You almost always have to apply for a work permit from outside Canada. There are 2 kinds of Work Permits: those requiring approval by Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (“HRSDC” Validation), and those which can be issued without HRSDC Validation. To apply for a work permit from outside Canada, you will need:
A job offer from a Canadian employer
A positive Labor Market Opinion (usually obtained by the employer).
A completed application that shows that you meet the requirements of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations.
You must also:
Satisfy a visa officer that you will leave Canada at the end of your work permit
Show that you have enough money to support yourself and your family while you are in Canada
Respect the law and have no criminal record
Show that you are not a risk to the security of Canada
Be in good health (You may have to have a medical examination.)
HRSDC Validation
Human Resources and Skills Development Canada’s role is to determine whether a job offered to a foreign worker would have a positive or neutral effect on Canada’s labour market. They will consider:
job creation or retention for Canadians;
any knowledge or skills transfer to Canadians by the foreign worker;
whether there is a labour shortage for that kind of worker;
whether the wages offered are competitive;
what recruitment efforts the employer has made; and
whether there is a labour dispute in progress which could be affected.
HRSDC does not issue Work Permits.
Activities exempt from Employment Authorizations
Some activities are exempt from the requirement to obtain an Employment Authorization. Some common ones are:
Businesspeople coming to buy goods in Canada;
Religious or charitable workers (doing non-spiritual activities);
Certain performing artists and athletes;
Full time students working on campus.
Applicants under NAFTA or the Canada Chile Free Trade Agreements;
If you want more information please complete the following form and one of our representatives will contact you to discuss further details. Alternately, you can contact our office and one of our representatives will be able to assist you.
