Work In Canada

Work In Canada

A foreign national can stay in Canada only under certain conditions. The person should be a permanent resident, a Canadian citizen or should have a legal work permit to visit, work or study in Canada.

If you are already in Canada as a visitor, student or on a work permit, then you will need to ensure that your status is legal and valid at all times. It is essential that you apply for a renewal or a new work permit or visa before the existing one expires

Post Graduate Work Permit:

You may be eligible for a post-graduation work permit (PGWP) if you graduated from a designated learning institution (DLI) and want to stay in Canada temporarily to work. Graduation from a DLI doesn’t automatically make you eligible for a PGWP

You have 180 days after you get your final marks to apply for a PGWP.

The Temporary Foreign Worker Program:

Most foreign nationals need a work permit to work in Canada

There are 2 types of work permits.

1. Employer-specific work permit

An employer-specific work permit lets you work in Canada 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)

2. Open work permit

An open work permit lets you work for any employer in Canada, except for one that:

You can only get an open work permit in specific situations.

Spousal Open Work Permit

Your spouse or common-law partner may be eligible for an open work permit if you:

  • have a valid study permit and
  • are a full-time student at one of these types of schools:
    • a public post-secondary school, such as a college or university, or CEGEP in Quebec
    • a private college-level school in Quebec
    • a Canadian private school that can legally award degrees under provincial law (for example, Bachelors, Masters or Doctorate degree)

Processing an open work permit usually takes several months. There are many factors that can affect the processing time.Your spouse or common-law partner’s work permit will be valid for the same period of time as your study permit.