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Work permits

What is considered work?

Work is any activity that:

Pay includes money or commission:

You usually need a work permit to work in Canada. Find out if you need a work permit.

What do I need to work in Canada?

It depends on

In most cases, you’ll need 1 or more of the following documents to apply for a work permit:

In some cases, you might be exempt from an LMIA:

Can I hold 2 valid work permits at the same time?

Yes, you can hold 2 valid work permits at the same time. You must meet the conditions listed on each work permit.

If you’re issued a new work permit, your previous work permit remains valid until either

Find out more about

How can I find out about jobs in Canada?

You can find out about jobs in Canada through the Working in Canada tool, labour market information and job banks.

What is a Labour Market Impact Assessment?

A Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) is a document that an employer in Canada may need to get before hiring a foreign worker.

A positive LMIA will show that there is a need for a foreign worker to fill the job. It will also show that no Canadian worker or permanent resident is available to do the job. A positive LMIA is sometimes called a confirmation letter.

If the employer needs an LMIA, they must apply for one.

Once an employer gets the LMIA, the worker can apply for a work permit.

To apply for a work permit, a worker needs

I have received a Canadian job offer. What documents do I need from my future employer?

In most cases, the employer must send you:

Once you have one of these numbers, you can apply to get, extend or modify a work permit.

If the employer is LMIA-exempt, find out how to get a work permit for these jobs.

If you apply for an open work permit, you don’t need to provide any documents from an employer.

Does my work permit allow me to work for any employer in Canada?

It depends on the work permit you have. Most work permits are tied to a specific employer. They will only allow you to work for the employer on the permit.

In some situations, you can get an open work permit, which does not include a specific employer. An open work permit allows you to work for any employer in Canada unless the employer:

Where do I find out if the employer who offered me a job is an eligible employer?

Check the list of employers who failed to comply with the conditions. This list shows employers who may be ineligible to hire a temporary worker through either the Temporary Foreign Worker Program or the International Mobility Program. If you apply for a work permit to work for an employer listed as “ineligible”, your application will be refused.

What happens if I want to work for an ineligible employer?

Your application for a work permit will be refused.

How long can I work in Canada as a temporary worker?

There is no set maximum amount of time you can work in Canada as a temporary worker. The length of time you can work depends on:

If you will be working in Quebec as a temporary worker, you may need to get a Québec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ). The CAQ will show the length of time you are allowed to work in Quebec. If you are exempt from the LMIA process, you don’t need to get a CAQ.

Are there any conditions on my work permit?

Some conditions will be written directly on your work permit.

These may include

Regulation 185 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations lists all the conditions that may be put on your work permit.

There are also standard conditions that apply to all work permit holders. Even if you have no specific conditions on your work permit, you still must

See also: How do I remove medical conditions from my open work permit.

How do I remove medical conditions from my work permit?

Follow the steps that apply to your situation.

If you have a port of entry letter and haven’t left your country of residence

You won’t have medical conditions on your work permit if you do all of the following:

  1. Get an upfront medical exam from a panel physician.
    • “Upfront” means you get your medical exam done before an immigration officer asks for it.
    • Your medical exam results are usually available to us within 30 days from your exam, but it could take longer.
      • The panel physician will send us the results.
  2. Bring proof that you’ve had a medical exam when you travel to Canada.
  3. Give your proof to the border services officer when you arrive at the port of entry.
    • Example of proof: the printed information sheet you’ll get from the panel physician who performed your medical exam.

The border services officer can adjust the conditions on your work or study permit before they give it to you. The officer can only do this if you provide proof that you’ve had an upfront medical exam. If you don’t have proof, your work or study permit will have conditions.

What to do if more information is requested

You must provide the information or do the tests that your panel physician requests.

Your medical results won’t be available until you do this.

If you have a work permit with conditions and are already in Canada

You must follow the steps below to lift the job conditions:

  1. Get an upfront medical exam from a panel physician
    • “Upfront” means you get your medical exam done before an immigration officer asks for it.
  2. Apply to change your work permit conditions, and include all the required documents.
    • On the IMM 5710 form, for 1 a), under “Details of intended work in Canada,” select “Other.”
    • Also on the IMM 5710 form, for 1 b), under “Other,” write that you need the conditions removed (not authorized to work in childcare, primary/secondary school teachings, health service field occupations).

How long will it take to process my work permit application?

Processing times vary, depending on the type of application you submit. Information on processing times is available online for applications submitted inside and outside of Canada. This information is updated frequently, so check often.

See also checking processing times questions.

Can I apply for a work permit when I enter Canada?

You should apply for your work permit before you travel to Canada. You can only apply at a port of entry if you’re eligible.

Can I apply for a work permit as a visitor in Canada?

Normally, visitors can’t apply for work permits from inside Canada. Due to a temporary policy change, visitors can apply online for an employer-specific work permit.

I want to apply for a work permit by mail. How can I avoid my application being delayed or refused?

You can help avoid delays or a refusal if you:

How do I get a copy of a lost, stolen or destroyed work permit?

You must fill out an application and pay a fee to replace the permit.

What is an open work permit?

An open work permit lets you work for any employer, except for one that either

Open work permits are not job-specific, so your employer doesn’t need

In most cases, you will have to pay the open work permit holder fee at the same time that you pay the work permit fee. Check the fee list for the most up-to-date application fees.

Open work permit restrictions

You may have restrictions listed on your open work permit. Restrictions can include things like

If you have a restricted open work permit, your restrictions will be listed on your work permit.

See also: How do I remove medical conditions from my open work permit?

What is a job offer letter?

A job offer letter is a document that a Canadian employer gives you (as a temporary worker). It explains the details of your job.

Generally, a job offer letter (or “employment letter”) is less detailed than a contract.

The letter includes information about:

If you need a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA), include a copy of your job offer letter with your work permit application.

An “offer of employment” is not the same as a “job offer letter”. If your employer doesn’t need an LMIA to hire you for the job, they need to submit the offer of employment in the Employer Portal. Once submitted, the portal generates an offer of employment number that you need when you apply for your work permit.

Employer compliance exemptions

Some LMIA-exempt employers don’t need to submit an offer of employment and won’t have an offer of employment number for you. Find out how to get a work permit for these jobs.

There is a mistake in my name on my work permit, can you fix it?

Yes. Your name on your work permit should be exactly as it is on your passport.

