Apply for a Canadian Work Permit

Researched from official sources · May 9, 2026

IRCC issues two types of work permit: employer-specific (most common, usually needs an LMIA) and open (gated to set categories like IEC and spouses).

Apply online, pay fees, give biometrics. The IMM 1442 permit is printed at the port of entry by a CBSA officer on arrival — not mailed.

Estimated time

Processing times vary by program and country of residence; check the IRCC processing-times tool before applying

Cost

C$155 application fee; C$100 additional open work permit holder fee where applicable; C$85 biometrics individual

What You Need

Tap to check off items as you gather them

Additional Items

  • Employer-paid via TFW Program: LMIA processing fee C$1,000 per position (regular stream) — paid by the employer to Service Canada, not by the applicant
  • Local visa office requirements (vary by country of residence; applies only when applying from outside Canada)
  • Proof of funds, police certificates, or medical exam — may be requested depending on occupation and country of residence
  • Quebec applicants: Certificat d'acceptation du Québec (CAQ) issued by the Quebec Ministère de l'Immigration is required before the federal application for some streams
Last checked 1 month ago

Step-by-Step

  1. 1

    Confirm whether you need a work permit

    1. Use the IRCC 'Do I need a work permit' tool at canada.ca to check whether your specific job and situation need a permit
    2. If yes, identify which type applies to you: employer-specific, open work permit, or IEC

    💡 Tip: Most foreign nationals need a permit. Short-term business visitors and a small list of exempt activities do not. The IRCC tool gives the authoritative answer for your case.

    IRCC — Do I need a work permit (canada.ca ↗)
  2. 2

    If applying for an employer-specific permit, wait for your employer to complete the LMIA process

    Expat New Arrival
    Employer-specific work permit path
    1. Your employer applies to Service Canada for an LMIA under the Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW) Program
    2. Some positions are LMIA-exempt under the International Mobility Program — your employer confirms which applies
    3. Once the LMIA is positive, your employer gives you the LMIA letter and Annex A documents

    💡 Tip: You cannot submit your work permit application until you have the LMIA letter and Annex A in hand. The LMIA fee (C$1,000 per position, regular stream) is paid by your employer.

    ⚠️ Watch out: If your employer is on the IRCC list of non-compliant employers, your work permit will be refused. Verify the employer's status before accepting the offer.

  3. 3

    If applying through IEC, create a profile and wait for an invitation

    Expat New Arrival
    International Experience Canada path
    1. Confirm your country of citizenship has an IEC arrangement with Canada and check the age cap (18-35 or 18-30 depending on country)
    2. Create your IEC profile through your IRCC sign-in account and enter the candidate pool for your category (Working Holiday, Young Professionals, or International Co-op)
    3. Wait for an invitation to apply (ITA) from a pool draw; submit your work permit application within the invitation window

    💡 Tip: The 2026 IEC season is open. IEC works on a pool-and-invitation basis — eligibility does not guarantee an invitation in any single round.

    IRCC — International Experience Canada (canada.ca ↗)
  4. 4

    Gather your documents and complete the application form

    1. If applying from outside Canada: complete IMM 1295 and check your local visa office's specific requirements
    2. If applying from inside Canada: complete IMM 5710
    3. Collect your passport, employment documents (LMIA letter and Annex A for employer-specific path; eligibility-category proof for open work permit; ITA for IEC), and any country-specific items

    ⚠️ Watch out: If you cannot provide proof of a specific eligibility category for an open work permit, you are not eligible for one — review the employer-specific or IEC paths instead.

  5. 5

    Submit the application online and pay fees

    1. Sign in to your IRCC account and start the work permit application
    2. Upload your documents, complete the forms, and pay the C$155 application fee plus C$100 open work permit holder fee (if applicable) and biometrics fee
    3. After submission, IRCC sends a biometrics instruction letter — book an appointment within 30 days at a Visa Application Centre (outside Canada) or Service Canada biometric collection point (inside Canada)

    💡 Tip: Most open work permit applicants must apply from inside Canada. If you are outside Canada and not in an enumerated open-permit category, an employer-specific permit or IEC is the realistic path.

