Work Permit to Permanent Residency

A work permit is issued to a worker who plans to live and work in Canada temporarily. This document allows the worker to enter and remain in the country for a specific period of time. It also allows the worker to work in any industry, including agriculture, mining, or other sectors where there is currently a shortage of workers.

There are different types of work permits in the country, each with its own set of rules and conditions. Depending on your situation, you may need to apply for a temporary resident visa (TRV) before coming to Canada. A work permit will typically accompany your TRV to show that the permit holder has permission to work in Canada while their TRV is being processed.

Work permits are not the same as work visas. A work permit is issued to a foreign worker in Canada who has a job offer from an employer. On the other hand, a work visa is issued to a foreign worker outside Canada who has been invited to come and work in Canada.

Page Contents

• Basics of Work Permits in Canada
• How to Get a Canadian Work Permit
• Finding Work and Preparing Your Application
• Applying for Permanent Residency in Canada
• Eligibility Requirements for Open work permit in Canada
• Steps to Become a Permanent Resident of Canada
• How Can IAS Help?

To obtain a work permit in Canada, you must find an employer willing to employ you. Once you have secured work, the next step is to apply for a Canadian work permit. There are two paths to getting a work permit:

1. Find an Employer Who Wants to Offer You a Job

Various industries in the country have a shortage of workers, including agriculture, mining, and health care. If you find an employer willing to hire you in one of these sectors, you can apply for a work permit through the “Labor Market Impact Assessment” (LMIA) pathway.

2. If No Canadian Employer Offers You a Job

If you cannot find a Canadian employer to hire you, you must apply for a work permit through the “Express Entry” pathway. This pathway is offered to skilled workers, professional and technical workers, and provincial nominees. You can receive a work permit for up to three years if you are eligible. After this period, you can apply for permanent residency.

After you have secured an offer of employment and received a work permit, you must then prepare your application for permanent residence.

The first step is to gather the necessary documents. As part of your application, you must also provide an employment contract between you and your Canadian employer.

In addition, you must have a valid medical exam. You must also show proof of funds to cover the cost of living in the country and that you have valid health insurance. You can apply for family sponsorship if you have a working partner who also holds a valid work permit. Once you have gathered all the necessary documents, you can apply for a Canadian PR.

If you have been working in Canada on a valid work permit, you can apply for permanent residence through the “Skilled Workers” stream. This path is open to skilled workers, professionals, and those with a provincial nomination.

If you have been working in Canada on a valid work permit for at least one year, you can apply for a “Continuous Residency” bonus. This bonus allows you to receive extra points for your application.

Applicants who have worked in Canada on valid work permits for two years can apply for the “Canadian Experience Class” (CEC). This path is open to any skilled worker with a job offer from a Canadian employer. If you have been working in Canada on a valid work permit for at least 12 months, you can apply for a provincial nomination.

If you have been working in Canada on a valid work permit for three years, you can apply for an “Unsponsored” application. This path is open to skilled workers, professionals, and those with a provincial nomination.

Note: On November 5, 2021, the temporary to permanent residency transitional pathway was closed. You can apply for an open work permit, but you can no longer file a permanent residency application.

A supplemental temporary public policy was implemented on the fourth of July, 2021. This makes it easier for eligible applicants to get open work permits under the permanent residence measures. This was done to ensure that eligible applicants could maintain their immigration status and keep working while awaiting a decision on their permanent residence application.

You must meet the following requirements to be eligible for the open work permit. You must:

1. Live in Canada
2. Have submitted an application through one of the procedures from temporary to permanent residency.
3. Be legally authorised to work with any of the following:

• An approved work permit
• A license to work with a work permit
• A work permit issued in accordance with any public policy

4. Fulfill the language criteria for your preferred application pathway. You must also apply with legitimate language exam results. Additionally, your test results must come from an accepted French language test if you submitted an application for one of the French-speaking streams.
5. Hold a valid temporary residence visa or must have applied to extend your current immigration status before it ran out.

To become a permanent resident in Canada, you must apply for a visa or fill out an application form for an immigration program. You must also include a copy of your work permit, proving that you are authorised to work in Canada.

You must also include a “Letter of Employment” from your employer, confirming that you are currently employed and have worked for the company for at least one year. You must submit all these documents with your application.

Once your application has been approved, you will receive a letter of invitation to apply for permanent residence in Canada. You must apply for permanent residence within the given time frame, usually six months. You must also include payment for the processing fees.