If we made a mistake and the name on your permit does not match the name on your passport, submit a Request to Amend the Record of Landing, Confirmation of Permanent Residence or Valid Temporary Resident Documents.

Read the instruction guide to find out how to fill out the form and where to submit

Who can apply for an open work permit?

You may be eligible for an open work permit if you

In each of these situations, you must meet additional criteria to be eligible.

Answer a few questions to find out if you’re eligible for an open work permit.

Are there different application forms for employer-specific and open work permits?

No, you can use the same application to apply for an employer-specific or open work permit.

Find out how to apply for a work permit.

I got a new passport after coming to Canada. Will that affect my application for a work permit?

No. However, your work permit cannot be valid for longer than your current passport’s validity. If you renewed your passport after coming to Canada, when you apply for a renewal of your work permit, you must include a photocopy of the new passport.

Can I appeal a decision on a work permit application?

Under Canada's Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, there is no formal right of appeal on temporary resident decisions. Instead, you can reapply. If possible, a different officer will examine the application.

You can also ask for a judicial review through the Federal Court of Canada, if you think the process was not fair. A lawyer in Canada would act on your behalf.

Can I extend my International Experience Canada work permit?

You can only extend your work permit in very specific situations. Find out if you can extend your work permit.

Can I apply to extend my Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program work permit?

No. The rules for the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program (SAWP) differ from those for other work permits. Under the SAWP, you may remain in Canada for a maximum of 8 months between January 1st and December 15th. You must leave Canada no later than December 15th. Your employer must request authorization from Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) to hire you each season. This is known as a positive Labour Market Impact Assessment. More information is available from ESDC and the Quebec’s Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Diversité et de l’Inclusion. Your employer may want to rehire you. Even so, you must go back to your home country before you can apply for another work permit.

Do I need a medical exam to get a work permit?

You may need a medical exam to get a work permit if any of these situations apply to you:

  1. You wish to work in any job where it is important to protect public health, such as
    • health services
    • child care or
    • primary or secondary education
  2. You’ll work in an agricultural job, and you have lived in a designated country or territory.
  3. You want to work in Canada for more than 6 months, and you lived in a designated country or territory for 6 consecutive months during the year right before the date you intend to enter Canada.

If you need a medical exam, an officer will tell you so and send you instructions on how to proceed. The officer’s decision is based on the type of job you will have and where you lived in the past year.

Open work permit holders

An officer may not know if you need a medical exam. You should get a medical exam from a panel physician if any of the 3 situations above apply to you.

See also: How do I remove medical conditions from my open work permit.

How can I find a doctor who can provide the medical exam I need to come to Canada?

Only a panel physician authorized by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada can do the immigration medical exam.

You can choose a panel physician anywhere in the world. You have to tell them where your application will be processed, so that the medical results can be sent to the right office. You will have to pay for the medical exam. The cost can differ from one doctor to another.

See the list of panel physicians to find a doctor in your area. You cannot choose your family doctor if their name is not on this list.

Who needs a Labour Market Impact Assessment?

Employers of some types of temporary workers need to get a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) before the worker applies for a work permit. An LMIA is a document from Employment and Social Development Canada that gives the employer permission to hire a temporary worker.

If you are an employer, find out if you need an LMIA.

If you are a worker, you can answer a few questions to find out:

Which work permit fees do I have to pay?

In most cases, both workers and employers must pay fees before a work permit can be issued.

Check the fee list for the most up-to-date application fees.

Workers

If you are applying for an employer-specific work permit, you must pay the work permit processing fee.

If you are applying for an open work permit, you usually have to pay the open work permit holder fee and the work permit processing fee at the same time.

Employers

If you need a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA), you usually need to pay a processing fee to Employment and Social Development Canada. In this case, don’t need to pay the employer compliance fee.

If you don’t need an LMIA, you have to pay the employer compliance fee when you submit the offer of employment using the Employer Portal.

Some employers don’t need to pay the employer compliance fee. Find out if you are exempt.

What is a port of entry (POE) letter?

It’s a letter you may receive from IRCC if you’ve been approved for a

Officially, it’s called the port of entry (POE) letter of introduction. But this letter is sometimes called the

The letter of introduction is not your study or work permit.

You’ll get this letter if you were approved and you

When you arrive in Canada

Tell the officer at the port of entry about your approved application.

If you don’t have a printed copy of your letter of introduction, you can show

How long is my POE Letter valid?

There is a box titled “Permit validity” on your Port of Entry (POE) Letter. You must come to Canada prior to that date.

If the validity date has passed and you have not yet come to Canada, you must submit a new application.

You cannot extend the validity date on your POE Letter.

Your POE Letter will be valid for the requested length of your work permit, study permit or super visa. You may be eligible to extend your work permit once you are in Canada.

International Experience Canada participants only

Your POE Letter will normally be valid for 12 months. If you underwent a medical exam, it will be valid until the expiry date of your medical exam or for 12 months, whichever is less.

You can only extend your International Experience Canada work permit in very specific situations. Find out if you can extend your work permit.

I paid the $100 open work permit holder fee with my open work permit application, but the application was refused. Can I get a refund?

Yes. We will send you a refund of the open work permit holder fee. You do not have to do anything.

However, you are not eligible for a refund of the work permit processing fee.

What proof do I need to show that my employer paid the compliance fee and submitted the offer of employment?

When you submit your work permit application, include the offer of employment number we gave your employer.

An offer of employment number can only be used for 1 work permit application.

Employer compliance exemptions

Some LMIA-exempt employers don’t need to submit an offer of employment. Find out how to get a work permit for these jobs.

How do I change employers?

To change employers, you must apply to change the conditions of your work permit.

Before you apply, you need some information and documents from your new employer. What you need will depend on if the employer needs a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) to hire you.

If your employer needs an LMIA

Your employer must give you:

If you work in Quebec, you will also need a new Québec Acceptance Certificate.

If your employer doesn’t need an LMIA

Your employer must give you the offer of employment number they received when they submitted your offer of employment.

Employer compliance exemptions

Some LMIA-exempt employers don’t need to submit an offer of employment. Find out how to get a work permit for these jobs.

Live-in caregivers and International Experience Canada participants have different instructions for changing employers.

Can I have a work permit and study permit at the same time?

