Work in Canada

2. Eligibility

• Eligibility requirements for all applicants
• Eligibility requirements if you apply from outside Canada
• Eligibility requirements if you apply from inside Canada
• Eligibility requirements if you apply when you enter Canada at a port of entry 

Eligibility requirements for all applicants

There are specific requirements you need to meet depending on where you are when you apply for your Work Permit.

But regardless of where you apply or which type of Work Permit  you apply for, you must

• prove to an officer that you will leave Canada when your Work Permit  expires;
• show that you have enough money to take care of yourself and your family members during your stay in Canada and to return home;
• obey the law and have no record of criminal activity (we may ask you to give us a police clearance certificate);
• not be a danger to Canada’s security;
• be in good health and have a medical exam, if needed;
• not plan to work for an employer listed with the status “ineligible” on the list of employers who failed to comply with the conditions;
• not plan to work for an employer who, on a regular basis, offers striptease, erotic dance, escort services or erotic massages; and
• give the officer any other documents they ask for to prove you can enter the country.

Eligibility requirements if you apply from outside Canada

 Anyone can apply before they enter Canada. However, there may be visa office requirements that you need to meet depending on what country or territory you’re applying from.

Eligibility requirements if you apply from inside Canada

You can only apply for a Work Permit  from inside Canada if

• you have a valid study or Work Permit ;
• your spouse, common-law partner or parents have a valid study or Work Permit ;
• you’re eligible for a Post-Graduation Work Permit   and your study permit is still valid;
• you have a temporary resident permit that is valid for six months or more;
• you’re waiting on a decision on an application for permanent residence from inside Canada;
• you made a claim for refugee protection;
• you’ve been recognized as a convention refugee or protected person by the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada;
• you’re allowed to work in Canada without a Work Permit   but you need a Work Permit  to work in a different job (this does not apply to business visitors); or
• you’re a trader, investor, intra-company transferee or professional under the Canada – United States – Mexico Agreement (CUSMA).

Eligibility requirements if you apply when you enter Canada at a port of entry

You should only apply at the POE if you meet all of these conditions:

• You’re entering Canada from the United States.
• You have a plan to quarantine for 14 days upon arrival in Canada.
  • Even if you travel from inside Canada (in other words, if you “flagpole”), you must quarantine for 14 days upon re-entry to Canada
• You have a valid job offer.
• You meet all other requirements to apply at the POE.

We recommend that you apply for your Work Permit before you travel to Canada. However, you can apply for a Work Permit  when you enter Canada if

• you don’t need a visitor visa to come to Canada
  • you must also be entering Canada from the United States while travel restrictions are in place

and

• you’re applying for an Open Work Permit
  • you must also have a valid job offer while travel restrictions are in place,

or

• your employer has completed all of the required steps for your employer-specific Work Permit

You may need to take a medical exam before you come to Canada.

Work Permit  Exemptions:

There are some jobs that do not require Work Permits given that the type of work is legal and is of short duration. Some jobs that do not require Work Permit s are as follow:

• Aviation investigators
• Athletes and coaches of foreign teams
• Clergy members
• Expert witnesses
• News reporters
• Film crew
• Performing artists
• Health care students 

Fees	$CAN
Work Permit  (including extensions) – per person	155
Work Permit  (including extensions) – per group (3 or more performing artists) Maximum fee for a group of 3 or more performing artists applying at the same time and place	465
Open Work Permit  holder	100
Restore your status as a worker Restore your status ($200) and get a new Work Permit  ($155)	355

 

Talk to the experts

Get in touch with us for more details. Before you get started on your application for a Work Permit it is best to obtain an expert opinion. Team, Visa HUB has years of experience in dealing with Work Permit applications.