Canada does not issue a “work visa” as such. You need a work permit, and most people applying from outside Canada need a job offer from a Canadian employer. Apply online through an IRCC secure account; the official guidance is on the IRCC work permit page.
The work permit requirements for Canada depend on the type of permit. An employer-specific permit needs a job offer, while an open work permit does not. Establish which type fits your situation before you start collecting documents.
Eligibility and Entry Requirements at a Glance
You must meet IRCC’s general requirements plus any extra requirements for your specific permit type (see IRCC eligibility). In general you must:
- have a job offer, if you are applying for an employer-specific permit
- show that you have enough money to take care of yourself and your family members
- show that you will leave Canada before your work permit expires
- be admissible: you can be refused if you are medically inadmissible or have a record of criminal activity, and IRCC may ask for a police certificate
Employers can hire some foreign workers without a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) under the International Mobility Program. If your job falls under it, the offer is LMIA-exempt.
Passport and Travel Document Requirements
Every applicant must provide a photocopy of a valid (not expired) passport or travel document. Check that your passport covers the period you plan to work, and keep your previous passports to hand in case they are asked for.
A work permit is separate from the travel authorisation you may need to board a flight to Canada. Confirm with IRCC whether you also need a visa or an eTA for your passport before you book.
Visa and Supporting Document Requirements
IRCC generates a personalised document checklist after you complete the online questionnaire. The general list on the IRCC forms and documents page includes:
- the IRCC application form, completed in full
- a photocopy of your valid passport or travel document
- one photo that meets the visa photo specifications
- for an LMIA-required job: the job offer letter, a copy of the positive LMIA and the LMIA file number
- for an LMIA-exempt job: the offer of employment number your employer obtains and gives you
- proof of a medical exam, if your case requires one
Your own checklist is the final word on what to upload.
Financial, Health and Entry Conditions
You must show you can support yourself and any family with you. IRCC does not set one amount for every case, so rely on the guidance in your own application rather than a figure from a third-party site.
A medical exam may be required depending on your case, and IRCC may ask for a police certificate. Do these only when IRCC asks, and follow the instructions it gives you for how and where to complete them.
IRCC shows these fees, in Canadian dollars, on its application page:
- Work permit processing: $155, paid by all applicants
- Open work permit fee: $100, paid by open work permit applicants
- Biometrics: $85 for an individual, or up to $170 for a family applying together if you are eligible
Some applicants are exempt from some or all work permit fees. You pay by credit or debit card at the end of the application, and IRCC can change its fees, so check the amounts before you pay.
Never pay anyone for a job offer or an LMIA. A real job offer comes from an employer who wants to hire you; if someone is selling you one, treat it as a scam and verify it with IRCC.
How to Prepare or Apply
- Decide whether you need an employer-specific permit or an open work permit.
- For an employer-specific permit, confirm with your employer whether the job needs an LMIA or is LMIA-exempt, and get the LMIA file number or offer of employment number.
- Create an IRCC secure account, answer the questionnaire and upload the documents on your personalised checklist.
- Pay the fees by card at the end of the application.
- Wait for your biometrics instruction letter, then book your appointment promptly: you have 30 days from receiving the letter to give your biometrics. You give them in person at a visa application centre outside Canada, booking is free, and you take the letter and your valid passport with you. Find a site on IRCC’s biometrics page and do not pay anyone for an appointment. IRCC cannot issue a permit valid for longer than your biometrics.
Paper applications are accepted only in limited situations, for example disability or certain travel documents; see the IRCC application page. Use the processing-times tool linked from the IRCC work permit page for current waiting times.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the requirements for a work visa in Canada?
You need a work permit of the right type, a job offer if the permit is employer-specific, enough money for yourself and your family, a valid passport, a photo, and a clean admissibility record (medical and criminal). Your employer provides an LMIA file number or an offer of employment number.
What is an LMIA?
A Labour Market Impact Assessment, which an employer may need before hiring a foreign worker. Some jobs are LMIA-exempt under the International Mobility Program and use an offer of employment number instead.
Is Express Entry a work visa?
No. Express Entry is the system IRCC uses to manage permanent residence applications. Candidates are scored, ranked and invited to apply. It is separate from a work permit.
Can I apply for a work permit without a job offer?
Only for an open work permit, which does not need a job offer. Employer-specific permits do.
How do I apply?
Online through an IRCC secure account, following the IRCC application steps. You get a personalised checklist, pay by card and then complete biometrics.
Are there requirements specific to South African or Nigerian applicants?
IRCC’s work permit rules are the same regardless of nationality, but the travel authorisation you need to board may differ by passport. Check with IRCC for your passport.
Confirm everything with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada before you apply. See our visa requirements guide and browse all travel and immigration requirements.