Yes. You can apply for an additional permit. However, you must

When you apply, include a letter to explain how you’ll do this. Give details about how you’ll balance your work schedule with your studies. If you apply online, upload this letter in the Client information part of your document checklist.

Workers who can study without a study permit

You may be eligible to study without a study permit if you are in either of the following situations:

  1. You have a valid work permit that was issued on or before June 7, 2023.
  2. You must have been issued a letter on or before June 7, 2023, authorizing you to work while we process your work permit application.
    1. You can use this letter if you’re waiting for a decision on your work permit extension.

Find out if you’re eligible.

Eligibility for other programs

There are some things to know about holding 2 permits:

See who can apply for a work permit and who can apply for a study permit.

As a foreign worker, do I need an eTA or a visa to work in Canada?

Depending on your citizenship, you may need an eTA or a visitor visa, as well as a work permit. Your eTA or visa will be issued to you at the same time as your work permit. You do not need to apply separately or to pay an additional fee.

Can I pay for the temporary resident visa in my country’s money?

Yes, in many countries. For details, visit the Pay your fees page to learn about the methods of payment accepted by Canadian visa offices.

How do I apply for a temporary resident visa?

Fill out the Application for a Temporary Resident to Visit Canada.

Starting between September and December 2013, citizens from 29 countries and 1 territory will need to give biometrics (fingerprints and photograph) when they apply for a visa.

Should I apply for an eTA or a visa when I apply for a work permit?

No. Depending on your citizenship, you may need an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) or a visitor visa, as well as a work permit. Your eTA or visa will be issued to you at the same time as your work permit. You do not need to apply separately or to pay an additional fee.

You may also need to give biometrics. Citizens from 29 countries and 1 territory need to give biometrics (fingerprints and photograph) when they apply for a visa.

How can I help a family member or friend apply to visit Canada?

If your friend or family member wants to visit Canada, they must apply to the Canadian visa office responsible for his or her country or region. A visa officer will review the application and decide whether to issue a visa.

You can help your friend or family member by writing a letter of invitation. It should explain how you will help the person. For example, you may offer to pay for plane tickets or accommodation. A letter of invitation can help, but it does not guarantee the person will get a visa.

I have a visitor visa. Can I leave Canada and come back?

The visitor visa is officially called a temporary resident visa.  There are 2 types of visas: single-entry visa and multiple-entry visa.

If you have a single-entry visitor visa

If you have a multiple-entry visitor visa

If you have an expired visitor visa

Before travelling back to Canada

You must meet all the necessary requirements, including all testing and quarantine requirements. A border services officer will make the final decision at the port of entry.

Find out more about the documents you need before you travel to Canada.

Foreign students and workers who got a temporary resident (visitor) visa in Canada

If there is a V-1 code on your visitor visa

This is not an error. Due to COVID-19, we have temporary measures in place to process visitor visa applications submitted from inside Canada.

  • Foreign students and workers who applied for a visitor visa in Canada since July 2021 may get a V-1 visitor visa.
  • You can use your V-1 visa to leave and re-enter Canada – the same way you would use your S-1 or W-1 visa.
  • You don’t need to request a different type of visa or follow up with the processing office or client support centre. A new visa will not be issued in this case.

Validity period is different on the V-1 visa

  • The V-1 visa is valid until the expiration date of your passport.
    • This is part of the temporary measures in place that will be in effect until further notice.
    • If your V-1 visa expires, you can apply for a new visitor visa.

How do I know when my temporary resident status expires?

If you are travelling with a passport:

When you arrived in Canada and gave your passport to the officer, they placed a stamp in your passport and/or issued another document. Check your passport. If you find a stamp, it should look like one of these.

Stamps

For example, if the officer placed a hand written date as shown above, your temporary resident status would expire on that date (June 30th, 1993 in this case).

If there is no stamp, a handwritten date or document in your passport, your temporary resident status will expire six months from the day you arrived in Canada.

If you were given a visitor record, study or work permit, the expiry date is marked on the document.

I got a new passport but I have a valid visa in my old one. Can I use the visa in my old passport?

Yes. To travel to Canada using a valid visa in an old passport, you need to bring both

Even though you can use a valid visa in an old passport, we recommend that you get a new visa in your valid passport to avoid delays at the border.

How do I hire a temporary foreign worker?

There are 3 basic steps to hire a temporary foreign worker:

Before you create an offer of employment in the Employer Portal

Make sure that

Get an LMIA or submit an offer of employment

Find out if you need a labour market impact assessment (LMIA). The LMIA will verify that there’s a need for the job you are offering and that there is no Canadian worker available to do it. Read about the Temporary Foreign Worker Program to find out more about LMIAs and where to apply.

If you don’t need an LMIA, submit an offer of employment, complete the employer attestations and certifications, and pay the employer compliance fee using the Employer Portal. Give the offer of employment number to the worker you want to hire so they can apply for their work permit.

Some employers don’t need to submit an offer of employment in the Employer Portal or pay the employer compliance fee. Find out if you are exempt.

Learn how to submit a job offer through the Employer Portal.

Have the worker apply for a work permit

Once you have an LMIA number or an offer of employment number, send those details to the worker, along with your job offer. They need to use this information to apply for a work permit.

If you are exempt from the employer compliance process, send the worker your job offer. They can use it to apply.

Tell the worker what to expect from their application

Tell the worker that they will receive a letter of introduction when their work permit has been approved. The actual work permit is issued by a border services officer at the port of entry when the worker arrives in Canada. If the worker is already in Canada and eligible to apply, we will mail the work permit to them.

Find out more about hiring temporary workers.

As an employer, what are my obligations to temporary foreign workers?

Your responsibilities as an employer include to:

Find out what to do after hiring a temporary worker.

Can I lay off or fire a foreign worker?

Yes. If you follow federal and provincial or territorial labour laws, you can lay off or fire (dismiss) a temporary foreign worker as you would any other employee.

You don’t need to let us know. However, you do need to keep the temporary worker’s employment documents for 6 years from the date we issued their work permit.

Make sure you know your responsibilities as an employer before hiring a foreign worker.

Contact your provincial or territorial labour authorities for information on the steps to follow when laying off or firing an employee.

What if a foreign worker becomes sick, has an accident, is hospitalized or needs home recovery?

Your employee is entitled to sick leave, as set out in provincial or territorial legislation. Do not force your employee to work if they are ill. The required health or workers' compensation plan in your province or territory should cover the employee.

