Every year thousands of people come to Canada to work. Usually, a work permit is required to work in Canada but in some cases, you can work without a work permit.
Work permit exemptions:
- Clergy
- Academic examiners and evaluators
- Civil Aviation inspectors
- Crew members
- Athletes and coaches competing in Canada
- Aviation accident or incident investigators
- Emergency service providers
- Expert witnesses or investigators
- Judges, referees, and similar officials for international amateur competitions
- Business visitors
- Military personnel
- News reporters, film, and media crews for foreign in news company
Some work permits are exempt from Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA)
LMIA exemptions for Work Permit:
- Intracompany transferees
- International Experience Canada (IEC) applicants (Working holiday permit holders)
- Applicants covered under International Free Trade Agreements (NAFTA, CETA, GATS)
- PGWP holders
- Applicants in private academic exchanges such as postdoctoral fellows and visiting professors
Like a foreign national needing a work permit to work in Canada, in most cases Canadian employers need to apply for a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) from the Government of Canada to allow them to hire foreign workers. An LMIA confirms that the foreign national will help fill the shortage in the Canadian Labour Market which could not be filled by a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.
After a positive LMIA is granted, the employer extends the temporary job offer to the foreign worker who can then apply for work permit based on that LMIA.
Whether you are an employer or a foreign worker, our immigration expertise will help you understand the process and successfully submit your application.