July 26th, 2023 at 02:51 am
Frequently Asked Questions About Working In Canada
As a newcomer to Canada, getting a job can open up a whole new world of options. Whether you’re looking for a Canadian job offer to get a work permit or getting ready to move to Canada as a new permanent resident, you’ll probably have a lot of questions about entering the Canadian job market and finding work.
This article answers some of the most common questions about working in Canada as a new permanent resident (PR) or work permit holder. Topics include work permits and resumes written in the Canadian style.
Who can work in Canada and who can’t?
Most foreigners who want to work or study in Canada need a work permit or study permit. You can work in Canada if any of the following is true:
- You are a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, or
- Have a valid work permit, or
- You can work in Canada if you are an international student with a valid study permit.
As a foreigner, you might not need a work permit if you only need to work in Canada for a short time. For example, you might not need a work permit if you are a business visitor, short-term researcher, or foreign athlete. If you aren’t sure if you need a work permit, check the government’s website for information that applies to you.
Do you need IELTS to get a work permit in Canada?
Most of the time, you don’t have to take the IELTS or other language tests to get a work permit in Canada. But for some specialized work permits, like those for live-in caregivers, you may need to show proof that you can speak the language. In some countries, Canadian visa offices may also use language test scores to decide who can get a work permit.
Even if you don’t have to show results of a language test to get a work permit, your application can be turned down at the port of entry if border officials think you’re not qualified for the job because you don’t speak English or French or can’t communicate in either language.
How much does it cost to get a work permit in Canada?
The fee to process an application for a Canadian work permit that is tied to a specific employer is $155. You’ll have to pay a total of $255 for an open work permit, which includes a $100 “Open Work Permit Holder Fee.” No matter what kind of work permit you want, you’ll have to pay $85 for biometrics when you send in your application.
You should also think about any other costs you might have to pay, like those for medical exams, police certificates, language tests (if needed), evaluating your educational credentials, translating documents, and so on.
Do I need a job offer to work in Canada before I can get a work permit?
For an employer-specific work permit, you need a job offer from a Canadian employer. But you don’t need a job offer if you’re eligible for an open work permit.
In Canada, you can only get an open work permit if you meet one of the following:
- You are an international student who has graduated from a Canadian designated learning institution (DLI) and is eligible for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP).
- You have applied for permanent residence in Canada or are a family member of someone who has.
- You are married to or living with a foreign student or temporary worker in Canada.
- You are allowed to stay in Canada for a short time.
- You are an international student in Canada, but you can’t pay for your program anymore.
- You are a refugee or someone who is being helped in Canada.
Can a Canadian employer help me get a work permit?
In Canada, there is no sponsorship for work. Most of the time, if a Canadian company wants to hire you, they have to fill out a form called a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) to find out how hiring foreign workers will affect the Canadian job market. To get a work permit from your employer, you’ll need a copy of this LMIA and a formal employment contract from your employer. Employers don’t need an LMIA to hire people who can get an open work permit or already have one.
How long does it take to get a work permit in Canada?
Depending on which country you’re applying from, the time it takes to process your work permit application can be very different. For example, in January 2023, it will take nine weeks to process online work permit applications from India, but it will take 50 weeks to process online applications from China. From inside Canada, it can take up to 24 weeks to process an application. Before you apply, check the government’s website to see how long the process takes in your country.
If you’ve been offered a job through the Global Talent Stream, you may be able to get your work permit in two weeks, no matter what country you’re from.
Can I include my family in my application for a work permit in Canada?
Your spouse, common-law partner, or children who depend on you can be listed on your application for a work permit. If your application is approved, your spouse or common-law partner may be able to get an open work permit, study permit (if they’ve been accepted to a Canadian university or college), or visitor record for as long as your work permit is valid. Your children can also come to Canada with you as visitors or on a study permit if they are enrolled in a school that Canada has approved.
You can’t put other family members on your work permit application, like your parents, siblings, aunts, uncles, nieces, or nephews. They also can’t come to Canada with you if you have a work permit.
