Eligibility to apply from outside Canada
To apply for a work permit from outside Canada, you must submit the following documents:
- A job offer from a Canadian employer.
- A completed application that shows that you meet the requirements of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and its regulations.
- Written confirmation from Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) that the employer can hire a foreign worker to fill the job. This confirmation is called a positive Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA).In most cases, it is up to your
employer to get written confirmation. In some cases, you do not need a LMIA.
You must also do the following:
- Ensure a visa officer that you will leave Canada at the end of your work permit.
- Show that you have enough money to support yourself and your family while you are in Canada.
- Respect the law and have no criminal record. You may have to provide a police clearance certificate.
- Show that you are not a risk to the security of Canada.
- Be in good health. You may have to have a medical examination.
- Have eligibility to apply as you enter Canada.
You can apply for a work permit as you enter Canada, but only if you meet the following requirements:
- You are from the United States, Greenland or Saint-Pierre et Miquelon.
- You do not need a medical examination (or you already have a medical certificate).
- You do not need a temporary resident visa to visit Canada and your job does not require a LMIA from ESDC.
- You hold a LMIA from ESDC.