Canadian Work Visas

Canada’s work permits allow a variety of foreign workers and business people to work in Canada on a temporary basis. Once 12 months of Canadian work experience has been acquired, other immigration programs may become applicable, as Canadian work experience is highly valuable for immigrating to Canada.

To apply for a work permit you need to create an IRCC account online. You can also apply via a Canadian visa office, or at a point of entry, depending on the type of work permit you are applying for. Eligibility requirements also vary depending on the work permit.

Two types of Canadian work permits are available: open work permits and closed (also known as employer-specific) work permits. An open work permit allows the holder to work for any eligible employer in any job role in Canada for a certain amount of time, whereas a closed work permit limits the foreign worker to work for a specific employer in a specific position for the duration of the work permit.

To receive assistance with selecting the most appropriate immigration route to Canada for your personal immigration goals, speak to one of our experienced immigration lawyers at (+353) 061 518 025 or complete the quick inquiry form.

Canada’s Express Entry system is a points-based, competitive ranking system that processes applications from foreign skilled workers for Canadian permanent residence. Four immigration programs are processed through Express Entry, as follows:

• Canadian Experience Class
• Federal Skilled Worker Program
• Federal Skilled Trades Program
• Provincial Nominee Programs

Candidates are assessed against a variety of criteria such as age, education, work experience, language proficiency, and other factors. Those who score the highest are invited to apply (ITA) for Canadian permanent residency.

The Express Entry route is very popular as it is the fastest way to immigrate to Canada, usually just a matter of months. However, each program with the system has its own requirements and these would be carefully checked to determine if you are eligible.

Express Entry is open throughout the year and draws to select candidates are held at frequent intervals. Express Entry applications are made online.

For more information on the Express Entry programs, requirements, and application process visit our Express Entry page.

The Canadian Experience Class (CEC) is aimed at helping foreign workers who can offer at least one year’s skilled work experience in Canada to reside there permanently. The main requirements of the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) include:

• One year’s work experience in Canada (full-time, part-time work, or a combination of both)
• The work experience must have been gained in the last 3 years
• The work experience must have been obtained under an official work permit
• The work experience must be of skill type O, A, B (under the National Occupational Classification (NOC))
• The work experience cannot be gained during self-employment or while a full-time student
• The work experience must be paid work – volunteer work or unpaid internships are not eligible
• You must not be a refugee claimant in Canada to be eligible for CEC
• You must not be working without authorization to be eligible for CEC
• You must not have gained work experience without temporary resident status in Canada
• English or French language ability:
  • CLB 7 if your NOC is 0 or A
  • CLB 5 if your NOC is B
• A job offer is not required
• There are no education requirements

To find out more about the eligibility requirements visit our Canadian Experience Class page.

The Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) is one of the programs that is managed under the Express Entry system. This program is for skilled workers with foreign work experience who wish to immigrate to Canada permanently.

Some of the main requirements you will need to meet to apply for the FSWP include:

• Your skilled work experience must:
  • have been gained in one of these job groups: managerial jobs (skill type 0), professional jobs (skill level A), technical jobs and skilled trades (skill level B).
  • have included all the essential duties and most of the main duties listed in the relevant NOC
  • be in the same type of job (have the same NOC) as the job on the basis of which you are applying for FSWP.
  • have been gained within the last 10 years
  • have been paid work (unpaid volunteer work or unpaid internship do not count)
  • have comprised of at least 1 year of continuous work or 1,560 hours total (full-time or part-time).
• English or French language ability skills
• No job offer is needed.
• Secondary education is required.
• Sufficient funds to support you and your family members are needed.

Visit our Federal Skilled Worker Program page for more information on the FSWP requirements and how to apply for this work visa.

The Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) is an Express Entry program that is for skilled workers who are qualified in a skilled trade and want to become permanent residents in Canada.

Key requirements for the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) include:

• Your work experience is in one of the following job groups:
  • Major Group 72, industrial, electrical and construction trades
  • Major Group 73, maintenance and equipment operation trades
  • Major Group 82, supervisors and technical jobs in natural resources, agriculture and related production
  • Major Group 92, processing, manufacturing and utilities supervisors and central control operators
  • Minor Group 632, chefs and cooks
  • Minor Group 633, butchers and bakers
• You have at least two years of paid work experience (full-time or part-time equivalent) in an eligible skilled trade within five years before applying for FSTP
• You must show that you performed all the essential duties and most of the main duties listed in the lead statement of the occupational description in the NOC
• Your work experience only counts if it was gained after you qualified in the skill/occupation in question
• You have a valid job offer of full-time employment for at least one year or a certificate of qualification in your skilled trade that was issued by a Canadian provincial, territorial or federal authority
• English or French language skills – CLB 5 in speaking and listening, CLB 4 in reading and writing
• Sufficient funds to support you and your family upon arrival in Canada
• No education requirements need to be met, but you can get extra points if you do have an educational certificate, diploma, or degree

Visit our Federal Skilled Trades Program page for more information on this Canadian work visa.

The Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) are another program type that is managed through the Express Entry system. Canada’s provinces and territories use Express Entry to select candidates for nomination for permanent residency through these programs.

PNPs vary considerably from the federal equivalents in terms of eligibility criteria which are designed for the specific labour market and goals of each Canadian province and territory.

Canada’s PNPs consist of sub-programs or categories known as streams, which target certain groups of people for example entrepreneurs, skilled workers, students etc.

Each PNP stream varies in its application and selection processes. For example, some will select candidates on a first-come, first-served basis whilst with others, it will be a competitive ranking process.

If selected for a PNP, you will receive a ‘Notification of Interest’ in your online Express Entry profile. You can then submit a complete application to the province.

It is advisable to carefully select the PNP by thoroughly researching the province and whether it suits you as a new home since a successful PNP application means that you will be expected to reside and work in that province.

Note that Quebec uses its own immigration processes to attract foreign workers.

Visit our Provincial Nominee Program page for more information on PNPs. If would like assistance with the province and PNP selection, call us on  (+353) 061 518 025 or reach out to us via our contact page.

The Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) is a Canadian immigration option that allows employers in Canada to hire foreign nationals where the positions cannot be filled by Canadians. The purpose of the TFWP is to address skill shortages and promote economic growth. Originally when the program was created it was aimed at live-in caregivers and agricultural workers, but the program has now expanded significantly and offers employers an option to hire a wide variety of high-skilled and low-skilled positions.

Requirements of the Temporary Foreign Worker program include:

• The foreign worker must have a job offer from a Canadian employer.
• The employer must apply for a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA)
• The foreign worker must be admissible to Canada. Individuals can be inadmissible to Canada for criminal, medical, or financial reasons.

TFWP work permits are valid for a maximum of one year, and the duration will be tied to a specific employer (closed work permit). Switching to a different employer once in Canada is not permitted.

You can make an application for a TFW work permit after you have a job offer and your employer has obtained an LMIA unless your job role is LMIA-exempt.

Note that if you are applying in Quebec, an additional document from the Quebec government is needed before applying for your work permit.

A TFW work permit does not directly lead to permanent residence in Canada. However, once you have acquired Canadian work experience, you may be eligible for other PR programs such as the Canadian Experience Class or a Provincial Nominee Program.

The TFWP is overseen by Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC).

The International Mobility Program (IMP) allows Canadian employers to hire foreign workers on a temporary work permit without having to obtain a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). This is advantageous as it means employers can hire a foreign worker without first offering the position to Canadians. This leads to a simpler and faster hiring process for both the employer and worker.

Effectively, the International Mobility Program is a fluid group of work permit streams, which include the following, although this is not an exhaustive list:

• International Experience Canada (IEC) program
• Free Trade Agreements such as United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), the Trans-Pacific Partnership, and the Canada–European Union Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement (CETA)
• Intra-Company Transfer program
• Bridging Open Work Permit – for someone transitioning to permanent residence
• Post-Graduation Work Permit
• Mobilité Francophone initiative – and other programs that bring social or cultural benefit to Canada

The IMP is overseen by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

The Self-Employed Person Program (SEPP) is for people who have work experience in the areas of cultural activities or athletics and want to establish a business in one of these areas in Canada. They must be able to show that they will be able to contribute significantly in this field within Canada.

In order to be eligible for the Self-Employed Person Program, you must show that:

• You have 2 years of experience in either cultural activities or athletics
• This experience was gained within the last five years
• This experience was either:
  • gained at a prominent (world-class) level or:
  • you have been self-employed in one of these areas

Additionally, you’ll need to meet the definition of a self-employed person, as well as meet other eligibility requirements. You’ll be ranked against criteria including age, experience, education, English or French language ability, and adaptability, amongst others.

One of the main attractions of the Self-Employed Person Program is that it offers a pathway to Canadian permanent residence.

You can find out more about this Canadian work visa on our Self-Employed Person Program Page.

If you would like to explore how we can help you submit a compelling SEPP application, please call us on (+353) 061 518 025 or fill out our inquiry form.

Canada’s Start-up Visa Program (SUV) is for entrepreneurs who want to immigrate to Canada as permanent residents by starting a qualifying business. The business must create new jobs for Canadian workers, be able to compete globally and be innovative. Additionally, it must have the support of a designated entity.

Dependent family members are allowed to come with you to Canada on a Start-Up Visa. Dependents are your dependent spouse or common-law partner, and unmarried children.

If you wish to visit Canada to start setting up your business before your visa and therefore permanent residence is granted, you are eligible for a temporary work permit.

The Start-Up Visa Program has four main requirements that must be met in order to be eligible, as follows:

1. Your business must be a qualifying one – you must hold at least 10% of the voting rights of the company, plus 50% of the voting rights must be held between you and the designated organization.

2. Support from a designated organization – a designated organization is one of:

• A venture capital fund
• An angel investor group, or
• A business incubator

Investment or support from a designated organization needs to be secured. For the amount of investment you need to secure, take a look at our Start-Up Visa page.

