I want to work in Canada
An employer-specific work permit normally links you to a named employer and conditions. Open work permits are available only in qualifying circumstances.
Explore Canadian work permits
Planning to work in Canada from abroad, or already working here? Compare Canadian work permits with skilled worker immigration routes to permanent residence, then identify which rules actually fit your profile. A job offer helps in some routes, but is not required for every program.
“Work immigration” covers two different goals. Choose yours first so you can compare the right programs.
An employer-specific work permit normally links you to a named employer and conditions. Open work permits are available only in qualifying circumstances.
Explore Canadian work permits ↗Express Entry, certain Provincial Nominee Program streams and other regional options can lead to permanent residence if you meet their separate requirements.
Explore skilled immigration ↗If you are asking how to move to Canada for work, whether you need a job offer, or how to apply from outside Canada, start with your actual situation. Location, occupation, work experience and language results shape the next step.
Check whether the employer needs an LMIA or can use a valid exemption before applying for an employer-specific permit.
Job offer and LMIA guide ↗Review Federal Skilled Worker eligibility, Express Entry ranking and provincial streams that do not require an offer.
Federal Skilled Worker guide ↗Compare Canadian Experience Class and provincial options, and check work permit expiry and status rules separately.
Assess Express Entry eligibility ↗The route to work and the route to permanent residence may be separate applications. A work permit does not automatically convert into PR.
| Pathway | Best starting point | Job offer | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| Employer-specific work permit | A qualifying Canadian employer wants to hire you. | Normally required; LMIA or exemption rules vary. | Temporary authorization to work under permit conditions. |
| Open work permit | You qualify under a specific open-permit category. | Not required for the open permit. | Temporary work authorization, subject to any restrictions. |
| Express Entry | You meet the criteria of FSW, CEC or FST. | Not always required; no extra CRS job-offer points under current rules. | Application system for skilled-worker permanent residence. |
| Provincial Nominee Program | Your profile matches a province's stream. | Depends on the stream. | Provincial nomination followed by a separate PR application. |
| Atlantic Immigration Program | An eligible designated Atlantic employer offers a qualifying role. | Required under program rules. | Employer-led pathway to permanent residence. |
Program criteria change. The table is a starting point, not an eligibility decision. Request a case assessment ↗
A signed offer is evidence of a job. It does not, by itself, authorize employment. The required employer step and your permit application depend on the specific route.
An employer-specific permit restricts the employer and sometimes the location or occupation. An open permit lets an eligible person work for most employers, subject to restrictions.
Under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, an employer may need a Labour Market Impact Assessment. An LMIA-exempt employer-specific route has a different employer process.
Important for visitors: IRCC ended the temporary policy that generally allowed visitors to apply for work permits from within Canada in August 2024. Visitor status alone does not let you work or create a general right to apply from inside Canada. Read the IRCC notice ↗
Express Entry manages the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSW) and Federal Skilled Trades Program (FST). Provincial nomination and the Atlantic Immigration Program have their own requirements.
Federal Skilled Worker may fit applicants with eligible foreign skilled work. Check your NOC duties, approved language test, education assessment and selection factors.
Canadian Experience Class may fit workers with qualifying Canadian skilled work experience. Work performed while a full-time student or self-employed usually does not count toward its minimum.
A provincial stream may target your skills, experience or employer. The Atlantic Immigration Program requires a qualifying offer from a designated employer in an Atlantic province.
The same occupation can have different work permit, licensing and permanent residence rules. Confirm each issue against your intended program.
Clarify your goal, location, status, qualifications and work history.
Check the official rules and compare suitable permit or PR options.
Gather program-specific evidence before submitting to IRCC.
Government fees, biometrics, medical exams, language tests, credential assessments and professional fees are different cost categories. Timelines depend on the program, application location, employer process and individual checks. Verify live amounts and estimates before filing.
Short answers to the questions applicants commonly bring to a first consultation.
Possibly. Some Express Entry and provincial routes do not require one. Eligibility depends on the program and your work experience, language results, education and other factors.
Only if you qualify for an open work permit or another applicable exemption. An employer-specific permit normally requires a Canadian employer and a qualifying offer; wanting to work in Canada alone is not enough.
No. A work permit gives temporary permission to work under its conditions. Permanent residence is a separate status with its own application requirements.
People often say “work visa,” but the work permit is the document authorizing employment. A visa or eTA, when required, is for travel and does not itself authorize work.
No. The employer process may require an LMIA or a valid exemption, and IRCC still assesses the worker's qualifications, documents and admissibility.
Some employer-specific permits are LMIA-exempt under the International Mobility Program, and qualifying open permits do not require an LMIA. The correct exemption and employer steps must be confirmed before applying.
Under IRCC's current Express Entry rules, additional CRS points for job offers were removed on March 25, 2025. A qualifying offer can still matter under other program requirements.
Yes, if you meet the general and category-specific requirements. The documents and employer steps depend on whether the permit is employer-specific or open.
The list depends on your route. It may include a passport, job offer and LMIA details or exemption evidence, proof of qualifications, biometrics and medical results when required. Use your IRCC personalized document checklist.
Visitor status alone is not enough. The broad temporary policy for in-Canada visitor applications ended in August 2024; only those who qualify under current in-Canada rules may apply there.
There is no single IELTS rule for every work permit. Express Entry and many PR programs require an approved language test with program-specific thresholds; some employers or regulators have separate requirements.
Usually for most eligible employers, subject to any restrictions printed on the permit and the applicable IRCC rules. Open work permits are limited to qualifying categories.
It may help under Canadian Experience Class or a suitable provincial route, but the experience must meet that program's rules. A permit or a year of work alone does not guarantee PR.
Possibly through Express Entry, a Provincial Nominee Program or another eligible PR pathway. There is no automatic conversion: you must meet that program's criteria and submit a separate application.
Possibly, under current category, occupation and permit-validity rules. Marriage to a worker does not automatically make a spouse eligible.
There is no universal price or timeline. Work permit, LMIA, PR, biometrics and other steps differ. Check IRCC and Service Canada's live tools for the route and country that apply to you.
Tell us whether you have a job offer, where you live now, your occupation and your goal. A consultation can clarify suitable pathways and the evidence you may need. No job, visa or PR outcome can be guaranteed.
Choose a suitable consultation slot on VisaLine's scheduling page.
View available times ↗Open and employer-specific permits, eligibility and conditions.
Read the guide ↗Understand employer obligations and offer documentation.
Read the guide ↗Compare the managed programs and current ranking rules.
Read the guide ↗Foreign work experience, selection factors and documents.
Read the guide ↗Match your skills and employment profile to a suitable stream.
Read the guide ↗Explore the designated-employer PR route in Atlantic Canada.
Read the guide ↗Get a personalized assessment based on your profile and immigration goals.