A work permit is rarely the end goal. For most people it’s a step toward something longer: permanent residence, a business, or a family plan. So the first question we ask isn’t only “which permit can I get?” but “which permit puts you in the best position for what comes next?”
Pathways
Employer-specific permits with a labour market assessment
Framing: a Canadian employer wants to hire you and is prepared to go through the assessment process.
OFFICIAL GOVERNMENT OF CANADA, PROVINCIAL AND/OR TERRITORIAL REQUIREMENT · IRCC and ESDC
A labour market impact assessment (LMIA) is how the federal government decides whether hiring a temporary foreign worker will help or hurt the Canadian labour market, and most employers need one. Employment and Social Development Canada runs the program and issues the decisions; employers apply through LMIA Online. You then apply for an employer-specific permit with the job offer and, where needed, the employer’s LMIA documents.
Employer-specific permits without a labour market assessment
Framing: your situation falls under a trade agreement, an intra-company transfer, or another exemption.
OFFICIAL GOVERNMENT OF CANADA, PROVINCIAL AND/OR TERRITORIAL REQUIREMENT · IRCC
Under the International Mobility Program, an employer can hire a foreign worker without an LMIA, under exemptions set out in the regulations. You still need a work permit, and the employer records the exemption in the job offer.
Entrepreneurs and self-employed owners
OFFICIAL GOVERNMENT OF CANADA, PROVINCIAL AND/OR TERRITORIAL REQUIREMENT · IRCC
IRCC says an entrepreneur’s work permit can be exempt from the labour market assessment where the business would bring significant social, cultural or economic benefit, or jobs for Canadians and permanent residents. Some provincial entrepreneur streams use a provincial support letter for this step; Alberta’s Rural Entrepreneur Stream is one example. In that stream, the support letter itself doesn’t guarantee the permit; only IRCC issues it.
→ Business immigration: Business immigration
Open work permits
Framing: a permit that isn’t tied to one employer, available only in specific situations.
OFFICIAL GOVERNMENT OF CANADA, PROVINCIAL AND/OR TERRITORIAL REQUIREMENT · IRCC
An open work permit lets you work for almost any employer, apart from non-compliant employers and certain adult-entertainment businesses, and most applicants must apply from inside Canada. Groups that may qualify include sponsored family members and spouses of some international students. Holders can change employers at any time while the permit is valid.
Bridging while permanent residence is processed
OFFICIAL GOVERNMENT OF CANADA, PROVINCIAL AND/OR TERRITORIAL REQUIREMENT · IRCC
A bridging open work permit lets a permanent residence applicant keep working while waiting for a decision. For Express Entry applicants, you must live in Canada (outside Quebec), hold valid or maintained status, be the principal applicant and have submitted a complete application that passed the completeness check. Provincial nominees have their own conditions, depending on whether they applied through Express Entry. If you’re not yet eligible, extend your current permit rather than let it run out. Alberta also offers renewal options for its nominees.
Questions people in your situation ask
- My permit expires soon. Can I keep working while I apply to extend it? If you apply before it expires, you can stay and keep working under the same conditions until a decision (maintained status). IRCC suggests applying at least 30 days before expiry. Applying for a study permit or visitor record instead doesn’t let you keep working past the permit’s expiry.
- Can my spouse or partner work too? In some cases. As of October 13, 2026, IRCC limits open work permits for spouses of students to partners of students in certain master’s, doctoral and other eligible programs (IRCC – Help your spouse common law partner work Canada: canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/study-canada/work/help-your-spouse-common-law-partner-work-canada.html). Spouses of workers are covered by separate exemption categories that depend on the worker’s occupation.
- Can I change employers? On an employer-specific permit you need a new permit first, though you may be able to ask for interim authorization to start the new job. If that application is still pending when your permit expires, keep working for the original employer until a decision.