How old do you have to be to get a work permit in Canada?
To get a work permit in Canada, a foreign worker must be at least 18 years old. Most of the time, there is no limit on how old you can be to get a work permit in Canada. The only time this isn’t true is for people who want to get work permits through the International Experience Canada (IEC) program. They must be between the ages of 18 and 35. Some of the IEC countries have different age limits for getting a work permit in Canada.
Can international students work in Canada?
If you are an international student in Canada, you may be able to work while you are in school if your study permit says you can work on or off campus. You don’t need a separate work permit if your study permit lets you work.
Most of the time, you can work on campus if you have a valid study permit, a Social Insurance Number (SIN), and are a full-time student at a Designated Learning Institution. To be able to work away from campus, you must:
- Have a valid study permit
- Get a SIN.
- Already be enrolled full-time in a post-secondary academic, vocational, or professional study program or a secondary vocational training program (only in Quebec)
- Be enrolled in a study program that lasts at least six months and leads to a degree, diploma, or certificate.
If your study permit doesn’t let you work in Canada but you meet the above requirements, you can ask that a condition to work be added to your study permit.
If your study program includes a co-op or internship term and completing the work placement is a requirement for graduation, you’ll need to apply for a co-op or internship work permit separately.
With a visitor visa, can I work in Canada?
You can’t work in Canada if you are there on a visitor visa. In Canada, it is against the law for visitors to do any kind of business.
You can look for jobs in Canada as a visitor, but you can’t start working for a Canadian employer until you have either a Canadian work permit or permanent residence.
Can my visitor visa in Canada be changed into a work permit?
Most of the time, people who come to Canada on a visitor visa cannot change it into a work permit or apply for a work permit while they are in Canada.
But because of a temporary public policy, people who are in Canada on a visitor visa can apply for work permits from inside the country until February 28, 2023. Under this policy, you must have a valid job offer from a Canadian employer in order to get a work permit tied to a specific employer.
How hard is it to find a job in Canada?
Canadian employers prefer to hire citizens and permanent residents, making it easier to find a job in Canada. However, hiring skilled foreigners is difficult.
Most employers must conduct a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) to ensure no Canadians are qualified before hiring foreign workers. Foreign workers can take a long time to get work permits after a positive LMIA. This makes filling jobs quickly difficult for employers.
However, Canada lacks skilled workers in many fields, and some employers hire foreigners. Foreign workers with experience in high-demand jobs may find it easier to get a job offer and work permit in Canada.
How to look for job opportunities in Canada
There are a lot of ways to find work in Canada if you are looking for a job. Here are some of them:
- Searching for job postings: The government’s Job Bank, LinkedIn, Monster, Indeed, Workopolis, and Grabjobs are all popular job portals in Canada. If you have a list of companies you’d like to work for, it’s a good idea to keep an eye on the jobs posted on their career pages.
- Networking: Canada has many unlisted jobs. 65–80% of open jobs aren’t advertised online. Employer networks fill these positions. Networking lets you learn about unadvertised jobs, get referrals, and understand the industry and people. LinkedIn, networking events and coffee can help you build your Canadian network.
- Signing up with employment agencies: Agencies like Randstad Canada, Hays Canada, and Robert Half match people looking for work with open positions in their networks of employers.
- Volunteering: Helping others is Canadian. Volunteering can help job seekers gain Canadian experience and work with professionals from different fields.
How to put together a resume to get a job in Canada
Your home country’s resume may differ from Canada’s. Canadian resume formats include functional, reverse chronological, and combination. The best resume format depends on your work history, gaps in employment, and industry or role changes.
A good job search resume requires more than just the right format. Most Canadian employers use an ATS to find resumes that match job descriptions. Thus, using keywords from the job posting to customize your resume is crucial. Canadian resumes emphasize accomplishments over responsibilities. Read our article on creating a standout resume and cover letter.
How to find a job in Canada without Canadian work experience
Newcomers without Canadian experience may have trouble finding work. Employers prefer candidates with Canadian work experience and the necessary soft and technical skills.
