How do I move to Canada as a temporary foreign worker? To move to Canada as a temporary foreign worker, you must get a work permit. There are different kinds of work permits.
If you are not a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, you need a work permit to work legally in Canada. In general, you need to apply for a work permit from Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) or a Canadian visa office before you come to Canada. For these work permits:
How Do I Move to Canada as a Temporary Foreign Worker
For you to move to Canada as a temporary foreign worker:
- You need to get a job offer from a Canadian employer before you apply.
- The employer must apply for a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) from Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC).
- ESDC will decide whether the employer can hire a foreign worker to fill the job.
There are special work permits for some kinds of workers. For example, there are special work permit programs for caregivers, business people, and agricultural workers.
Canada Temporary Foreign Worker Program
The Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW) program is a Canadian immigration option that allows individuals who are neither a Canadian citizen nor a permanent resident to work in Canada in positions that are facing labor shortages and are unfilled by Canadians.
At the time the program was created, it was only open to live-in caregivers and agricultural workers, but the program has expanded significantly and is now an option for a wide variety of highly skilled and low-skilled positions.
To qualify for the Temporary Foreign Worker program, applicants must:
- Have a job offer from a Canadian employer. In most cases, the employer who has offered a temporary position will need to apply for a Labour Market Impact Assessment to get permission from the Canadian government to hire a foreign worker.
- Not be inadmissible to Canada for any reason. Individuals can be inadmissible to Canada for criminal, medical, or financial reasons.
How to Get Canada Work Permit if You are Already in Canada
If you are already in Canada, you may be eligible to apply for a special type of work permit. For more information, go to Eligibility to Apply from Inside Canada go to https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/work-canada/permit/temporary/eligibility.html
How Can I Become a Canada Permanent Resident?
Temporary foreign workers can apply for permanent residence under these programs:
- Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
- Opportunities Ontario: Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)
- Caregiver Program
You must meet eligibility requirements to apply for these programs.
You can also apply as a skilled worker, but there is no special category within the skilled worker class for temporary foreign workers.
How to Apply for Work In Canada as a Foreigner
You can apply to work in Canada, extend a work permit or hire a foreign worker online at https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/work-canada.html
How Applying Online Helps You
- No courier fees or mail delivery time – we get your application instantly.
- It helps you make sure your application is complete before you submit it.
- You can quickly submit more documents online (if we ask you to).
- You get updates on the status of your application directly in your online account.
