Each year Canada requires temporary foreign workers to fill the labour gap. These foreign workers first requires authorization in the form of work permit from IRCC to enter Canada. It may or may not require LMIA approval from ESDC. Essentially work permit may be open or closed in nature.

Closed work permit

A closed work permit is employer specific in nature. Foreign national on a closed work permit works in Canada for a particular employer. It could be a pathway to gain the Canadian permanent residency in future.

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 of the following:
• a copy of a Labour market impact assessment (LMIA)
• an offer of employment number (for LMIA-exempt workers).

Foreign nationals currently present in Canada may also be eligible work permit.

Open Work Permit

An open work permit enables a person to work for any employer for a specified period of time. An open restricted permit may restrict the occupation or location but not the employer. Although there are no restrictions on the open work permit concerning the employer name, the foreign national is still subject to the general conditions imposed on all temporary residents.

A foreign national may apply for an open work permit outside Canada, at a port of entry or after arrival to Canada, as per program requirements.

Post Graduation Work Permit

This stream allows graduates from eligible post-secondary institution to gain Canadian work experience. A Post-Graduation Work Permit is a document that authorize permission to remain in Canada as a worker and work full-time for up to 3 years after one graduate from a Canadian post-secondary institution.

Students who have completed their program of study are allowed to work while they are waiting for a decision on their PGWP application, provided they meet all of the following criteria:

• they are or were holders of a valid study permit at the time of the PGWP application
• they were a full-time student enrolled at a DLI in a post-secondary academic, vocational or professional training program
• they were authorized to work off campus without a work permit
• they did not exceed the allowable hours of work.