Work Permit is a certificate that enables foreign workers to work legally in Canada. Canada Work Permit is issued to qualified individuals to work in Canada for a certain period. Along with that, a Temporary Resident Visa might also be a requirement to enter Canada, depending on the country, residency or citizenship.

Type of work authorizations:

There are two types of work authorizations provided by Canadian authorities.

1. Open Work Permit
2. Employer Specific Work Permit

Open Work Permit: An open work permit enables a candidate to work for any employer in Canada, except those who have failed to comply with the industry standards or businesses that engage in the sex trade like strip clubs, escort services, or erotic massage salons. This work permit is not job-specific, so candidates do not need the Labor Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) or a proposal letter from an employer. Besides, candidates may be qualified for a free work permit if they are in one of the following situations:

1. Permanent residence applicants who have applied to an office in Canada
2. Dependent family members of some permanent residence visa applicants
3. Spouses and common-law partners of some workers and international students
4. Refugees, refugee claimants, protected persons and their family members
5. Some temporary resident permit holders
6. Some young workers participating in specific programs

In all of these conditions, you must satisfy additional measures to be eligible

Employer Specific Work Permit: The Employer Specific Work Permit allows you to work for a particular company or employer for a defined period of time. This permit will include the name of the company you can work for, the continuation and area of employment if relevant. This permit is also called  a closed-work permit that is often the outcome of a work proposal by a Canadian company based on a certain LMIA.

Eligibility criteria for Employer Specific Work Permit: To obtain your eligibility to apply for a work permit, there are particular conditions that require to be fulfilled. However, there are some basic eligibility criteria and some depend on the area where you are applying for the work authorization.                        

General eligibility requirements for work permit:

1. The applicant must be prepared to confirm that he/she will leave the country after his/her work permit expires.
2. The candidate should not serve any businesses that have failed to comply with the work standards or organizations that engage in the sex profession such as strip clubs, escort services, or erotic massage salons.
3. The applicant needs to take his/her background checks completed and submit his/her police clearance
4. The candidate must get his/her medical examination done.
5. The applicant should have sufficient money needed to help themselves and the family members for the entire stay in Canada.

Applying for the work permit from Outside Canada: Depending on the country of residence or origin, the candidate can apply for a work permit through the visa office outside Canada. They will explain the documentation, payment and procedure of the work permit. Besides, the applicant requires to get a police clearance certificate from the concerned office and a medical examination conducted by a designated medical officer. 

Applying for a work permit from Inside Canada: You can request a work permit while you are in Canada if you satisfy the following conditions:

1. You or your spouse are currently living in Canada on a valid study or employment agreement.
2. You have graduated from an eligible educational institution in Canada and you are qualified for a Post-Graduate Work Permit.
3. You have applied for your regular residency and are waiting for a decision to be made. You can apply for a Bridging Open Work Permit.
4. You have requested for a refugee status inside Canada and are awaiting a final decision, or when you have been granted the status of a refugee or a protected person.