What is a work permit?

A work permit is an official written document that authorises its holder to seek and take employment in a foreign country legally that is:

• issued by an officer that allows a person who is not a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident to work in Canada;
• needed if you want to work in Canada, even if your employer is not in Canada;
• usually, valid only for a specific employer, job, and length of time;
• issued based on a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) from Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC), or an Offer of employment from an LMIA-exempt employer.

Types of Work Permit

There are two types of work permits given by Canadian authorities- open work permit and an employer specific work permit.

An open work permit basically allows you to work for any employer. With an open work permit you can work for any employer in Canada except for those listed as ineligible on the list of employers who have failed to comply with the conditions, or regularly offers striptease, erotic dance, escort services or erotic massages.

The employer specific work permit, is a permit that allows you to work for a specific employer according to the conditions on your work permit, such as

• the name of the specific employer you can work for
• how long you can work
• the location where you can work (if applicable)