Immigrate to Canada with a Work Permit: A Path to Permanent Residency
Work permits come with several pathways for individuals with ambitions of a decent future in Canada and could be a key gateway to Canadian PR.
Be it to advance your career, achieve economic stability, or simply to start afresh, immigration to Canada with a work permit could be
the answer to your Canadian dream. At Tabula Rasa Immigration Services, we assist skilled professionals and workers in pursuing various types of work permits in Canada and their respective applications with maximum possible ease to get through to permanent residency.
What is a Work Permit?
A work permit is a document provided through the Government of Canada that allows foreign nationals to work in Canada for a temporary period. Generally, there are two types of work permits:
- Employer-Specific Work Permit – a type of permit that ties an individual working for a particular employer in a particular position and in a particular location.
- Open Work Permit – This exemption gives workers permission to work for any employer in Canada, except a few exceptions.
How to Get a Work Permit in Canada
Canada provides several opportunities vis-à-vis its work permit pathway to permanent residency, including:
- Job Offer – Employer-Specific Work Permit
In the case of an employer-specific work permit, this involves first obtaining a job offer from an employer residing in Canada. Normally, the employer would need to demonstrate through the Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) process that no Canadian citizen or permanent resident is available for the position. However, it’s important to note that certain categories of work are LMIA-exempt (for instance, intra- company transferees or those under international agreements such as the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement). - Work Permit Application
Once you have been issued your job offer, and a LMIA if required, you are free to apply for a work permit online or at a visa office. - Supportive Documentation
However, it is recommended to ensure that your application is complete and contains the following documents:
o Proof of job offer
o Completed LMIA, if required
o Passport and travel documents
o Educational credentials and proof of qualifications - Biometrics and Medical Examination
Basically, most of the applicants will be required to provide biometrics, fingerprinting, and photo capturing. It may also involve a medical examination to prove that you are in good health. - Work Permit Approval
Once your work permit is approved, we will receive your Port of Entry Letter. The work permit will be received upon entering Canada. An employer-specific work permit will note your job, employer, and the location in the work permit. However, certain conditions are not available with certain work permit holders, meaning that the holders have more room to choose where and for whom they want to work.
From Work Permit to Permanent Residency
Looking for PR as a foreign worker? Here are some of the more common pathways to PR for foreign workers:
- Canadian Experience Class (CEC)-Express Entry
The Canadian Experience Class is part of Canada’s Express Entry system and provides a great avenue for immigration for individuals who have attained skilled work experience in Canada. Workers who have at least 12 months of full-time, skilled work experience in Canada may qualify for this program. Skilled work, under Canada’s National Occupational Classification system, involves managerial, professional, and technical jobs.
Selection through the Express Entry process is based on a points system, ranking candidates
based on several factors, including:
Age
Work experience
Proficiency in English or French language
Education
If you meet the requirements, you will be invited to apply for permanent residency via ITA. Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)
Each one of the Provinces and Territories of Canada maintains its own immigration programs. These are referred to as Provincial Nominee Programs-or, in abbreviation, PNPs. Instead, a nominee program tailored according to the needs of each province with respect to the economic field and labor market conditions is applied. A foreign worker who corresponds to a given province’s requirement could be nominated for permanent residency.
Some streams under PNP are in line with Express Entry, but others are not. With that said, being employed as a foreign worker in some provinces increases your chance of being nominated for PR under PNP.
Benefits of Working in Canada on a Path to Permanent Residency
High living standards, first class healthcare, and excellent education facilities in Canada make it one of the favorite destinations globally for immigration. Some of the main benefits that come with getting a Canada work permit include:
- Career Growth: Working in Canada will not only provide you with valuable
international work experience, but it will also give a boost to your career in the competitive global market. - Path to Permanent Residency: It’s a fact that many Work Permit holders transition into
permanent residency via pathways such as Express Entry and PNP. - Family Sponsorship: At a later stage, you’ll have the ability to sponsor family members
who are eligible to join you in Canada once you attain PR status, hence family
reunification. - Social Benefits: Permanent residents in Canada enjoy healthcare, social services, and a
whole gamut of such public benefits. - Diverse and Inclusive Society: Canada is a friendly, multi-ethnically accepting society.
How Tabula Rasa Immigration Services Can Help
At Tabula Rasa Immigration Services, we value the fact that immigration can be an overwhelming process. That is why our team of licensed Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants will guide you through every step of the process, from obtaining your work permit to permanent residency, including:
- Comprehensive Consultations: We begin with in-depth research on your background, skills, and goals to find out which work permit and PR pathway is the best fit to your needs.
- Application Assistance: We assist you personally to make a powerful Canadian work permit application covering all documents and requirements.
- PR Strategy: We guide you step by step through options such as Express Entry and PNP if permanent residency is the goal, to maximize chances of a successful application.
- Ongoing Support: Whether it’s assisting you in getting your work permit or taking a further step towards PR, we support you 100% through the process.
Ready to start your Canadian Adventure?
Your work permit in Canada awaits and is just the first step toward your Canadian future, and we are here to make that journey as smooth and successful as possible.
Book a consultation today with Tabula Rasa Immigration Services as we guide you through the processes of getting a work permit, down to permanent residency. A new life awaits you in Canada!
For more detailed information on how to get a work permit in Canada, please visit the IRCC guide.