    IRCC — Apply from outside Canada (canada.ca ↗) IRCC — Apply from inside Canada (canada.ca ↗)
  6. 6

    Wait for a decision and check IRCC processing times

    1. Track your application status through your IRCC account
    2. Check the live IRCC processing-times tool for your specific program and country — times update frequently and are not a guarantee
    3. If approved from outside Canada, IRCC issues a Letter of Introduction (LOI) — this is not the work permit itself; the permit is issued at the port of entry

    💡 Tip: IRCC publishes processing times as a current estimate, not a maximum. Plan travel and employment start dates with that variance in mind.

    IRCC — Check processing times (canada.ca ↗)
  7. 7

    Arrive in Canada and collect your work permit at the port of entry

    Expat New Arrival
    Applying from outside Canada
    1. Carry your Letter of Introduction (LOI), passport, LMIA letter and Annex A (employer-specific path), and proof of funds in your hand luggage
    2. Present these to the CBSA officer at the booth — the officer reviews your file and prints the IMM 1442 work permit on the spot
    3. Check the Additional Information, Conditions, and Remarks sections on the printed permit for your employer, location, occupation, and any conditions before you leave the airport

    💡 Tip: The work permit is printed and handed to you at the Canadian port of entry by CBSA — it is not mailed. CBSA is a separate agency from IRCC; the IRCC approval is the LOI, the CBSA officer issues the actual permit.

    ⚠️ Watch out: If the printed permit shows the wrong employer, occupation, or expiry date, ask the CBSA officer to correct it before you leave the inspection area. Corrections later require a separate IRCC application.

  8. 8

    If activating an IEC permit, plan your entry route

    Expat New Arrival
    International Experience Canada path with in-Canada LOI
    1. If you are already in Canada with an IEC LOI, check whether you qualify for the in-Canada mail-out option
    2. If you do not qualify for mail-out, leave Canada and re-enter from a country other than the United States or Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon to activate the permit at the border

    💡 Tip: Since December 2024, IRCC ended 'flagpoling' — entering the US briefly and re-entering Canada at the same land crossing — for work and study permits. Plan an actual international trip if you cannot qualify for the in-Canada mail-out.

  9. 9

    After you get your work permit

    1. Apply for a Social Insurance Number (SIN) at Service Canada — this is required to be paid by any Canadian employer
    2. Arrange health insurance — provincial coverage rules vary, and there can be a waiting period for new arrivals
    3. Track your permit expiry date and start any extension or change-of-conditions application well before it expires
    Service Canada — Social Insurance Number (canada.ca ↗)

Local Tips from the Community

  • The work permit (form IMM 1442) is printed and handed to you at the Canadian port of entry by a CBSA officer — it is not mailed.
  • The LMIA fee is paid by your employer to Service Canada. If a recruiter asks you to pay or reimburse it, that is a TFW Program compliance breach.
  • Most open work permits require you to apply from inside Canada — overseas applicants without a specific category usually need an employer-specific permit or IEC.
  • IEC operates as a pool-and-invitation system — being eligible does not guarantee an invitation in any single round.
  • Quebec adds a separate provincial step (CAQ) on top of the federal IRCC application for some streams.

What Could Go Wrong

Submit your application: LMIA letter or Annex A is missing or expired by the time you submit

Recovery: Ask your employer to confirm the LMIA is still valid. If it has expired or the position has changed, the employer applies for a new LMIA through Service Canada before you can submit your work permit application.

Give biometrics: You miss the 30-day window after receiving your biometrics instruction letter

Recovery: Contact IRCC through your sign-in account. If you have not yet given biometrics, book the next available Visa Application Centre or Service Canada appointment as soon as possible. Persistent delay can cause the application to be refused as incomplete.

Arrive in Canada: You arrive at the Canadian border without your Letter of Introduction or with information that does not match your application

Recovery: CBSA can refuse to issue the permit on the spot. Carry the LOI, passport, LMIA letter (if employer-specific), and proof of funds in your hand luggage — not in checked baggage. If your circumstances changed after applying, contact IRCC before travelling.