- Does a work permit lead to permanent residence? Not automatically. A year of skilled Canadian work experience can make you eligible for the Canadian Experience Class, and Canadian experience counts in the ranking score only if you were physically in Canada working for a Canadian employer. → Express Entry
Official Government of Canada, Provincial and/or Territorial Requirements: official sources
- IRCC, “Open work permits” (IRCC – Open work permit: canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/work-canada/open-work-permit.html)
- IRCC, “Employer-specific work permits” (IRCC – Employer specific: canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/work-canada/employer-specific.html)
- IRCC, “Bridging open work permit” (IRCC – Pr work permits: bridging: canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/work-canada/pr-work-permits/bridging.html)
- IRCC, “Extend or change the conditions on your work permit” (canada.ca, Work in Canada)
- IRCC Help Centre, entrepreneur work permits without an LMIA (ircc.canada.ca/english/helpcentre/answer.asp?qnum=1199&top=17); Government of Alberta, “AAIP Rural Entrepreneur Stream: how to apply” (alberta.ca/aaip-rural-entrepreneur-stream-how-to-apply)
Related
- Express Entry → Express Entry
- Business immigration → Business immigration
- Study permits → Study permits
Common questions
Answers from the Team of Sean G. McKinsley and Kimberly J. White, two Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants working together as co-counsel. Every case is different; for advice on yours, book a consultation.
Does the team help employers with LMIAs and work permits?
Yes. Sean McKinsley and Kimberly White advise employers and workers on employer work permits, Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) matters and LMIA-exempt work permits. We look at whether a role and a candidate fit a work permit route, what the employer must do, and what the worker must show. We do not recruit workers or sell job offers; the job offer must be genuine. See Work permits.
Does the team sell jobs or job offers?
No. If you are coming to Canada to work, it is against the law for an employer, or anyone recruiting for an employer, to charge you to get a job. Employers must not charge or recover recruitment fees from a foreign worker, directly or indirectly, and must make sure their recruiters don’t either (Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/SOR-2002-227/FullText.html), ss. 209.2(1)(a)(ix)–(x) and 209.3(1)(a)(xv)–(xvi)). The Government of Canada tells workers that an employer can’t make you pay to get or keep your job; you only pay for your own work permit, medical exam and biometrics, if required (Temporary foreign workers: Your rights are protected: canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/services/foreign-workers/protected-rights.html). In Alberta, an employment agency cannot charge you a fee for finding or trying to find you a job (Employment Agency Business Licensing Regulation (kings-printer.alberta.ca/1266.cfm), s. 12).
A Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant must not charge you any fee for finding you a job (CICC Code of Professional Conduct (laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/SOR-2022-128/section-17.html), s. 17(3)(c)). We do not sell jobs or job offers, and we will never ask you to pay for a job or a job offer. We advise individuals and employers on the immigration side of a genuine job offer.
If anyone asks you to pay for a Canadian job or job offer, treat it as a scam: do not pay, and report it to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca) and to IRCC (How to report scams, fraud or abuse: canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/protect-fraud/report-fraud.html).
What should I do if someone uses your names to offer me a Canadian job?
Do not pay them and do not send personal documents. It is a scam. Sean G. McKinsley and Kimberly J. White do not sell jobs or job offers and will never ask you to pay for a job. We only ask for payment by invoice under a written agreement with you. If you are coming to Canada to work, an employer, or anyone recruiting for one, cannot charge you to get a job (Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/SOR-2002-227/FullText.html), ss. 209.2(1)(a)(ix)–(x) and 209.3(1)(a)(xv)–(xvi)), and a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant must not charge you for finding you a job (CICC Code of Professional Conduct (laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/SOR-2022-128/section-17.html), s. 17(3)(c)).
Report it to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca) and to IRCC (How to report scams, fraud or abuse: canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/protect-fraud/report-fraud.html). Then write to us at info@civs.ca so we know our names are being misused. You can check any immigration consultant on the CICC public register (register.college-ic.ca).
More answers: All common questions
Your RCIC team
RCIC · CICC R529731
Verify on the CICC register (Sean G. McKinsley) (register.college-ic.ca)
RCIC · CICC R712483
Verify on the CICC register (Kimberly J. White) (register.college-ic.ca)
Sean G. McKinsley, RCIC, our senior practitioner, conducts your first video consultation.
Plan your work permit around what comes next.
No outcome is guaranteed. IRCC decides every work permit application.