Work Permit

Canada is a land of Opportunities. Being a foreign national, you will enhance your skills and develop confidence in yourself by working in Canada.
Merit Immigration will take care of all the required paperwork and help your dreams become your wings.

We work to match your skills to the thousands of positions that require foreign workers in Canada. We work on your skills assessments, match to the employer and your complete and accurate application submission.

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Open Work Permit

An open work permit is not a job-specific permit. It allows an individual to work for any employer for a specific period of time.

Closed Work Permit

This is an LMIA based work permit.

A Labor Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) is a document issued by Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) that an employer in Canada may need to get before hiring a foreign worker through the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP).

An employer-specific work permit consents you to work agreeing to the conditions on your work permit, which include:
– The name of the employer
– Duration and location of work
– An LMIA is a document from Employment and Social Development Canada/Service Canada that allows employers to hire a foreign worker through the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP).

Before you submit your work permit application, your employer must give you:

– A copy of the positive LMIA, and
– Job offer letter/ Contract

Restrictions: Occupations in food services, accommodation, and retail trade sectors are barred from this program in regions with a 6%+ unemployment rate.

Work Permit Without LMIA

LMIA is not always required for a closed work permit. In some cases, this requirement is waived.

International Agreement: Canada has a mutual understanding and formal agreement with different countries. Following are some of the examples:

For more information on how to get a work permit under this category, visit this website.

Other programs which do not require LMIA are

  1. Intra-company transfer: For temporary transfer of an employee who is an executive, manager, or special knowledge worker and works with a foreign company who has a good relationship with a company in Canada.
  2. International Exchange Program: Programs such as International Experience Canada does not require LMIA.
  3. Dependents of Foreign Workers: Spouses and children of foreign national, who is present in Canada on a valid permit, can apply for an open work permit for their dependents.
  4. Academics: This includes researchers, Visiting professors, and lecturers.
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Holiday Working Visa (IEC)

International Experience Canada offers youth the prospect to travel and work in Canada.

It has the following three categories:

  •       Working Holiday
  •       Young Professional
  •       International Co-op

Countries come under this program: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Ukraine, United Kingdom.

Note:

  • The age of the applicant must be between 18- 35 years.
  • LMIA is not required.

Work Permit for Eligible Refugee Claimants

An individual can apply for a study or a work permit if he/she has already applied for a refugee claim. If you haven’t submitted your refugee claim yet, you can apply for both at the same time.

  • Minor children do not need a study permit to study.
  • If your work or study permit is about to expire, you can apply for extension before it expires and continues working or studying on implied status.
  • If your permit is already expired, you have to submit a new application and cannot work while waiting for the decision.

Bridging Open Work Permit

The applicant who has their Permanent Residency application in the process under Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) Class, the Federal Skilled Trades (FST) Class, the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) or one of the Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP) , can apply for a bridging open work permit while waiting for the decision on their application.

Timeline: Must apply within 4 months before the expiry of their current work permit.

Eligibility:

  1.     Must be present in Canada.
  2.     Valid work permit while applying for BOWP
  3.     Must have applied under FSW, FST, CEC, or PNP
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Spousal Work Permit

An individual may qualify for an open work permit if they are:

  • a spouse of a skilled worker in occupation under the National Occupational Classification (NOC) skill type 0, A or B approved to work in Canada for six months or longer.
  • a spouse of someone applying for the Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program in a job under NOC 0, A, B or C
  • a spouse of an international student at a college or university.
  • a family member of a foreign representative, or
  • a family member of a foreign military member who is working in Canada.

Post Graduate Work Permit (PGWP)

This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for students who have a valid study permit in Canada and have fulfilled the following requirements:

  • Graduated from an eligible designated learning institution (DLI) with an academic, vocational or professional training program, which must have a minimum duration of 8 months.
  • The applicant must have maintained full-time student status in each academic session. Exceptions only for the following: leave from studies and final academic session
  • Must have received the transcript and an official letter from the DLI they were enrolled in, stating their requirements to complete the study program.

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