Costs

Item Amount Payment Notes
Work permit application fee C$155 Online via IRCC sign-in account (credit card) Per IRCC: 'Fees: $155 (unless exempt)'. Some applicants are exempt — see the IRCC fee list.
Open work permit holder fee (Optional) C$100 Online via IRCC sign-in account Per IRCC spouses-and-dependents page: 'Open work permit holder fee: CA$100'. Charged in addition to the C$155 application fee when an open work permit is issued. Waived if: You are issued an employer-specific work permit rather than an open work permit
Biometrics — individual C$85 Online via IRCC sign-in account Per IRCC: 'CAN$85'. Paid with the application; collected at a Visa Application Centre or Service Canada office.
Biometrics — family (maximum) (Optional) C$170 Online via IRCC sign-in account Per IRCC: 'CAN$170 family (max)'. Applies to two or more family members applying together.
Biometrics — group of 3 or more performing artists (Optional) C$255 Online via IRCC sign-in account Per IRCC: 'CAN$255 group of 3+ performing artists'.
Work permit application fee C$155
Payment:
Online via IRCC sign-in account (credit card)
Notes:
Per IRCC: 'Fees: $155 (unless exempt)'. Some applicants are exempt — see the IRCC fee list.
Open work permit holder fee (Optional) C$100
Payment:
Online via IRCC sign-in account
Notes:
Per IRCC spouses-and-dependents page: 'Open work permit holder fee: CA$100'. Charged in addition to the C$155 application fee when an open work permit is issued.
Waived if:
You are issued an employer-specific work permit rather than an open work permit
Biometrics — individual C$85
Payment:
Online via IRCC sign-in account
Notes:
Per IRCC: 'CAN$85'. Paid with the application; collected at a Visa Application Centre or Service Canada office.
Biometrics — family (maximum) (Optional) C$170
Payment:
Online via IRCC sign-in account
Notes:
Per IRCC: 'CAN$170 family (max)'. Applies to two or more family members applying together.
Biometrics — group of 3 or more performing artists (Optional) C$255
Payment:
Online via IRCC sign-in account
Notes:
Per IRCC: 'CAN$255 group of 3+ performing artists'.
Total: C$240

FAQ

Documents

What is the difference between an employer-specific and an open work permit?

An employer-specific permit ties you to one named employer, occupation, and work location, listed on the IMM 1442 permit document. Most employer-specific permits require your employer to obtain a positive LMIA from Service Canada first. An open work permit lets you work for almost any employer in Canada (with limited exclusions). You do not need a job offer for an open work permit, but you must fall into one of IRCC's enumerated eligibility categories — for example IEC Working Holiday, post-graduation work permit, or spouse of a Canadian work permit holder. Most people applying from outside Canada are not eligible for an open work permit.

General

Do I need a work permit to work in Canada?

Most foreign nationals do. IRCC publishes a decision tree at canada.ca to help you confirm whether your specific work activity needs a permit. Some short-term roles, business visitors, and a small list of exempt activities do not require a permit. If you have a job offer in Canada, assume you need a permit unless IRCC's tool confirms otherwise.

Who pays the LMIA fee?

Your employer. The LMIA processing fee — C$1,000 per position under the regular Temporary Foreign Worker Program stream — is paid by the employer to Service Canada when they apply for the LMIA. Under TFW Program compliance rules, the employer cannot pass this cost on to you. If a recruiter or employer asks you to pay or reimburse the LMIA fee, that is a compliance breach you can report to Service Canada.

How does International Experience Canada (IEC) work?

IEC is a youth-mobility program for citizens of arrangement countries aged 18-35 (18-30 in some). The 2026 IEC season is open. You create a profile through your IRCC sign-in account and enter a candidate pool. IRCC runs invitation rounds; if you are drawn, you receive an invitation to apply (ITA) and submit a work permit application within the invitation window. There are three IEC categories: Working Holiday (open work permit), Young Professionals (employer-specific), and International Co-op (employer-specific). Eligibility does not guarantee an invitation.

What is the IRCC processing time?

Processing times vary by program, country of residence, and whether you apply from inside or outside Canada. IRCC publishes a live processing-times tool at canada.ca that updates frequently. IRCC notes: 'Your application may take longer than the times shown here. They're not a maximum or a guarantee.' Check the tool before applying so you have a current estimate for your specific situation.

Can I switch employers on an employer-specific work permit?

Not without a new work permit. The IMM 1442 document lists your employer, occupation, and work location under 'Additional Information' — those are conditions of the permit. To change employers, you (or your new employer) must apply for a new work permit and, in most cases, the new employer must first obtain a positive LMIA. Do not start work for a new employer until IRCC issues your new permit.

I am moving to Quebec for work — is the process different?

Yes. Quebec administers its own immigration selection in addition to the federal process. For some work permit streams — notably mobilité francophone and certain LMIA-exempt categories — you need a Certificat d'acceptation du Québec (CAQ) issued by the Quebec Ministère de l'Immigration before you submit your federal IRCC application. The federal IRCC permit is still required; the CAQ is a separate provincial step on top.