Your responsibility depends on the coverage provided under these plans. Your employee may also be able to collect Employment Insurance sickness benefits. For more information, contact your provincial or territorial labour standards board.

How do I find out if I need a Labour Market Impact Assessment to hire a temporary worker?

There are two ways to find out if you need a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA):

You can request an opinion from an IMWU if you think a temporary worker does not need an LMIA or a work permit, as long as the temporary worker is:

Find out how to review the LMIA exemption codes or how to contact an IMWU.

If my company merges with, or is taken over by, another company, what happens to employees who have temporary work permits?

The new company will take responsibility for any temporary workers at business locations that were included in the merger if:

The new employer doesn’t need to submit a new offer of employment and the worker doesn’t need a new work permit if both of the following apply:

If the type of business, the wages, the job duties or the work location changes, affected workers will need to get new work permits. In this case, the new employer will need to either submit a new offer of employment for each worker or get a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) (if the job is not LMIA-exempt). These workers can’t keep working until they get their new work permits.

In all cases, both companies should keep all documents about the merger or takeover in case we do a compliance inspection.

The new employer will need to submit a new offer to us if they want to extend the worker’s permit when it expires.

What do I need to do if my company name changes?

You need to confirm the name change in writing to your affected temporary workers. This way, they can show proof that links the new company name to the one listed on their work permit. The letter should be signed and include the following:

Do I need to submit a new offer of employment if something in the offer has changed?

If the temporary worker needs to get a new work permit (because of changes to the employer, the occupation or the work location), a new offer of employment is also usually needed.

For example, you will need a new offer of employment in these situations:

Make sure you keep all documents about any changes you make. You may need to give them to an officer if we inspect your business.

If you’re worried that you may have been non-compliant because of any of these changes, you can let us know about it. You can also choose to submit a new offer of employment when you make a change to the original offer.

What is the employer compliance fee? How do I pay it?

The employer compliance fee is a fee that employers must pay to hire a temporary worker through the International Mobility Program (IMP).

You don’t need to pay the employer compliance fee if you hire a worker:

To pay, create an account in the Employer Portal and submit an offer of employment.

Employer compliance exemptions

Some employers don’t need to pay the employer compliance fee when they are LMIA-exempt. Find out if you are exempt.

I paid the employer compliance fee, but the temporary worker’s application for a work permit was refused. Can I get a refund?

Yes. You will get a refund automatically. You do not have to apply for it. If you do not receive a notice about your refund within 8 weeks, follow the instructions to obtain a refund.

I paid the employer compliance fee, but the worker is not coming to Canada. Can I get a refund?

Yes, you can get a refund. However, you must withdraw your offer of employment first. Once the offer of employment has been withdrawn, a refund will be issued automatically to the same payment method you used to pay. Refunds can take up to a year to be processed.

Read the Employer Portal User Guide to find out how to withdraw your offer.

I want to submit an offer of employment. Where can I find the IMM 5802 form?

In most cases, offers of employment must be submitted online through the Employer Portal, and the IMM 5802 form is no longer accepted.

Find out how to enrol in the portal and submit an offer of employment.

When you need to complete the IMM 5802 form

In some special cases, you may need to request the IMM 5802 form from us to complete your offer of employment.

For example

How to request an IMM 5802 form from us

If you can’t submit an offer using the Employer Portal, email the Employer Portal to request an IMM 5802 form. In your email, include the

After I submit an offer of employment, do I have to wait for it to be approved before the temporary worker can apply for a work permit?

No, you do not have to wait. When you successfully submit the offer of employment through the Employer Portal, you will be given an offer of employment number. You will find this number in the employment queue in your portal account. You need to give this number to the temporary worker. The worker must include the offer of employment number in their work permit application.

The worker can apply for a work permit as soon as they receive the offer of employment number from you.

Can an authorized representative submit an offer of employment on behalf of an employer?

Yes. The employer must

Read the Employer Portal enrolment guide to find out how to create and assign a secondary user account.

Employers no longer need to submit the IMM 5476, Use of Representative form.

Note:

I don’t have a Canada Revenue Agency number. How do I submit an offer of employment?

All Canadian organizations with employees must have a Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) business number. If you want to hire temporary workers, you will need to get a CRA number.

There is an exception if the foreign worker is both the employer and the temporary worker. This applies if you are a foreign worker who is:

In this case, you must email us with the following information:

We will use this information to link your offer of employment (as the employer) to your work permit application (as the temporary worker).

How do I change an offer of employment, or fix a mistake I made in one?

If we’ve already approved the temporary worker’s work permit, you must submit a new offer of employment in the Employer Portal. You’ll need to pay the employer compliance fee again and the worker will have to apply for a new work permit.

If we haven’t approved the work permit yet, you can withdraw your offer of employment in the Employer Portal. Then, submit a new offer with the new information.

If the temporary worker has already submitted a work permit application to us, they’ll also need to withdraw their work permit application. They can send us a request to withdraw their application by using our Web form. They must include the reason for the withdrawal request. They’ll then have to apply for a new work permit with the new offer of employment number.

Do I submit an offer of employment even if a foreign company will pay my company’s temporary worker?

Yes, if your Canadian company has contracted the services of a foreign company, you must submit the offer of employment in the Employer Portal. This is required under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and Regulations. Even though the foreign company will pay the temporary worker’s salary, you have hired them to work in Canada.

Use the Alternate compensation scheme field in the offer of employment to explain that the foreign company will pay the temporary worker.

Who submits the offer of employment if a temporary worker will work for two or more Canadian companies?

It depends on the relationship between you and the other employer(s).

If the job offers are separate, you and the other Canadian employers each have to submit an offer of employment in the Employer Portal. The temporary worker will need a work permit for each job in this case.

If you are hiring a temporary worker to provide services to another company, then you must submit the offer of employment. You must also meet the conditions of the International Mobility Program. Include details about the job arrangement in the offer of employment in one of these fields:

Under the International Mobility Program, can I reuse an offer of employment number if the matched work permit application was refused?

No.

When you submit an offer of employment in the Employer Portal, an offer of employment number is generated. We match this number to the worker’s work permit application.

Once an officer makes a decision on the work permit application, that offer of employment number can’t be reused for any other work permit application. If a new work permit application needs to be submitted, you must submit a new offer of employment (along with the fee).

