Closed Work Permit: LMIA based Work Permit
An employer-specific work permit allows you to work according to the conditions on your work permit, which include:
- The name of the employer you can work for
- How long you can work
- The location where you can work (if applicable)
- An LMIA is a document from Employment and Social Development Canada/Service Canada that allows an employer to hire a foreign worker through the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP).
Before you submit your work permit application, your employer must give you:
- A copy of the positive LMIA, and
- Your job offer letter or contract.
Open Work Permit
An open work permit can be issued to a foreign national only under one of the Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) exemptions.
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.
Types of open Work Permits
There are two types of open work permits:
- Unrestricted (allowing foreign nationals to work in any occupation and location)
- Restricted (restricting the occupation or the location)
Open work permits may be issued with the following:
- Pccupational restrictions, depending on the applicant’s medical status [R185(b)]
- Location restrictions, depending on the category (such as a bridging open work permit under the provincial nominee class)
You may be eligible for an open work permit if you:
- Are an international student who graduated from a designated learning institution and are eligible for the Post-Graduation Work Permit Program
- Are a student who’s no longer able to meet the costs of your studies (destitute student)
- Have an employer-specific work permit and are being abused or at risk of being abused in relation to your job in Canada
- Applied for permanent residence in Canada
- Are a dependent family member of someone who applied for permanent residence
- Are the spouse or common-law partner of a skilled worker or international student
- Are the spouse or common-law partner of an applicant of the Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program
- Are a refugee, refugee claimant, protected person or their family member
- Are under an unenforceable removal order
- Are a temporary resident permit holder
- Are a young worker participating in special programs
Extension of Work Permit
Overview of Extension of Work Permit – In order to work for longer period of Time in Canada, Work Permit Extensions can be filed. Applicants can apply this extension if
- Want to extend your work permit
- Need to make changes to the conditions on your work permit, such as:
- The type of work you can do
- The employer you can work for
- Where you can work
Extension of Spousal open Work Permit – In order to file an extension of a Spousal open Work Permit, your spouse or common-law partner should have
- Have a valid study permit or a work permit and
- Are should be a full-time student or should be employed in a firm at NOC O, A or B Category job.
Employer-specific work permits –You need to apply to extend or change the conditions of your work permit if:
- Your job is extended
- There are changes to your current job, such as:
- A change in your pay
- New responsibilities
- You’re offered a different job
- You want to work for a new employer
You can’t start working at a different job or for a new employer until you get your work permit with the new conditions.