: 

The IMP has a number of additional categories, each with its own eligibility criteria, including academia, research, philanthropic or religious activities, and more.

The following steps are often included in the application procedure for the international mobility programme:

Employment Offer:

Before to being hired under the IMP, you must first secure a legitimate job offer from a Canadian firm. You will receive a job offer letter from the business, who may also be required to produce supporting documentation.

Application for a Work Permit:

After receiving a job offer, you can submit an application for a work permit through the IMP in the relevant category. To submit your application online or at a visa application centre, you must fill out the application form, attach supporting documentation, pay the relevant costs, and provide your contact information.

Wait for Processing:

Depending on the type and workload of the immigration authorities, the processing times for work permit applications under the IMP may change. It’s crucial to review the expected processing times on Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s official website (IRCC).

You will be given a Letter of Introduction (LOI) or an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) that will allow you to go to Canada if your work visa application is granted. Depending on the type and length of your work permit, you could also be required to submit extra paperwork, such as a medical exam or police clearance certificate.

Work in Canada:

As stated in your work permit, you may begin working for your Canadian employer as soon as you land in Canada. It’s crucial to abide by the requirements of your work permit, including those pertaining to its duration, employer, and occupation, as well as to retain your legal status in Canada throughout your stay.

It’s important to note that the requirements and procedure for the International Mobility Program may change over time. For the most up-to-date and accurate information, it is advised to check the IRCC’s official website or to seek professional advice from an experienced immigration lawyer or consultant. Regarding your application, good luck! Please feel free to ask any additional questions or for more information.

TFWP

When competent Canadian citizens or permanent residents aren’t available, firms may hire foreign workers through the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP), a scheme for immigration in Canada. The TFWP intends to assist the Canadian economy and deal with workforce shortages in particular sectors or geographic areas.

An overview of the temporary foreign worker programme is provided below:

Eligibility:

For the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, you must:

Possess a legitimate job offer from a Canadian employer who has worked with Employment and Social Development Canada to acquire a Labor Market Impact Assessment (LMIA).

Comply with the LMIA’s standards, which include proving that the position cannot be filled by a Canadian citizen or permanent resident and that the pay and working conditions are comparable to those of Canadian workers.

Satisfy the conditions for the work permit, which include proving that you have the education, training, and experience required to carry out the job and that you’ll depart Canada when your permitted stay is up.

The following phases are often included in the application procedure for the programme for temporary foreign workers:

Employment Offer:

 Prior to accepting a job offer, you must get one from a Canadian company that has a positive LMIA from ESDC. The LMIA will state that the business has established that there is a real need to hire a foreign worker to fill the position and that no qualified Canadian workers are available to do so.

LMIA Application: 

The Canadian employer must submit the required paperwork and pay a processing fee in order to request an LMIA from ESDC. Prior to trying to hire a foreign worker, the company must show that they have tried to hire Canadian personnel.

You can apply for a work permit with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada when the employer has received a positive LMIA (IRCC). To submit your application online or at a visa application centre, you must fill out the application form, attach supporting documentation, pay the relevant costs, and provide your contact information.

Wait for Processing:

Depending on the type and workload of the immigration authorities, the processing times for work permit applications under the TFWP may vary. Checking the projected processing times on the IRCC’s official website is crucial.

You will be given a Letter of Introduction (LOI) or an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) that will allow you to go to Canada if your work visa application is granted. Depending on the type and length of your work permit, you could also be required to submit extra paperwork, such as a medical exam or police clearance certificate.

Work in Canada:

As stated in your work permit, you may begin working for your Canadian employer as soon as you land in Canada. It’s crucial to abide by the requirements of your work permit, including those pertaining to its duration, employer, and occupation, as well as to retain your legal status in Canada throughout your stay.

Getting a work permit in Canada may be a drawn-out and complicated procedure but Advision Overseas can help you with achieving your dream job in Canada along with taking care of all your documentation work and other formalities along the way.