Can my spouse work in Canada while I am on a work permit?

Possibly, through an open work permit for family members of foreign workers. IRCC tightened the eligibility on January 21, 2025 — applications received before that date are processed under the previous, more permissive rules; applications after are subject to the narrower criteria. Check the spouses-and-dependents page on canada.ca for the current eligibility list before assuming your spouse qualifies. The work permit holder fee for an open work permit is C$100 in addition to the C$155 application fee.

What happens at the airport when I arrive?

When you land at the Canadian port of entry, a Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) officer reviews your documents and prints your work permit on the spot. Have your Letter of Introduction from IRCC, your passport, and — if you have an employer-specific permit — your LMIA-supported job offer ready before you reach the booth. The work permit (form IMM 1442) is generated and handed to you at the border by CBSA; it is not mailed afterwards. Check the Additional Information, Conditions, and Remarks sections on the printed permit before you leave the airport.

After This Process

  • → Social Insurance Number — required to be paid by a Canadian employer; apply at Service Canada
  • → Provincial health insurance — coverage rules and waiting periods vary by province
  • → Permit extension or change of conditions — apply through your IRCC account before the current permit expires

Sources

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  1. T1
    Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) 2026-05-09

    There are 2 types of work permits. The type you can apply for depends on your eligibility. Employer-specific work permit (Most common): You need a job offer. Your employer may need a labour market impact assessment (LMIA). Open work permit (For special circumstances): You don't need a job offer. You can work for most compliant employers in Canada. You're only eligible in certain situations.

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    Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) 2026-05-09

    An employer-specific work permit lets you work in Canada under the conditions of the permit until the expiry date. The details are listed on your permit under the following sections: Additional Information — includes the employer, location and occupation; Conditions — consists of a numbered list of requirements you need to meet; Remarks — may contain additional clarifications or conditions that you may need to meet. A labour market impact assessment (LMIA) is a document that proves there's a need to hire a foreign worker to fill the job. Most jobs need an LMIA. Before you apply for a work permit, your employer needs to find out if they need an LMIA for your job or if it's LMIA-exempt, apply for an LMIA (if needed), and give you documents, like an LMIA letter and Annex A from their positive LMIA, which you'll need to include in your application.

    canada.ca
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    canada.ca
  4. T1
    Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) 2026-05-09

    Apply from outside Canada. Fees: $155 (unless exempt). Sections: Check if you can apply; What forms and documents you need (Application form, local visa office requirements, employment documents); Submit your application (Sign in to your account, upload documents, pay fees, give biometrics); Wait for a decision; Arrive in Canada (Documents you need at the border, getting your work permit); After you get your work permit (Steps to take after you get your work permit including SIN and insurance, and how to extend your permit).

    canada.ca
  5. T1
    Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) 2026-05-09

    Apply from inside Canada. Fees: $155 (unless exempt). Sections: Check if you can apply; What forms and documents you need (Application form and employment documents); Submit your application (Sign in to your account, upload documents, pay fees, give biometrics); Wait for a decision; After you get your work permit (Change the conditions or extend your work permit).

    canada.ca
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    Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) 2026-05-09

    If you're 18 to 35 (18 to 30 in some countries), come work and travel in Canada through International Experience Canada (IEC). The 2026 IEC season is open. The pools for the 2026 season are open. If you're eligible, you can create a profile. How IEC works: Create your IEC profile and get your invitation to apply; Submit your work permit application; Learn more about IEC. If you're in Canada with a valid letter of introduction (LOI): you must leave Canada after you get your port of entry LOI and re-enter from a country other than the US or Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon to activate your work permit.

    canada.ca
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    canada.ca
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    Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) 2026-05-09

    Check our current processing times. Select your application type to get an idea of how long it'll take us to process your application. Your application may take longer than the times shown here. They're not a maximum or a guarantee.

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    Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) 2026-05-09

    Biometrics fee: CAN$85 individual; CAN$170 family (max); CAN$255 group of 3+ performing artists. Transit visa: free.

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  10. T1
    Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) — Service Canada 2026-05-09

    $1,000 for each position requested to cover the cost of processing your Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) application. The fee is paid by the employer when they submit the LMIA application under the Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW) Program.

    canada.ca
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