“Canadian experience” doesn’t just mean paid work. Instead, volunteer or work a part-time or survival job that uses your skills and teaches you new ones. Bridging programs with work placements or projects help newcomers learn about Canadian life.
Why is networking so important in Canada?
Networking is crucial to finding a job in Canada, especially if you’re new. Recruiters or hiring managers fill 65–80% of Canadian job openings, depending on the industry. Employers, referrals, and introductions from your professional network can help you find this hidden job market.
Your network can also help you research an industry or company, learn technical jargon, learn how an organization hires people, perfect your resume or elevator pitch, or decide if a company is right for you.
After you get your first Canadian job, your contacts will help you. Once you make real connections with industry professionals, you can rely on them for career advice, mentorship, and networking.
What jobs are in demand In Canada?
Many provinces and territories in Canada have trouble finding skilled workers, so they rely on new immigrants and people with work permits to fill jobs that people want. If you have a job that is in demand, it may be easier for you to find work in Canada or get permanent residency through Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP).
Even though the job market is always changing, there are skill shortages in the following areas:
- Healthcare: In most provinces and territories, there is a high demand for doctors, nurses, healthcare assistants, and lab techs.
- Education: Teachers and professors are needed at all levels of schooling, from kindergarten to college.
- Manufacturing: Manufacturing is a big and diverse field in Canada. There are open jobs in industries like aerospace, pharmaceuticals and life sciences, chemicals, plastics, agri-food, and wood processing, among others.
- Information Technology: There aren’t enough software engineers, web designers, developers, and other IT professionals.
- Services: There aren’t enough skilled workers in finance, HR, marketing, administration, sales, hospitality, accounting, and retail at all levels in Canada.
- Construction: Canada’s construction industry is booming, which means that skilled carpenters, electricians, and masons are in high demand.
- Agriculture: Canada depends on foreign workers, like fruit pickers, horticulturists, aquaculturists, and agricultural managers, to meet the growing demand for labor in its agri-food sector.
Can I get Canadian permanent residence if I have a work permit?
Even with a work permit, you can’t live in Canada. But working in Canada with a work permit can help you become a permanent resident.
If you have worked in Canada for at least one year in a TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 occupation, you may be eligible for PR through Express Entry’s Canadian Experience Class (CEC) stream. PR and Canadian work experience are required for this program.
For one to five years of Canadian experience, you can get 40–80 Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points when applying for permanent residence through the Federal Skilled Worker Program, Federal Skilled Trades Program, or Express Entry stream of a Provincial Nominee Program. If you have a college degree and worked abroad, you may be eligible for 100 CRS points for skill transferability. These points increase your PR chances.
How can I extend my Canadian work permit?
You can ask for your Canadian work permit to be extended or changed if you:
- Your employer-specific work permit will extend your job. Your extension request may require a new LMIA from your employer. If your role, pay, or employer changes, you’ll need to apply for a work permit amendment.
- If you have an open work permit, you can keep working in Canada.
Apply for a work permit extension 30 days before your Canadian status expires. Work permits cannot be renewed after passport expiration. Renew your passport before applying for a work permit extension.
To get an extension on your work permit, you must:
- Fill out your application to extend your work permit online at the IRCC website.
Include your current work permit, proof that you have a job, your passport, and the new - LMIA that your employer has received.
- Pay a fee of $155 for an employer-specific work permit or $255 for an open work permit to process your application. If you gave your biometrics when you first applied for your work permit, you don’t have to pay the biometric fees again.
- Send in your request.
If you applied for an extension before your work permit expired and your job hasn’t changed, you can work under your original work permit with the same employer, role, and location while your application is processed. If your job terms have changed, you’ll need a new work permit to start.
Conclusion
As a newcomer, working in Canada gives you a chance to learn about work around the world. For many, it can also be a step toward staying in Canada permanently. But not everyone is allowed to work legally in Canada. Most foreigners need a job offer before they can get a work permit. If you are moving to Canada as a permanent resident, you can work for any Canadian employer without any restrictions. You can also start looking for jobs in Canada before you get there.
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