The very last piece of the working puzzle is obtaining a work visa. Once you have been accepted for the
job opportunity, you can start the process.
In order to work in Canada, you require a work permit. In most cases, the process of applying for a
work permit is twofold. First, the Canadian employer must receive government permission to hire
outside Canada. Once this permission has been granted, you must apply for and receive your
Temporary Work Permit from the ESDC (Employment and Social Development Canada). Here’s the 4
step process:
Step 1: Employer applies for Labour Market Impact Assessment, if necessary
Under some circumstances, the Canadian employer who wishes to hire a temporary foreign worker
may need to apply for and be granted a positive Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) by ESDC.
Step 2: Employer extends a temporary job offer
Once the LMIA is granted, the Canadian employer can provide you with a temporary job offer. The
employer must send you a copy of the positive LMIA along with a detailed job offer letter. If the
Canadian employer that is hiring is in the province of Quebec, then you may also need to obtain a
Certificate d ‘acceptation du Québec (CAQ) in order to work temporarily in Quebec.
Step 3: You pay the Application Fee
You must pay this fee as part of the requirements of the working visa. You can pay this fee through the
Citizenship and Immigration Canada website.
Step 4: You apply for the Work Permit
With these documents, locate and apply to your nearest Canadian Visa Application Center for a
Temporary Work Permit.
Step 5: Work Permit is issued
A Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) officer will issue the Canada Temporary Work Permit at the
point of entry when you arrive in Canada.

Before applying, you should have the following documents ready:

• Intent to leave Canada: You have to show your written intent to leave Canada after your employment contract expires.
• Financial Sustainability: You should demonstrate that you have enough financial funds to
  support yourself.
• No Criminal Record: You should prove that you are not a risk to the security of Canada by
  showing that you have no criminal record.
• Health Certificate: You also have to produce a health certificate to prove that you are fit to stay
  there.

A Temporary Work Permit may be issued for a period of time ranging from a few days to a few years.
Canadian work permits usually take no longer than a week to be processed.
This is the work visa process for Canada. The hard part of the job application process is behind you
and the visa application is the final formality. Make sure you check and submit all the pertinent
documents as required by the issuing authority.