Canada Work Permit: Types, Eligibility and How to Apply

What is a Canadian work permit?

A Canadian work permit is a document from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) that lets a foreign national work in Canada for a set period. It lists who you can work for, what job you can do, where you can work and when the permit ends. Breaking those conditions can cost you your status, so read your permit carefully the day you get it.

A work permit is temporary. It does not give you permanent residence, but the Canadian work experience you gain on it is one of the strongest ways to qualify for permanent residence later, for example through the Canadian Experience Class.

Open vs employer-specific work permits

Even an open work permit has limits. You cannot work for an employer on the ineligible list, and you cannot work in jobs that offer striptease, erotic dance, escort services or erotic massage. Some open permits also need a medical exam before you can work in healthcare, childcare or teaching.

Who can get an open work permit

Open work permits are only available in specific situations. The main ones are:

• Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP): for graduates of eligible programs at Canadian designated learning institutions.
• Spousal open work permit: for spouses and common law partners of some international students and skilled workers. See the rules and checker on this page.
• Bridging open work permit (BOWP): for workers in Canada who applied for permanent residence through programs such as Express Entry or a Provincial Nominee Program and whose current permit is about to expire.
• International Experience Canada working holiday: for young people, usually 18 to 35, from countries with a youth mobility agreement with Canada.
• Vulnerable worker open work permit: for workers on an employer-specific permit who are facing abuse or the risk of abuse at work.
• Some permanent residence applicants: such as spouses being sponsored from inside Canada.

Employer-specific permits: LMIA and LMIA-exempt jobs

Most employer-specific permits need a Labour Market Impact Assessment. The employer applies to Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) and shows that no Canadian or permanent resident was available. After a positive LMIA, you apply for your work permit.

Some jobs skip the LMIA. Your employer still submits the offer through the IRCC Employer Portal and pays a $230 compliance fee, but there is no labour market test. Common LMIA-exempt routes include:

• Free trade agreements: CUSMA professionals from the United States and Mexico, and similar categories under agreements with the EU, the UK, Chile, Korea and others.
• Intra-company transferees: executives, senior managers and staff with specialized knowledge moving to a related Canadian company.
• Mobilité Francophone: French speaking workers with a job offer in a province or territory outside Quebec.
• International Experience Canada: the Young Professionals and International Co-op categories.
• Significant benefit: people whose work brings clear social, cultural or economic benefit to Canada.

Spousal open work permit rules in 2026

Spousal open work permit rules changed on January 21, 2025. Your spouse or common law partner in Canada must be one of the following:

• Dependent children of workers no longer qualify for their own open work permit through this route.
• Existing permits stay valid until they expire. Renewals are possible if you still meet the same criteria.
• Exceptions apply to some free trade agreement workers and to families of workers who are moving to permanent residence through certain programs.

Post-Graduation Work Permit rules

The Post-Graduation Work Permit is the most popular open work permit for international students. Since November 1, 2024, you need to meet these extra rules:

• Language test: CLB 7 for university bachelor's, master's or doctoral graduates, or CLB 5 for college and other programs, in all four skills.
• Field of study: college and non-degree graduates who applied for their study permit on or after November 1, 2024 must have studied in an eligible field, such as healthcare, STEM, trades, transport or agriculture. University degree graduates are exempt.
• Apply in time: you must apply within 180 days of getting your final marks, while you have valid status.

You only get one PGWP in your lifetime. Read our full Post-Graduation Work Permit guide before you apply.

Work permit requirements and documents

Every work permit applicant must show that they will follow the rules and leave Canada when their status ends. In general you need:

• A valid passport for the full length of the permit you want
• Your job offer letter and the LMIA number or Employer Portal offer number, for employer-specific permits
• Proof you meet the job requirements: degrees, licences, reference letters and a resume
• Proof of your relationship, for spousal permits: marriage certificate or proof of 12 months living together
• Proof of funds for your first months in Canada, if you are applying from outside Canada
• Police certificates and a medical exam, where required
• Biometrics (fingerprints and photo), unless you gave them in the last 10 years

How to apply for a work permit

1. Confirm the right permitCheck which type you qualify for. Applying under the wrong category is one of the most common reasons for refusal.
2. Get your employer documentsFor employer-specific permits, your employer gets a positive LMIA or submits your offer in the Employer Portal and sends you the number.
3. Apply onlineCreate an IRCC account, upload your documents and pay the fees. Most people inside Canada can no longer go to the border to apply ("flagpoling"), so online is the normal route.
4. Give biometrics and do a medicalBook biometrics after you get the letter. Do a medical exam if your job or country requires it.
5. Get your decisionIf you are outside Canada, you get a port of entry letter. The officer prints your permit when you arrive. Check every detail before you leave the counter.

Extending or changing your work permit

If you want to keep working, apply to extend or change your permit before it expires. If you applied on time and stay in Canada, you have maintained status. You can keep working under the same conditions until IRCC decides.

If you are on an employer-specific permit and want to change employers, you usually need a new permit before you start the new job. In some cases you can get interim authorization to start working sooner. Never start a new job just because the new employer says it is fine.

Why work permits get refused

Work permits are refused more often than most people expect. The most common reasons we see are:

• The officer is not convinced you will leave Canada when your permit ends
• You do not show you can do the job, for example missing licences, experience or language ability
• Weak or missing proof of funds or ties to your home country
• The job offer or the employer looks unreal or the wage is too low
• Past overstays, unauthorized work or a misrepresentation finding

If you were refused, read the officer's notes first. A strong reapplication fixes the exact problem the officer named. We can request your notes and tell you honestly if a new application makes sense.

Frequently asked questions