A Temporary Work Visa for Canada is a combination of a Temporary Resident Visa and a Work Permit. With a TRV, you are allowed to stay in Canada for 6 months or less, while the Work Permit for Canada is the permission to take a job within Canada if you are from a foreign country. A Canadian work permit allows you to work under a specific employer (employer-specific work permit) or with any employer (open work permit) in Canada. As a foreign national, you’ll require a work permit before working in Canada, with a few exceptions.
In order to qualify, any applicant must fulfill following requirements:
In some situations, such as Business Visitors, individuals performing a specific type of work may be permitted to enter Canada without a temporary work permit. Among jobs that do not require a work permit are clergy, crew members in the transportation industry, expert witnesses, performing artists, Public speakers, news reporters, film crews, and athletes and their coaches.
To address all the needs of foreign workers, the Government of Canada issues different types of Temporary Work Visas depending on the needs of the applicant. There are various types of work permits or work visas that you can get:
Temporary Foreign Worker Visa is issued to foreign workers who already have a job offer from a Canadian employer and for which the company has already obtained a Labor Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) from the Service Canada. A positive LMIA confirms there is a genuine need for a foreign worker to fill the role, and that no Canadian worker is available.
There are several situations where foreign workers can take up jobs in Canada without an employer having to receive an LMIA, the most common examples include Post-Graduate Work Permit holders, Bridging Open Work Permit holders, Working Holiday Permit holders, International Mobility Programs, Intra-Company Transferees, postdoctoral fellows and visiting professors.
An Open Work Permit allows a foreign national to work in any job, without restriction. An LMIA or confirmed offer of employment is not needed to apply for an Open Work Permit.
The Working Holiday Visa is given to young people from 30 countries, so they can work in Canada and travel. It is a random selection visa which means that applicants will submit their applications and wait to be randomly selected to apply for the work permit.
The bridging open work permit (BOWP) is a way to keep a worker in Canada working while his or her application for permanent residence is being processed.
The Post Graduate Work Permit (PGWP)is given to students who have completed a degree from a Canadian educational institution and want to stay in Canada longer through working.
The Canadian Government allows the person who has the work permit to bring his close family to Canada. The people who are allowed to accompany you to Canada are your spouse or common-law partner and minor children.
You cannot apply for permanent residence with a Canada temporary work visa; however, while you are in Canada, you can apply for Permanent Visas such as:
You must meet the eligibility criteria for these visas. It is not guaranteed that you will be approved for them, but the application procedures will be easier if you are already working in Canada.
