Indian people who are passport holders can live and work in Canada for a specific time period. Applicants can apply for a working permit and submit their application both ways online or offline according to the requirements of the application and applicants have to submit the application along with some special documents required according to the program they have chosen. Employers who are approved by the Canadian government can only give jobs to foreign employees. Here we explain how you can apply and get a working permit in different categories of work.
Canada Work Permit Application
Application to get a working permit will depend on skills, experience, and profile. Of an applicant who is willing to apply for a Work Permit. You can use both an online and offline application submission process. You will be required to submit the complete application along with the required documents and you have to pay the necessary visa fee. IRCC can call you for an interview at their centers located in Delhi, Chandigarh, and Mumbai. If you are an Indian passport holder then you will not be required to provide biometrics like fingerprints and photographs for moving to Canada to work. As an Indian applicant, your application can take about 12 weeks or more.
Online Application – you can submit your application to get a Work Permit on IRCC’s official website by completing your registration process and by following the given instructions.
Offline Application – you can submit your application in person by visiting the Canada Visa Application Centre which is under the management of VFS Global in India. VFS Global offers visa application services to Indians in the following cities;
- Chandigarh
- New Delhi
- Kolkata
- Jalandhar
- Bengaluru
- Chennai
- Ahmedabad
- Hyderabad
- Pune
- Mumbai
Work Permit Categories
You can apply for Work Permit in the following categories:
Temporary Work Visa
A Temporary Work Visa is for a Temporary Residence Visa and a Work Visa. With this combination, you can stay in Canada for 6 months and a Work Permit makes you able to work in Canada or you can do a job also but this working visa is not permanent. You will have to leave Canada after the expiry of your Canadian working visa. You can apply to renew it again or return back to your country. You can work in Canada on a temporary basis by extending your working visa for a maximum of 4 years. These terms do not apply in every case. It all depends on the type of visa you want and which country you are migrating from.
Open Work Permit (OWP)
This Work Visa is not for a particular job or place. With this permit, you can be working anywhere and for any corporation in Canada. If you have an open work permit then you will not require an Employment and Social Development Canada issued LMIA from when you are applying for a work permit.
There are 2 types of Open Work Permits:
- Restricted Open Permit- A restricted open permit makes you work in a specific place or a specific company.
- Unrestricted Open Permit- This permit helps you work anywhere or in any company.
- Employer-specific Work Permit ESWP This work permit gives you authorization as a worker to work for a particular employer for a decided duration of time.
You can get an employer-specific work permit or an open work permit according to your qualification and the type of work you want to do. Temporary workers can get an extension of their work permit.
Working Holiday Visa
This Visa is issued to young people. You can work in Canada while traveling. You can submit your application and wait to get selected for the Working Holiday visa.
Post Graduate Work Permit
Students can get Post Graduate Work Permit who have completed their graduation or higher education from a Canadian institution. If you are a student and want to stay and work in Canada after completing your studies then you can apply for a post-graduate work permit. The period that this permit remains valid depends upon the duration of the study program. This program has a time period of a maximum of three years.
Business
If you are interested in investing in a business in Canada or want to set up an intra-company or are interested in trades then you can apply for a work permit but you have to prove;
1. You have sufficient funds to support yourself and your business.
2. You can provide employment to Canadian citizens.
Permanent Workers
If you have a developed skill and work experience in that skill then you can apply as a skilled worker through Express Entry. These workers can apply for permanent residence after settling in work in Canada.
Students
Your qualification factor matters here to receive your work permit while studying in Canada. You can work off or on the university campus as an intern. If you have completed your graduation then you can apply for a post-graduation work permit and apply for permanent residency through Express Entry.
Agricultural Workers
If you are interested in working as an agricultural worker you can apply through the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program SAWP for Work Permit to work in Canada.
Work Permit Eligibility
If you want to apply for a Work Permit, then you must have the following eligibility criteria:
- You have to submit the completed visa application along with the necessary documents.
- You must have a passport that is valid or any other travel documents that may be required by IRCC
- You have an offer letter of employment from Canada.
- You must have a letter of invitation for a job in Canada.
- You have a Medical examination certificate to prove that you are in good health.
- You have to collect all the documents that are considered necessary which are specified by IRCC.
- You have to submit a Completed VFS consent form
- You are required to showcase proof that you have the required financial sources to travel in Canada.
- You have to be able to prove to the immigration officers that you will leave Canada upon the expiry of your work permit.
- You don’t have any criminal background or record.
- You have to prove sufficiently that you are not and will not be a threat to the Candian security.
- You have to show that you are not going to work with an ineligible employer.
Gather the Required Documents
You have to ensure that you have collected all the copies and documents that are necessary before applying or submitting the application. You have to submit all document copies with the application form. You have to fill in the question with the following details.
- You have to fill in your completed Personal details
- You have to fill in your Language proficiency in English and French in detail with documents.
- Your Passport details
- You have to fill in details about working in Canada
- Details of your Educational qualification along with credentials.
- You have to fill in details if you have any work experience or skill development.
Application Fee for Work Permits
The application fee is necessary to begin processing your application. These are non-refundable charges that can change according to your country, type of work permit and application, etc. You have to pay fees whether you submit an application through an online portal or as a hard copy. The application fee to get a Work Permit is given below:
- If you want a work Permit including extensions then you have to pay 85 Canadian dollars per person
- If you want a work Permit including extensions for a group of performing artists, more than 3 people then you have to pay 170 dollars.
- To get an open Work Permit 255 Canadian dollars.
Wait For Processing
After submitting the application for a Canadian work visa. Afterward, consular officers will process your application and decide whether you are eligible to get a working permit or not. The average processing time is around 3 to 27 weeks. After that officers will decide whether you will get a work permit or not.
Travel To Canada
If you successfully get a work permit to work in Canada. You have to make arrangements for accommodation and travel. When you have a Port of Entry in Canada you have to show all your documents to PoE officers to get an approved work permit.
The PoE officers will decide whether they allow you in the country. Even if you get a visa for 6 months from the Consular Office, the PoE officers can change it for 3 months and you have to leave the country after the expiration of your work permit.



