Work in Canada
Canada Work Permits: Types, Eligibility & Extensions
Almost anyone who is not a Canadian citizen or permanent resident needs authorisation to work in Canada. Which authorisation depends on who is employing you, whether a labour market assessment is required, and what status you already hold.
- Reviewed by Harshmeet Pal Singh, RCIC · CICC R708583
- Last reviewed: 2026-09-19
The 30-second answer
How do I get a work permit for Canada?
Most work permits are employer-specific and require a job offer, frequently supported by a Labour Market Impact Assessment obtained by the employer. Many categories are exempt from that requirement, under international agreements, Canadian-interest exemptions, intra-company transfers or francophone mobility. Open work permits, which are not tied to an employer, are available only in defined situations such as a Post-Graduation Work Permit or certain spousal permits. The first question in any work permit file is which of these routes applies to you.
The two dimensions that define a work permit
Work permits are often described as a long list of types. They are easier to understand as two questions asked at once.
| LMIA required | LMIA-exempt | |
|---|---|---|
| Employer-specific | The standard route. The employer obtains an LMIA, then you apply for a permit naming that employer, occupation and location. | Intra-company transfers, permits under international agreements, francophone mobility, and other Canadian-interest categories. |
| Open | Not applicable — an open permit is not tied to an employer, so no LMIA arises. | Post-Graduation Work Permit, certain spousal open work permits, bridging open work permits, and a small number of other categories. |
Common routes
LMIA-based work permit
The employer applies for a Labour Market Impact Assessment showing the hire will not adversely affect the Canadian labour market — a process involving advertising, wage requirements and compliance obligations. A positive assessment supports your permit application.
The employer's part is the slow part, and it happens before yours can begin.
LMIA-exempt work permit
A large share of permits are issued without an LMIA: intra-company transferees, workers under international trade agreements, francophone mobility, and categories where the work brings a significant benefit to Canada.
Identifying an available exemption can save months and considerable employer cost.
Post-Graduation Work Permit
An open work permit for graduates of eligible Canadian institutions, and the single most common route from studying to working to permanent residence. Issued once in a lifetime, with strict eligibility and a 180-day deadline.
Spousal open work permits
Eligibility for spousal and family open work permits has been narrowed. Availability now depends on the principal applicant's status, occupation and program, so it must be assessed case by case. A separate route exists for spouses being sponsored under the in-Canada sponsorship class.
Bridging open work permit
Where a permanent residence application has reached a defined stage and your current permit is expiring, a bridging open work permit can keep you working while the PR application is processed. Timing is strict — it must be applied for while you still hold valid status.
Extensions and restoration
Extending before expiry generally lets you keep working while a decision is pending. Missing the expiry means losing status and having to stop work. Restoration of status →
If you apply to extend before your permit expires, you may usually continue working under your existing conditions while a decision is pending. Apply a day late and none of that applies — you have no status, no work authorisation, and a 90-day restoration window. Diarise the expiry date the day you receive the permit.
RCIC Insight
The work permit itself is rarely the real objective. For most clients it is a vehicle for building Canadian work experience that will support permanent residence — and whether that experience will count depends on the occupation and the duties, not on the fact of employment. Choose the job with the permanent residence application in mind, because in a year's time the reference letter is the document that matters.
Harshmeet Pal Singh, RCIC · CICC licence R708583
Government fees
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Work permit, per person | CAD $155 |
| Open work permit holder fee | CAD $100 |
| Restore status as a worker All-in; includes the work permit fee | CAD $401.25 |
| Biometrics, per person | CAD $85 |
Processing times
Commonly several weeks to a few months from inside Canada. IRCC publishes live processing times that change frequently and vary by country of residence and application type. Use the official processing-times tool for a current estimate for your own situation.
How 5AB Immigration helps
- Identifying whether an LMIA is required, or whether an exemption applies — which can change the timeline substantially.
- Timing extensions so that authorisation never lapses and maintained status is preserved.
- Assessing open work permit eligibility against rules that have narrowed, rather than against outdated assumptions.
- Planning the permit around the permanent residence goal, including how the occupation will be classified.
- Dealing with lost status quickly, where a permit has already expired.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between an open and an employer-specific work permit?
An employer-specific permit names one employer, and usually one occupation and location. You may only work under those conditions, and changing employer requires a new permit.
An open work permit is not tied to a named employer, so you may work for most employers in Canada. Open permits are available only in defined situations — PGWP, certain spousal permits, and bridging open work permits among them.
Do I need an LMIA to work in Canada?
Not always. An LMIA is a document the employer obtains showing that hiring a foreign worker will not adversely affect the Canadian labour market, and many employer-specific permits require one.
But a large number of permits are LMIA-exempt — international agreements, intra-company transfers, francophone mobility and other Canadian-interest categories. Checking for an available exemption is worth doing before an employer commits to the LMIA process.
Can I keep working while my extension is processed?
Generally yes, if you applied before your current permit expired. You may usually continue working under your existing conditions while a decision is pending.
This does not apply if you applied after the permit expired, and it can end if you leave Canada in certain circumstances. Confirm your own position rather than assuming.
What if my work permit expired before I applied?
You have lost status and must stop working immediately.
An application to restore temporary resident status must generally be made within 90 days of losing status, and the person must have continued to meet the conditions of the status they are restoring. You generally cannot work while restoration is pending. See restoration of status.
Can I change employers on a work permit?
On an open work permit, yes, subject to any conditions on it.
On an employer-specific permit, no — you need a new permit naming the new employer, and you generally must not start the new job until it is issued. There are limited provisions for workers in vulnerable situations, which are worth knowing about if you are experiencing abuse in your employment.
Work in Canada with your authorisation intact
Tell us about your job offer, your current status and your timelines, and receive your free Canada Immigration Roadmap with the permit routes open to you and a recommended next step.