Work permit

Additional Information

Most foreign nationals need a work permit to work in Canada.

There are 2 types of work permits.

Employer-specific work permit

An employer-specific work permit lets you work in Canada according to the conditions on your work permit, such as

the name of the specific employer you can work for
how long you can work
the location where you can work (if applicable)

Before you apply for an employer-specific work permit, your employer must give you

a copy of your employment contract
1 of the following:
- a copy of a labour market impact assessment (LMIA)
- an offer of employment number (for LMIA-exempt workers)
  - To get this number, your employer must use the Employer Portal.

Open work permit

An open work permit lets you work for any employer in Canada, except for one that

is listed as ineligible on the list of employers who have failed to comply with the conditions, or
regularly offers striptease, erotic dance, escort services or erotic massages

If you want to bring your family with you

Your spouse or common-law partner and dependent children may be able to work, study or live with you while you work in Canada.

Are there any conditions on my work permit?

Some conditions will be written directly on your work permit.

These may include:

the type of work you can do,
the employer you can work for,
where you can work, or
how long you can work.