Will I get a receipt for an offer of employment I submit through the Employer Portal?

Issues with fee payment receipts in the Employer Portal

The fee payment receipt isn’t showing up in your account messages. This problem is temporary and will be resolved as soon as possible. For now, you should print the payment confirmation on the Moneris page.

Yes. You can get your receipt in 2 ways:

The “Order ID number” on the transaction receipt is the receipt number.

Can I change or fix a mistake in my business information in the Employer Portal?

Yes, you can change the following:

If you haven’t submitted any offers using the Employer Portal

You need to create a new GCKey and enrol in the Employer Portal again with the correct business information.

If you have already submitted at least one offer using the Employer Portal

Send us an email. Write “Business information change” in the subject line and include these details:

It can take 8 weeks or more to update your business information if you have submitted an offer.

What is my Personal Identification Number (PIN) for the Employer Portal and where do I find it?

A PIN is a number that some users need to enrol in the Employer Portal. This number links accounts under the same organization together. You need a PIN if:

You will need a secondary or branch account if your organization has already enrolled in the Employer Portal, but you are:

If you need to create a secondary or branch account, you must contact your organization’s or branch’s primary user. The primary user will give you your PIN. When you enrol in the portal, choose Yes when you are asked if you received a PIN.

You don’t need a PIN if you are the first person to enrol your organization in the Employer Portal. When you enrol in the portal, choose No when you are asked if you received a PIN.

If you lost your GCKey or password, you will need a PIN to access your account. Find out how to get a PIN if you lost your secure credentials.

I can't create an account in the Employer Portal because the information I entered already exists. What do I do?

If the business number or legal name you enter when you enrol is already being used in the Employer Portal, you won’t be able to create an account.

If you lost your GCKey or password and tried to create a new account to start over, you won’t be able to use the portal. Find out how to access your account.

If you don’t know why your request to enrol was refused, email the Employer Portal.

I can log into my account in the Employer Portal, but I can't submit an offer of employment. What is the problem?

It could be one of several issues.

You didn’t enrol in the Employer Portal.

Make sure you enrolled in the Employer Portal and not in one of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s other portals. If your enrolment request lists “Designated Learning institution”, “Authorized Paid Representative” or anything other than “Employer Portal”, you did not choose the right portal.

When you enrol, make sure you only click Yes when you are asked about enrolling in the Employer Portal.

An error happened when you enrolled.

If you received an email that says your account is active, but your enrolment status is still “in progress”, you need to email the Employer Portal. Write “PIN reset” in the subject line and include your first and last name in the body of the email.

Another user has started the first offer of employment.

If there are multiple people using your organization’s Employer Portal account, only one of you will be able to submit the account’s first offer of employment. Once the “Submit an offer of employment” button is selected for the first time under the account, it will no longer be available to anyone else.

If another user has started the first offer, they must complete and submit it or delete it. Once they submit or delete the offer, everyone else will be able to select the “Submit an offer of employment” button.

The account you are logging into is not active.

If you tried to enrol in the portal and were refused, or you tried to revoke your GCKey, you won’t be able to select the “Submit an offer of employment” button. Follow the steps to make your account active:

  1. Email the Employer Portal to receive a Personal Identification Number (PIN).
    1. Write “PIN Reset” in the subject line and include your first and last name. You will receive a PIN and instructions to create a new GCKey.
  2. Enrol in the Employer Portal again, using your new GCKey and PIN.
  3. Select Yes when you are asked if you received a PIN. This will be the first question.
  4. Enter your information and create your new security questions.

You should now be able to submit an offer of employment. The PIN you received will link your new GCKey to your active account.

I've completed all the offer of employment forms in the Employer Portal, but I still can’t submit it. What should I do?

If you used special characters, like ampersands or slashes, in the forms, you won’t be able to submit the offer. You can only use hyphens, brackets and apostrophes in the portal. If you use anything else in your answers, the field will not validate correctly and you won’t be able to submit the offer.

Also, if you copy and paste information from a Word document, the formatting may not transfer properly. Make sure you type the information directly into the field.

If you still can’t submit the offer of employment, email the Employer Portal.

Can I withdraw an offer of employment?

Yes. In the Employer Portal, select the “Withdraw application” option next to your employment offer. This will also trigger a refund.

If you don’t see the “Withdraw application” option, use the Employer Portal User Guide to find out how to proceed.

Can a human resource placement agency submit offers of employment on behalf of my company?

No. The temporary worker will be working directly for your company, not the placement agency. This means that the offer of employment must come from your company. Only the primary employer or its secondary users (including authorized representatives) and branches can submit offers.

Can I attach documents to the offers of employment I submit in the Employer Portal?

No. You need to provide all the necessary details about your offer of employment in the available form fields. You also need to type everything into the forms fields directly. You can’t copy and paste from an outside document.

Can I attach documents about the offer of employment to a foreign worker’s work permit application?

No. You must submit the offer of employment electronically through the Employer Portal and fill out the forms provided in the portal completely before submitting the offer.

We won’t consider any references to attached documents as part of your offer. If we see references in your offer like “see attached”, you may have to resubmit it before we can issue a work permit. If you don’t resubmit a complete offer, we may refuse the work permit application.

Read the Employer Portal User Guide to find out how to fill out each offer of employment form.

What is a Labour Market Impact Assessment?

A Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) is a document that an employer in Canada may need to get before hiring a foreign worker.

A positive LMIA will show that there is a need for a foreign worker to fill the job. It will also show that no Canadian worker or permanent resident is available to do the job. A positive LMIA is sometimes called a confirmation letter.

If the employer needs an LMIA, they must apply for one.

Once an employer gets the LMIA, the worker can apply for a work permit.

To apply for a work permit, a worker needs

Who needs a Labour Market Impact Assessment?

Employers of some types of temporary workers need to get a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) before the worker applies for a work permit. An LMIA is a document from Employment and Social Development Canada that gives the employer permission to hire a temporary worker.

If you are an employer, find out if you need an LMIA.

If you are a worker, you can answer a few questions to find out:

Why do I need another Labour Market Impact Assessment if I just got one a year ago?

A Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) is a document an employer may need to get before they are allowed to hire a foreign worker. The LMIA is valid for a limited time. If your employer would like to keep you for a longer period, they must apply for a new LMIA. Employment and Social Development Canada / Service Canada will make sure there are still no Canadian citizens or permanent residents who can do your job.

