Types of Work Permits Canada
Find out about Canadian work permits, including International Experience Canada, the USMCA, and the Temporary Foreign Worker program.
Types of Work Permits Canada
Canada has over 70 immigration options at the moment to help talented immigrants move to the country for work. Generally, the first step in immigrating to Canada has to do with applying for a work permit.
Do you know about the different types of work permits? Canada has several different types of work permit based on your occupation and your reason for entering the country, for example, if you are coming to Canada as a TV host for a set amount of time with a job that is unionized and well paid, then your types of work permit will reflect that. In this case, you would apply for an Employer Specific Work Permit.

What a Canadian Work Permit Shows
A Canadian work permit has four conditions. It shows:
- The employer you work for;
- The types of work you will do;
- The location where you can work; and
- The amount of time you can legally work in the country
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What Types of Work Permits Does Canada Have?
Here are the two types of work permits Canada has to offer. Depending on your qualifications and occupation your job may fall under two different categories of work permits.
There are two main types of work permits, the Open Work Permit and the Employer Specific Work Permit.
What is An Open Work Permit?
An open work permit is issued by the Immigration Office to immigrants who wish to work for any employer for a certain amount of time.
There are two subcategories for Open Work Permits (OWP), Unrestricted and Restricted Permits. The main difference between the two is that Unrestricted Permits allow you to work in any occupation and location, while the Restricted does not. The Restricted Permit allows you to work in a specific job and thus does give you as much freedom of movement to work in different areas of Canada.
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What Visa Programs Use Open Work Permits?
Some of the types of work permits Canada considers to be OWP are the:
- Temporary Work Permits for Spouses or Partners;
- Post Graduation Work Permit;
- Temporary Resident Permit;
- World Youth Program Permit;
- Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program Spousal Permit;
- Regular Open Work Permit; and
- Birding Open Work Permit
If you want to learn how to apply for a Canadian Work Permit this article may be just what you need to get started.
Canada also has several visa programs that use Open Work Permits these are the:
- Working Holiday Visa;
- Young Professionals Visa;
- International Experience Canada;
- Federal Skilled Worker Program;
- Canadian Experience Class;
- Federal Skilled Trades Program;
- Provincial Nominee Program; and
- International Co-Op Program
What is a Bridging Open Work Permit?
This is a special work permit that lets you work in Canada while you wait for your permanent resident application results. Normally, you can qualify for this specific permit if you have applied under any of the following permanent residence programs.
Programs That Let You Apply for a Bridging Open Work Permit: |
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There are also certain requirements you must meet to apply. You must apply if you are already living in Canada, if your work permit is expiring within four months or if your work permit is still valid.
You should also know that if you had any employment restrictions on your work permit, you cannot apply under PNPs. Quebec also has its own standards and does not offer a Bridging Open Work Permit to applicants!
How to Get the Perfect Job in Canada
To qualify for a work permit in the first place, you will generally need a job offer from a Canadian employer. Although this does not count if you are not applying under the Working Holiday Visa or other similar open work permit options.
The first step is to make sure you have an absolutely stunning CV to hand in. If you are unsure about how to start crafting the right CV,
Using the Right Job Portal in Canada
There are also some really useful job websites that you can upload your CV on in order to find the right job for you. Here are just a few of them to get you started.
Monster is one of the largest recruitment websites that help narrow down qualify job opportunities and assists in answering career-related FAQs.
You may have heard of this next site, Canadian Job Bank. The Canadian Job Bank has a very flexible design and a job alert option to tell you about the latest job postings. It is also one of the most widely used job search portals in Canada.
Indeed is another familiar name that you may have heard of before. Simple to use and with an instant job apply option after you upload your CV, it makes applying for a job in Canada that much faster.
Eluta is yet another job portal in Canada you can use. This job website helps find the top candidates for some of the best companies in Canada like L’Oreal and Siemens.
Can You Qualify for a Work Permit in Canada?
Navigating the Canadian immigration system can be a bit of tedious, with 70+ immigration programs to sift through, a copious amount of forms and documents to complete and strict submission dates, the process can become very complicated and stressful. But that’s what we’re here for. At Canadian Visa, we take the hassle out of relocating to Canada. Our accredited RCICs (Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants) are ready to evaluate your eligibility, review all documentation and submit all documentation on your behalf. Using an RCIC not only gives you the best possible chance of receiving an ITA for permanent residence but will make the entire process simple and effortless.
If you are unsure about whether you can qualify under any of these programs, just complete this contact form to speak to an immigration specialist. They will answer any questions you have about the application process and how to move forward with your application.