3. Language test result – you must take an English or French language test from an approved agency

4. Evidence of funds – although you don’t need to invest your own funds into your business for this visa, you do need to have sufficient funds to support yourself and your family (if applicable) upon arrival in Canada. The settlement funds you need to show you have are determined by the size of your family.

Applications for the Start-Up Visa can be submitted online or physically via the mail. You’ll need to submit significant supporting documents including medical exam documents and police certificates.

If you mail your application to IRCC, there are posting guidelines to follow, for example, the envelope size and selecting the correct address to send it to.

The processing time is usually around 12 to 16 months. If your application is approved, you and your family (if applicable) will immediately receive permanent residency in Canada.

The Working Holiday Visa is an International Experience Canada (IEC) program that is aimed at allowing young people to stay and work in Canada temporarily so they can gain work experience and knowledge of Canada.

A Working Holiday Visa allows young adults between 18 and 35 years of age from over 30 countries to come to Canada, and if you are an Irish citizen the good news is that Ireland is one of these countries. Canada and Ireland have an agreement in place that allows Irish citizens to stay in Canada for up to two years on this visa, which will be exchanged for an open work permit upon arrival in Canada.

The work permit will allow you to work in any job in Canada, for up to 24 months.

To be eligible for the Canada Working Holiday Visa as an Irish citizen, the following requirements need to be met. You must:

• Be a citizen of Ireland
• Have an Irish passport whose expiry date is after the end date of your working holiday in Canada
• Be between 18 and 35 years of age
• Have proof of $2,500 CAD equivalent or more in savings
• Have documentation to show you have health insurance for your entire stay
• Have a round-trip ticket to present on arrival, or show proof of funds to buy one
• Not bring any dependants with you
• Have the necessary police and medical certificates

The application process for a Working Holiday Visa is as follows:

• Create an International Experience Canada (IEC) account
• Complete the IEC questionnaire – this will tell you if you meet the requirements to be accepted into the IEC pools
• Wait for an IEC draw to take place, when you will receive an Invitation to Apply, if selected
• Submit visa application
• If successful, IRCC will send you a Port of Entry (POE) letter of introduction in your online account. This should be presented at customs when you arrive in Canada.

For assistance with applying for a Working Holiday Visa, call us on (+353) 061 518 025 or complete the short inquiry form.

If you are an Irish citizen completing a course at a designated Canadian learning institution you could be eligible for a Post Graduate Work Permit (PGWP).

A PGWP will permit you to stay and work in Canada after you graduate, and work for as many hours as you want (full-time or part-time) at any employer in Canada, as it’s an open work permit. You can also choose to become self-employed and start your own business.

After you have gained the required Canadian work experience, a PGWP will provide you with a pathway to Canadian permanent residency.

The PGWP eligibility requirements are as follows:

• You must be 18 years of age or older
• Your application must be submitted within 180 days of completing your study program
• You must have had a valid study permit during your studies or you must have had authorization to study without one
• The educational establishment must have been an eligible DLI
• Your program of study must have been at least eight months in length
• Your program of study must have been full-time (excluding your final semester)
• Your program of study must have led to a degree, diploma, or certificate
• Online or distance-learning courses are only eligible if less than 50% of the course was by distance-learning or online
• The majority of learning must have occurred in Canada
• Studying at more than one DLI is allowed if the study was continuous and the combined study length was at least 8 months

PGWP applications can be submitted online or via the mail. For online applications, an IRCC account needs to be created, and for mailed applications, an application package can be requested through the IRCC website.

Most applicants will be asked to provide their biometrics (fingerprints and photos) after they have submitted the application.

A PGWP is a one-time visa, ie you can only have one in a lifetime. Therefore it is important to plan your application timing carefully since the validity of a PGWP is directly correlated to the length of the course you complete. So, the longer the course, the longer the permit and your chance to find a great job in Canada.

You can find out more about the PGWP on our Post-Graduation Work Permit page.

Many graduates are not only eligible for the PGWP but also one of the Provincial Nominee Program’s international graduate streams. To get help with the best route for you, call Total Law on (+353) 061 518 025 or contact us via this website.

Irish citizens can enter Canada temporarily for business purposes under the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), one of Canada’s many free trade agreements (FTA).

CETA in effect makes it easier for Irish companies to do business with Canada, through, for example, eliminating tariffs, removing customs duties, and opening up new sectors of the Canadian services market.

CETA also makes it easier for Irish workers to move temporarily between Ireland (and the EU) and Canada, for example, there is no requirement for a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). 

Applications for a CETA work permit can either be made at a Canadian Port of Entry (POE) or prior to travel to the appropriate visa office.

Canada offers numerous work permits for different purposes and circumstances. It can be difficult to decide on which program to apply for, especially when there is extensive information to read through and multiple criteria to be met.

To help with this task Total Law’s lawyers will evaluate your individual circumstances and goals, and advise on the best immigration route forward. They will assist with compiling a compelling and error-free visa application while providing support and guidance throughout the process.

Contact us via our online inquiry form, or call us on (+353) 061 518 025 to find out how we can provide you with a personalized immigration service.