I want to extend my expiring work permit, but I don’t have a new LMIA or CAQ yet. What should I do?

You can apply without a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) or a Quebec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ) if your work permit expires within 2 weeks of the date that you apply.

You must include both

If you’re waiting for your CAQ

When you apply online, you’ll be asked to upload a copy of your CAQ. If you have a copy of the receipt confirmation number or a copy of the application, you can upload those documents instead.

When you get your LMIA or CAQ

You must send us proof that you’ve received the LMIA or CAQ within 60 days of the date your application was received. If not, your application could be refused.

I am an entrepreneur. Do I need a Labour Market Impact Assessment to work in Canada?

No. You can apply for a work permit without a Labour Market Impact Assessment, but you must intend to operate a business in Canada that would create or maintain:

Can my spouse or common-law partner and dependent children come with me to Canada?

If you are coming to Canada for a short time

Your spouse or common-law partner and dependent children can come with you to Canada or visit you in Canada, if they

If you are moving to Canada permanently

Your spouse or common-law partner and dependent children can come with you to Canada if

Does each person applying for a work permit from outside Canada have to fill out a separate application?

All applicants must complete and sign their own application, even if they’re travelling to Canada together as a family. A parent or guardian must sign the form for applicants under the age of 18.

Some family members can apply for an open work permit at the same time as the principal work permit applicant. It depends on the type of worker the principal applicant is.

Find out when to apply.

If other family members are coming with me, what documents should I send with the application?

You may have to send a marriage certificate and birth certificates for those family members. If your common-law partner is coming with you to Canada, you may have to fill out the Statutory Declaration of Common-Law Union form and provide the documents listed in it to support your relationship.

Can my spouse or common-law partner work in Canada?

Yes, in most cases, your spouse or common-law partner can work in Canada. However, they will usually need a work permit to work in Canada. They must apply for their own work permit.

In some cases, your spouse or common-law partner may be able to apply for an open work permit—allowing him or her to accept any job with any employer. For more information, see Who can apply for an open work permit?

In other cases, your spouse or common-law partner must apply for a work permit for a specific employer. The employer may have to get a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). An LMIA allows an employer to hire someone for a specific job. Find out if your spouse or common-law partner's employer needs an LMIA to hire them.

I’m sponsoring my spouse or common-law partner. Can they work while their application is being processed?

Yes, but only if they have a work permit.

Your sponsored spouse or partner can apply for an open work permit if

While your spouse or partner’s permanent residence application is being processed, they must

How to apply for this open work permit

Can my dependent children work in Canada?

If your dependent children aren’t Canadian citizens and they want to work in Canada, they must apply for their own work permit.

Your children may be eligible for an open work permit if you’re in one of the following situations:

If your child isn’t eligible for an open work permit, their employer may have to get a labour market impact assessment (LMIA) from Employment and Social Development Canada. An LMIA is a document an employer usually needs to get before they can hire a foreign worker; it allows an employer to hire someone for a specific job.

Before your dependent children work in Canada, check the minimum age required to work in the type of job and province/territory that they plan to work in.

In some cases, your dependent children will need a medical exam.

I’m a Canadian citizen and my spouse is not. Can my spouse and dependent children work in Canada?

It depends on the immigration status of your family members. If your family members are temporary residents (visitors), they have to apply for a work permit to be able to work.

Your family members can apply for a work permit from within Canada if they are in 1 of the following situations:

Find out how to apply for a work permit.

I have an open work permit because my spouse is working/studying in Canada. For how long is my permit valid?

Normally, your work permit is valid for the same amount of time that your spouse or common-law partner’s work permit or study permit is valid. Your work permit will stay valid for that entire period even if

If these situations apply to you, you won’t be able to extend this work permit when it expires, but you may be eligible for another type of work permit.

See also: What do I need to work in Canada?

How can I extend my stay as a worker?

You should apply as early as possible (at least 30 days) before your current work permit expires if you want to extend your stay as a worker in Canada.

For more information on extending your stay as a worker, visitor or student, see

Steps your employer may need to take

Your employer may need to apply for a new Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA), which is a document from Employment and Social Development Canada that says the employer is allowed to hire you.

If you’re exempt from the LMIA process, your employer will need to pay the employer compliance fee and submit a new offer of employment through the Employer Portal.

For more information, see Extend a temporary worker’s permit.

Can I apply to extend a work permit from inside Canada?

Yes, if your work permit is still valid, you can apply to extend it from inside Canada.

Find out how to extend your work permit.

If you’re an International Experience Canada participant, see International Experience Canada: Extend your participation or change your work permit

My work permit has expired. Can I apply for another one?

Yes, but you can only do this if your permit expired fewer than 90 days ago. You also need to restore your temporary status in Canada.

Since you need to apply to restore your status after it has expired, you can’t work while this application is in progress.

How to restore your status and get a work permit.

International Experience Canada participants

To restore your status, you must be eligible to extend your work permit. See Extend or change your work permit - International Experience Canada.

I work in Quebec. How can I extend my work permit?

If you’re an International Experience Canada participant, see Extend or change your work permit – International Experience Canada.

Step 1: Find out if you need a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA)

If you need an LMIA, your employer must follow these steps:

For more information, see the page Immigrate and settle in Quebec – Temporary workers.

If your employer doesn’t need an LMIA to hire you, you’re also exempt from getting a CAQ. In most cases, your employer will need to submit a new offer of employment through the Employer Portal.

Some LMIA-exempt employers don’t need to submit an offer of employment or pay the employer compliance fee. Find out how to get a work permit for these jobs.

Step 2: Apply to extend your work permit

Before your work permit expires, apply to extend your work permit.

Include copies of your job offer letter or contract and:

Information for your spouse or common-law partner

Your spouse or common-law partner may be eligible to apply for an open work permit. Their work permit will have the same expiry date as your own.

I applied for a new work permit. Can I stay in Canada if my work permit expires?

Yes, you can stay in Canada until we make a decision on your new work permit application. This is called maintained status.

You may also be authorized to work until we make a decision on your application. However, you must respect the following requirements:

If you applied for another work permit

You must stay in Canada and work under the conditions of your original work permit.

If you applied to extend or change your work permit before it expired, you’re authorized to keep working under the same conditions as your original permit until we make a decision on your application.

