Job opportunities in Canada have risen recently thanks to its strong global economy. This increase has led to an increasing number of people immigrating to the country late. As a foreign national, if you ever happen to get a job offer in this country, it is a great opportunity that you should not refuse as it can be a highly beneficial move for your career and improve your life’s quality.
To immigrate to Canada as a foreign national for work purposes, you must find a job first, which needs a work visa. However, you can also relocate to Canada before finding a job with a temporary visa and then get a work visa once you get a job.
Different work visa types are available if you are planning an immigration to Canada. So, before applying for a visa under a specific category, you need to know the various available options. This article gives you an insight into Canada’s different types of work visas.
Canada Work Permits
There are two main kinds of work permits if you want to move to Canada for work purposes. These are:
- Open Work Permit: This is not an option specific to a job. This means you can work for any Canadian organization. Under this permit, you also don’t need a Labor Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) for qualifying for a work visa. Open work permits are for qualifying foreign nationals who wish to work in Canada with an employer or in an occupation of their choice.
- Employer-Specific Work Permit: This permit lets foreign nationals work for a particular organization in Canada as per the limitations and conditions set in the permit. It limits a foreign national to one organization at a particular location. It also has a specific employment duration. This kind of work permit needs an LMIA. Employer-specific work permits are for any foreign national who wishes to work for a particular organization for a specific duration and in a particular province.
Types of Canada Work Visa
There are different types of work visas available to immigrate to Canada. To get one of these visas, you need to prove that you are competent enough to handle the job responsibilities of your job offer. For skilled positions, you can prove this by giving a copy of your educational qualifications. To prove the validity of your work experience, you can also provide reference letters from your earlier employers.
You also need to submit an ECA (Educational Credential Assessment) to prove that your qualifications meet the standards set by Canada. Further, you have to submit supporting documents based on the kind of work permit you are applying for.
The different types of work visas are:
– International Mobility Program (IMP)
The purpose of the IMP is to assist Canadian companies in employing skilled global talent on a permanent or temporary basis without needing an LMIA. This is mainly given for jobs that Canadian organizations could not fill with local talent in the country.
The IMP gives a temporary work visa to foreign nationals. It also gives a window to gradually apply for a PR (Permanent Resident) visa through many programs, including one of the Canadian Experience Class or federal economic programs under the Express Entry Program.
– Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP)
The TFWP work visa program aims at assisting Canadian organizations in employing skilled workers from foreign countries for different jobs in Canada. Applying for an LMIA is an important part of the TFWP application process. You should submit an LMIA copy and the work visa application to apply for a work visa through this category.
A few of the popular TFWP streams support the hiring requirements of Canadian employers. So, candidates should meet certain requirements for a successful LMIA application. The TFWP streams vary depending on the skill levels, and wages offered to workers, which are decided by the NOC (National Occupation Classification).
– Working Holiday Visa (IEC)
This is a popular work visa for Canada, a part of the IEC. It gives you a chance to reside in Canada and do part-time work while traveling. It is offered to citizens from various countries with a consensual youth mobility deal with Canada. This visa is generally issued for 12-24 months, depending on your residential country. It is perfect for the youth who wish to travel the country without permanently settling down.
With a wide variety of work visa programs, it may be challenging to choose the right one for your needs. It is advisable to work with experienced work visa consultants who can thoroughly look at your profile and help you finalize the right work visa for Canada.
