Work Permits and Work-Based Visas
To work in Canada, expats will need a work permit and a work visa. There are only a few jobs that you do not need a work permit for.
There are two types of Canadian work permits:
Openwork permits
Allows you to work for any employer in Canada.
Employee-specific work permits: Enables you to work for only one employer.
You can find all Canadian work permit forms / visa application forms online. A Canadian work permit with a work permit costs about 155 CAD (120 USD).
Requirements for Canadian Work Visa
Work permits are issued to a variety of employees, including temporary workers, entrepreneurs and full-time employees. You can apply for a work permit outside of Canada, within Canada, or at your destination. Eligibility requirements for Canada will vary depending on where you apply.
Canadian Visa Requirements for Temporary Employees
For temporary employees, there are eligibility requirements to be met when applying for a Canadian employment permit. For example, you should provide proof of the following:
That you plan to leave Canada when your work permit expires.
With enough money to return home and take care of yourself and any family members who come with you.
Police clearance certificate.
You should also:
Be healthy (medical examination may be required).
Arrange to work for a qualified employer (i.e., no stripping clubs, escort services, or sensual massage parlors).
Qualified entry documents to Canada.
Business Visa Requirements
When it comes to business visas, Canada makes a distinction between business people and business visitors. Entrepreneurs can work in Canada under a free trade agreement, which means they fall under one of the following three agreements: the Unites States-Mexico-Canada (USMCA), and Other Free Trade Agreements (FTAs), or the Common Trade in Services (GATS).
USMCA applies to US and Mexican citizens. There are four categories:
Business visitors: Employees who come to participate in international business without being part of the Canadian labor market. Business visitors usually stay a few days or weeks, but they can stay for six months without a work permit.
Experts: You must have a job offer in Canada to participate in one of the specific tasks set by the USMCA (e.g., engineer, accountant, computer program analyst). These employees need work permits.
Internal transfers: Managers and executives assigned to work for the same company in Canada. These types of employees must have been employed continuously for at least one year with one employer and have a work permit.
Traders and investors: Must be a director or official involved in the trading of large quantities of goods or services between Canada and his or her home country; either they or their company should have made a significant investment in Canada. These employees must have work permits.
The FTAs are agreements between Canada and other countries such as Chile, Panama, Peru, Colombia, and Korea. The role of USMCA, includes the same types of employees: business guests, professionals, in-company transfers, and traders and investors.
In more than 140 World Trade Organizations, Canada came up with GATS to make it easier for foreign workers to access the Canadian services market. Groups covered by business guests, professionals, and in-house referrals.