If you applied for a study permit or visitor record

You must stop working on day the original work permit expires.

For example, you may have come to Canada as a worker and then applied for a study permit. If so, you must stop working once your work permit expires. After that, you cannot work or study until you get a new permit.

Can I keep working if my permit expires? How do I prove this to my employer?

Yes, if you applied to extend or change your work permit before your work permit expired, you

You must stay in Canada and continue working under the same conditions as your original work permit. For example, if you have an employer-specific work permit, you must still work for the employer named on that permit.

If your employer needs proof you can keep working, there are documents you can show them.

I have applied to extend my work permit. Can I travel outside Canada?

You can leave Canada and come back. However, one of three things will happen when you return to Canada.

  1. You may be allowed to come back to Canada as a visitor, if we have not yet decided to extend your work permit. If this is the case, you cannot work until you get your work permit extension. The officer at the port of entry may ask you to prove you have enough money to support yourself in Canada.
  2. You may be allowed to come back to Canada as a worker, if the officer at the port of entry finds out that we extended your work permit while you were away.
  3. You may be asked to apply for a new work permit at the port of entry.

You must also meet all other applicable entry requirements.

I’ve maintained my status, but my health insurance card, driver’s licence and other government ID documents have expired. How can I renew my ID documents?

You should apply to renew your government ID before your work or study permit expires.

If you applied online to extend or change your work permit, you can use your letter (WP-EXT except PGWP) as proof that you’re authorized to keep working.

What to do if you need to renew your government ID document

These services are provided by the province you live in. If you need to renew your government ID, you’ll have to apply to the government of the province or territory you live in. That government will decide how and when they renew the documents.

For more information, contact the appropriate government department or agency in the province or territory where you live, such as those responsible for health or transportation.

My work permit expired and I did not apply to extend it. Can I stay and keep working in Canada?

If you’re an International Experience Canada participant, see Extend or change your work permit – International Experience Canada.

You can apply to restore your work permit in the first 90 days after it expires. If you do this, you can stay in Canada until you get further instructions, but you must stop working until you receive your restored work permit. There is no guarantee that your application will be approved.

Otherwise, you must leave Canada right away when your work permit expires. If you do not leave, you could be deported and will need permission from an immigration officer to come back.

Find out how to restore your work permit.

I want to extend my expiring work permit, but I don’t have a new LMIA or CAQ yet. What should I do?

You can apply without a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) or a Quebec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ) if your work permit expires within 2 weeks of the date that you apply.

You must include both

If you’re waiting for your CAQ

When you apply online, you’ll be asked to upload a copy of your CAQ. If you have a copy of the receipt confirmation number or a copy of the application, you can upload those documents instead.

When you get your LMIA or CAQ

You must send us proof that you’ve received the LMIA or CAQ within 60 days of the date your application was received. If not, your application could be refused.

I got a new passport after coming to Canada but I still have a valid work permit in my old one. What should I do?

Keep your old passport. If you plan to travel outside Canada, bring both your old and new passport with you. You’ll need your valid work permit when you come back.

The expiry date on your work permit is linked to the expiry on your passport. If you got a new passport because your old one was expiring, then your work permit will also expire at the same time. In this case, you need to apply to extend your work permit to keep working in Canada.

Can I extend my International Experience Canada work permit?

You can only extend your work permit in very specific situations. Find out if you can extend your work permit.

Can I apply to extend my Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program work permit?

No. The rules for the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program (SAWP) differ from those for other work permits. Under the SAWP, you may remain in Canada for a maximum of 8 months between January 1st and December 15th. You must leave Canada no later than December 15th. Your employer must request authorization from Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) to hire you each season. This is known as a positive Labour Market Impact Assessment. More information is available from ESDC and the Quebec’s Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Diversité et de l’Inclusion. Your employer may want to rehire you. Even so, you must go back to your home country before you can apply for another work permit.

My work permit expired, but I’ve maintained my status. Can I keep working under the same conditions of my initial work permit if my Social Insurance Number (SIN) is expired?

Yes. If you applied to extend your work permit before your initial work permit expired, you can keep working, even if your SIN is expired. This is allowed under the Employment Insurance Act and Regulations.

Renewing your SIN

When you get your new work permit, you can renew your SIN.

You can give your employer proof that you’ve applied to renew your SIN. Once you get a new expiry date for your SIN, you must give it to your employer within 3 days.

Can I change my status to visitor if I need more time to extend my study or work permit?

You can apply to change your status to visitor, but once your current study or work permit expires, you won’t be able to apply for a new study or work permit from within Canada. This means it won’t give you more time to extend your study or work permit.

Most visitors aren’t eligible to apply for a study or work permit from within Canada. If you change your status to visitor, you may have to leave Canada to apply for a new study or work permit.

Because of this, we strongly recommend you don’t change your status to visitor if you need more time to apply for your permit.

Make sure you know when your current permit expires and apply at least 30 days before it does.

Why is my study or work permit only valid for part of my study program or job contract?

We’ll issue your study or work permit for a shorter validity period for one of these reasons:

Your passport or travel document will expire

If you’re coming to Canada to study or work, you can’t stay past the expiry date of your passport or other travel document. We’ll only give you a permit that’s valid as long as your passport or travel document.

If you get a new passport or travel document while in Canada

You can apply to extend your study or work permit to get one for the time left on your study program or job contract.

You’re participating in IEC, and your health insurance coverage isn’t valid for long enough

If your health insurance coverage only covers part of your stay in Canada, we’ll issue you a permit that matches the length of your coverage.

Make sure your insurance is valid for your entire stay in Canada before you leave your home country.

If it isn’t, you won’t be allowed to extend your work permit, even if you extend your health insurance coverage.

Who is eligible for two-week work permit processing?

Processing delays for GSS applications

Processing times for GSS applications continue to be affected by

  • the number of applications we’ve already received
  • an increase in applications as health and travel restrictions lift in Canada and around the world

It will probably take more than 2 weeks to process your GSS application. We’re continuing to recover so we can return to 2-week processing.

The Global Skills Strategy (GSS) can help you get to work in Canada faster by offering two-week processing times on eligible work permit applications.

To be eligible, you must be applying online from outside Canada in one of these situations:

Situation one

Your employer has a positive Global Talent Stream (GTS) (Category A or B) Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) from Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) for your position.

