How to Apply for a Canada Work Visa

Canada, located in North America, is undeniably one of the wealthiest countries worldwide. According to reliable information from Wikipedia, Canada boasts a highly advanced market economy. It holds the tenth position in terms of nominal GDP and ranks sixteenth in purchasing power parity (PPP) among global economies. Similar to other industrialized nations, Canada’s economy is primarily driven by the service sector, which employs approximately three-quarters of both Canadian citizens and foreign residents.

Given Canada’s ongoing exponential economic growth, there is an urgent demand for a well-trained workforce to propel its thriving economy forward. Consequently, individuals interested in working in Canada must obtain an approved work visa from the Canadian government.

The following are the steps to follow in order to apply for a work visa in Canada;

1. Determine Your Eligibility

It is advisable that you seek employment with a Canadian company. However, before you can apply for a work permit, you must first secure a job offer from a Canadian company. Your employer will support you in obtaining a work visa and provide you with the necessary qualifications and documentation for your application.

In certain cases, such as when the employment falls under the regulations of an international agreement like NAFTA, you may not need a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). It would be best to check with your company if you require a copy of their LMIA to complete your work permit application.

If you don’t currently have a job, you should explore the requirements for an open work permit. Obtaining a work permit for open positions can be challenging. However, if you meet the requirements, you will have the opportunity to work for any organization in Canada, provided you meet the necessary qualifications. To be eligible for an open work permit, you must fulfill several requirements, including a basic qualification and additional conditions. Here are some essential qualifications for obtaining a Canadian work permit:

• Basic qualifications matching the job requirements
• Valid job offer from a Canadian employer
• Proof of ability to perform the job duties
• Compliance with Canadian immigration laws and regulations
• Willingness to leave Canada once the work permit expires
• Proof of financial means to support yourself and any accompanying family members during your stay
• Satisfactory health and security clearance
• Willingness to provide biometrics, if required
• Demonstration of ties to your home country to ensure you will return after the work permit expires
• Any additional requirements specific to the type of work permit you are applying for.

Please note that this is not an exhaustive list, and specific requirements may vary depending on your circumstances and the type of work permit you are applying for.

2. Create an account and begin your online application

To get started with your online application, first, create an account. It’s important that you participate in this process. To make things easier, scan your documents and create digital copies that can be easily uploaded to the web portal. It’s crucial to be well-prepared before you begin your application for a Canadian work permit.

Ensure that you have high-quality scans of all the required documents. The specific documents you’ll need may vary depending on the country you’re coming from. However, in general, the following documents are typically required:

1. A valid passport
2. Two passport-sized photos
3. Evidence of meeting the employment qualifications
4. If your work is in Quebec, you’ll need a Certificate d’Acceptation du Québec
5. A copy of your job offer letter

Having these documents ready will help you smoothly navigate the application process.

3. Make a payment for your application fee online

After submitting your online application, there are three fees that you will need to pay: the application fee, the processing charge, and the biometrics fee (if applicable). When you submit your application, you will be asked to pay the processing charge. To conveniently handle all these payments, there is a separate online form available at http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/fees/index.asp.

It’s important to note that all fees must be paid online, using a credit or debit card, in order for them to be considered valid. For a work permit, the cost is $155 Canadian dollars. If you wish to obtain an open work permit, an additional $100 CAD is required on top of the work permit price. Lastly, if biometrics are necessary, there is an extra charge of $85 Canadian dollars.

4. Submit your biometrics at a visa application center to complete the process

Currently, visa applicants from Europe, Africa, and the Middle East are required to provide biometrics such as fingerprints and digital photo for identification purposes. This requirement will soon be extended to all visa applicants. To submit your biometrics, you need to make an appointment with an approved Visa Application Center (VaC).

You can find a list of approved VaCs at the following website: https://www.canada.ca. If you are an applicant from the United States, you can visit one of the Application Support Centers located throughout the country. It is important to schedule an appointment in advance, just as you would with the Va Centers.

5. Complete and submit your application

Please ensure that you submit your application now as it is the last step in the process.

If any other family members are also applying, it is advisable to gather all their applications and send them together in one package to the same location where your application will be processed, taking into account the specific type of application each family member is making.

For more detailed instructions on where to submit your application, please refer to the Canada.ca website, which is the official government website.

Disclaimer: All info on this website is general in nature and should not be considered legal advice. If you hire someone to do the task for you, make sure you have a login to your canada.ca account. Monitoring the process yourself would make the process fast and you will be rest assured you are on the right track.