A foreign national who intends to work in Canada is generally required to process a work permit or other permission to legally do so. Such authorization may come in various forms, and usually requires advances approval prior to eligibility to enter Canada for work.
If you or an employee are seeking temporary eligibility to work in Canada, please complete a Canadian work permit eligibility assessment at no cost to determine which strategy is the best approach in your case. You may also contact us at 011-25332221
There are numerous categories or provisions by witch a foreign worker can seek a work permit in Canada. However, these usually fall within one of several general classifications that can be used to better understand the procedures.
Many international students who complete post-secondary education in Canada wish to stay and obtain Canadian work experience.
Once they have completed their studies in an eligible program at an eligible Canadian post-secondary institution, international graduates can apply for a Post-Graduation Work Permit, which allows them to work in Canada.
In its effort to retain international students, Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) operates a Post-Graduate Work Permit Program. Under this program, international graduates may obtain an open work permit — for up to three years! This allows them to work for any Canadian employer in any industry without the requirement of a Canadian job offer at the time of applying.
International students can only receive one Post-Graduation Work Permit from IRCC, so it’s important to take advantage of that opportunity.
To be eligible for a Post-Graduation Work Permit, international students must have:
Note: Graduates of vocational and professional training programs in Quebec must meet additional criteria outlined by IRCC depending on the type of diploma issued.
In 2019, the Government of Canada extended the time to apply for the Post-Graduation Work Permit from 90 to 180 days (six months) after obtaining a transcript and an official letter from the eligible DLI confirming that the requirements to complete the program of study have been met.
When applying, applicants must demonstrate that they either hold a valid study permit, held a study permit, or were authorized to study in Canada without the requirement to obtain a study permit under paragraphs 188(1)(a) and (b) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations.
While program officers may request additional documents, two important documents required at the time of applying are a letter confirming the completion of the program of study and an official transcript by their DLI.
International students are ineligible to apply if they:
How long the post-graduation work permit is valid for depends on the length of the study program.
Duration of study program | Duration of work permit |
---|---|
Less than 8 months | Ineligible |
Between 8 and 24 months | Valid for up to the same length as the study program |
24 months or longer | Up to 3 years |
More than 1 program | May be valid for up to 3 years if more than 1 eligible study program is completed |