In this situation, you must tell us you are applying using a GTS LMIA when you complete your eligibility check. Otherwise, we won’t recognize you as a GSS applicant.

Situation two

You:

Some employers don’t need to submit an offer of employment or pay the employer compliance fee. Find out how to get a work permit for these jobs.

Find out how to apply for two-week processing if you are eligible.

Are all Global Skills Strategy (GSS) work permit applications processed in two weeks?

No. Our commitment is to process 80% of complete applications within 2 weeks.

Processing times for GSS applications continue to be affected by both

  • the number of applications we received while COVID-19 health and travel restrictions were in place
  • an increase in applications as health and travel restrictions lift in Canada and around the world

It will probably take more than 2 weeks to process your GSS application. We’re continuing to recover so we can return to 2-week processing.

I have a Global Talent Stream (GTS) LMIA, do I have to do anything else to get two-week processing?

Processing delays for GSS applications

Processing times for GSS applications continue to be affected by

  • the number of applications we’ve already received
  • an increase in applications as health and travel restrictions lift in Canada and around the world

It will probably take more than 2 weeks to process your GSS application. We’re continuing to recover so we can return to 2-week processing.

Yes. To get two-week processing, you must check your eligibility and:

Local visa office requirements

Many of our visa offices abroad have specific instructions that the worker needs to follow. Check the local visa office requirements to make sure the worker includes all required documents with their application.

If there are local instructions to follow you can find them in the application package.

  1. Go to the work permit application.
  2. Select apply online.
  3. Select the country or territory the worker is applying from.
  4. Download the country-specific “visa office requirements” from the list of documents, if there are any.

To be eligible for two-week processing the worker must include certified translations of documents that aren’t in English or French, even if the visa office requirements say we accept other languages.

Examples of requirements that may change depending on where you are applying from:

It is your responsibility to make sure your application is complete. If you forget something, your application may be delayed or refused.

When should I get my medical exam to apply for two-week work permit processing through the GSS?

Processing delays for GSS applications

Processing times for GSS applications continue to be affected by

  • the number of applications we’ve already received
  • an increase in applications as health and travel restrictions lift in Canada and around the world

It will probably take more than 2 weeks to process your GSS application. We’re continuing to recover so we can return to 2-week processing.

If you need a medical exam, get it before you apply so you can include it in your application. This is called an upfront medical exam.

Find out more about upfront medical exams.

I’m applying for a work permit under the GSS. Do I need include a police certificate?

Processing delays for GSS applications

Processing times for GSS applications continue to be affected by

  • the number of applications we’ve already received
  • an increase in applications as health and travel restrictions lift in Canada and around the world

It will probably take more than 2 weeks to process your GSS application. We’re continuing to recover so we can return to 2-week processing.

It depends on where you are applying from. Many of our visa offices abroad have specific instructions that you need to follow. To find out if you need a police certificate:

  1. Go to the work permit application.
  2. Select the country or territory you are applying from.
  3. Download the country-specific “visa office requirements” from the list of documents, if there are any.

Visa office instructions are specific to your location and will tell you if you need a police certificate.

If your police certificate is not in English or French you must get a certified translation and include it in your application, even if the visa office requirements say we accept other languages.

If you can’t get a police certificate, include an explanation and any supporting documents with your application. We will review your explanation and let you know if we need more information.

If you need a police certificate but don’t include it with your application, it may take longer than two weeks to process your application.

Find out how to get a police certificate.

I’m eligible for two-week processing under the GSS. Can I bring my family?

Processing delays for GSS applications

Processing times for GSS applications continue to be affected by

  • the number of applications we’ve already received
  • an increase in applications as health and travel restrictions lift in Canada and around the world

It will probably take more than 2 weeks to process your GSS application. We’re continuing to recover so we can return to 2-week processing.

Yes, if you all apply at the same time, your spouse, common-law partner or dependent children will also be eligible for two-week processing. Make sure everyone submits a complete application to avoid delays.

Can I get two-week processing if I am applying under the International Mobility Program?

Processing delays for GSS applications

Processing times for GSS applications continue to be affected by

  • the number of applications we’ve already received
  • an increase in applications as health and travel restrictions lift in Canada and around the world

It will probably take more than 2 weeks to process your GSS application. We’re continuing to recover so we can return to 2-week processing.

Yes, if you are applying for a work permit through the International Mobility Program, submit your application online normally. We’ll process your application within the two-week standard automatically if you:

Local visa office requirements

Many of our visa offices abroad have specific instructions that the worker needs to follow. Check the local visa office requirements to make sure the worker includes all required documents with their application.

If there are local instructions to follow you can find them in the application package.

  1. Go to the work permit application.
  2. Select apply online.
  3. Select the country or territory the worker is applying from.
  4. Download the country-specific “visa office requirements” from the list of documents, if there are any.

To be eligible for two-week processing the worker must include certified translations of documents that aren’t in English or French, even if the visa office requirements say we accept other languages.

Examples of requirements that may change depending on your location:

It is your responsibility to make sure your application is complete. If you forget something, your application may be delayed or refused.

I need an LMIA for my work permit application. How do I know if I am part of the Global Talent Stream?

The positive Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) that your employer must share with you before you can apply for your work permit will tell you if you are part of the Global Talent Stream (GTS).

Find out how to benefit from the Global Skills Strategy if you are LMIA-exempt.

I’m an employer in the International Mobility Program. Do I still need to use the Employer Portal?

In most cases, yes, you will have to submit your offer and pay the employer compliance fee using the Employer Portal before the worker can apply for a work permit.

However, there are some situations where you will not have to use the Employer Portal.

Open work permits

If you hire a temporary worker who has an open work permit, you don’t need to submit an offer of employment or pay the employer compliance fee.

An open work permit allows the permit holder to work for any Canadian employer.

Employer compliance exemptions

Some LMIA-exempt employers don’t need to submit an offer of employment in the Employer Portal or pay the employer compliance fee. Find out if you are exempt from the employer compliance process.

How do I hire a temporary foreign worker using an LMIA issued by ESDC under the Global Talent Stream?

Once you receive a positive decision from Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) on your Global Talent Stream (GTS) LMIA application, give a copy of the decision letter to the worker you want to hire. They must apply online and include it with their work permit application.

The worker will also need to identify themselves as part of the GTS when they complete their eligibility check.

Find out what a worker must do to identify as part of the GTS.

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