APPLY INSIDE CANADA
STEP NO 1: ASSESS YOUR OVERALL IMMIGRATION GOALS
Immediately consider your long-term goals.
Is your plan to come to Canada only to work temporarily and after this return to your home country?
Or is your ultimate goal to become a permanent resident of Canada?.
If your objective is permanent residence, you should from the very beginning plan the entirely of your Canadian immigration pathway, from work permit to permanent residence, as these two are practically interlinked insofar as the decisions you will take.
For instance, you may want to work in the province where you would like to reside as a permanent resident.
Many Canadian immigrants mistakenly see the Canadian immigration process as composed of independent and unrelated steps consisting of first starting with a work permit and then applying for permanent residence.
Mechanically, the work permit to permanent residence process is step-by-step. But it is in reality one integrated process having the same objectives from beginning to end.
You must therefore always look forward to the next step before making any decision as you may find once you apply for permanent residence that you should have made different decisions for your work permit.
For more information on how to plan your entire immigration pathway, you can visit the section on permanent residence on this page, or contact us.
STEP NO. 2: REVIEW ALL DOCUMENTATION
You should also read thoroughly (1) all CIC documentation on how to apply for a work permit, (2) ESDC documentation on the labor-sponsored impact assessment, (3) all application forms, (4) questions and answers on CIC’s website on applying for a Canada work permit, and (5) local consular requirements in your country. You should also assess how your decisions could impact your eventual application to become a permanent resident of Canada.
One element to consider is whether you would like to work in the same Canadian province as where you would like to apply to live as a permanent resident of Canada considering the PR programs for that province;
STEP NO 3: ASSESS YOUR LANGUAGE ABILITIES
It’s important that, as early as possible, you establish the levels of your four (4) language competencies in English or French.
While your language abilities are not usually program requirements for work permit purposes (although they will usually be to get a job), they will be for your permanent residence options. Thus, this must be part of your planning as there are differences between programs and provinces regarding language requirements.
Of all the important matters pertaining to coming to Canada, your language competencies sit at the top. Alone, they can affect every decision that you take, whether for a work permit or for permanent residence.
Although language abilities are not assessed by the federal government in issuing a work permit, it is imprudent for you not to assess them from the very commencement of your Canadian immigration process due to their significant in relation to permanent residence. We can if you wish send you an unofficial short test that will give you a preliminary indication of your language abilities.
STEP NO. 4: CHOOSE EMPLOYMENT SECTOR AND PROGRAM
You should then, based on your work in Steps 1 to 3, choose a type of employment, or a federal or provincial work program, that will be the basis of your work permit application and be an anchor pillar of your eventual permanent application.
Should you wish to receive a free assessment from us on what may be best for you, you can complete and send us our Free Immigration Assessment;
STEP NO. 5: ESTABLISH LMIA STATUS
Canada’s work permit programs are the result of two objectives which can at times be conflicting with one another.
The first objective is economic growth through immigration. The second objective is the protection and security of Canada’s labor force for the benefit of Canadians. The conflict arises where economic growth through immigration can potentially harm jobs for Canadians.
These two objectives hence tend to be at opposite ends of an elastic.
In certain cases, mostly for highly skilled and high paying jobs, the elastic will tend to pull towards giving priority to economic growth. Thus, highly skilled workers can at times be hired without a prior evaluation (called the LMIA) of whether hiring a foreign national can harm the Canadian labor market. The work permit is then said to be “LMIA exempt”.
In other cases, mostly for lower skilled and lower paying jobs, the elastic will pull towards job protection with the result that Canadian employers wishing to hire foreign nationals will need to submit an application for a labor market impact assessment (LMIA) to Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC).
In the latter case, only if ESDC issues a positive or neutral decision on the labor impacts of hiring an immigrant will the issuance of a work permit be possible.
It is important for the foreign national wishing to work in Canada to establish whether an LMIA application will be required as this will affect his (her) work application process and add an additional level of complexity and uncertainty to it.
STEP NO 6: FIND A JOB IN CANADA
Finding a job in Canada is perhaps the most challenging part of your work permit process.
You will need to identify a job with an employer who is willing to hire you and take charge of the labor-market impact assessment (LMIA) if required.
If you’re outside Canada, landing a job can be a bit difficult and overwhelming as employers may be unfamiliar with the work permit process and be reluctant not only to hire someone in another country and who they do not know.
Moreover, some employers are reluctant to spend money for the labor market impact assessment application ($1,000 government fees plus any professional fees), fearing that the money will be lost if the foreign national does not perform well in the job.
Should you wish help with the process of finding a job, let us know. We occasionally agree to offer job placement services in addition to immigration services where we consider that the client’s profile presents a good opportunity for employers.
STEP NO. 7: THE WORK PERMIT APPLICATION
Once your work under steps 1 to 6 has been completed and you have made all key decisions concerning your work permit application, you can then assemble and submit your application.
This process consists of completing a number of required forms.
In addition, should you be assisted by an immigration consultant or lawyer, this individual will typically write a Representative’s Submission Letter to IRCC to help IRCC understand the application and make compelling arguments to IRCC on why the work permit should be issued.
APPLY AT THE PORT OF ENTRY
Foreign nationals not needing a visitor visa to enter Canada have a limited possibility to apply for their Canada work permit at the port of entry.
As this presents risk and uncertainty, this is not a regular avenue that should be pursued. This said, CIC policy in this regard can be consulted.
FURTHER INFORMATION OR QUESTIONS
Should you wish to receive further information, or have questions, please do feel free to contact us.
