An Employer-Specific Work Permit allows foreign nationals to work for a specific employer in Canada for a specified period of time, usually up to two years, and is tied to a particular job, employer, and location.

It requires a job offer from a Canadian employer with a positive Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) or an LMIA exemption, depending on the situation.

An Open Work Permit is a type of work permit that allows foreign nationals to work for any Canadian employer, in any location, without the need for a job offer or a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA).

It is usually issued to specific categories of applicants, such as spouses or common-law partners of Canadian citizens or permanent residents, international students, or refugees.

Foreign workers that may be experiencing or are at risk of being abused can apply for an Open Work Permit for Vulnerable Workers. This permit was designed to protect foreign worker rights while inside Canada.

International Experience Canada (IEC) allows young people from other countries to travel and work in Canada for up to 2 years. Your country of citizenship must have a Youth Mobility Agreement with Canada or you may be able to use a recognized organization.

You may be eligible to apply for 3 different kinds of work and travel experience:

• Working Holiday

• Young Professionals

• International Co-op.

The program is completed by creating a profile, entering a pool of candidates, and receiving an invitation to apply.

A Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) is a type of work permit that allows international student graduates to work in Canada once they have finished their studies under a PGWP-eligible program in a Designated Learning Institution (DLI).

The Express Entry Program is a points-based system for skilled workers who would like to be permanent residents.

There are 3 immigration programs under Express Entry:

• Federal Skilled Worker Program

• Federal Skilled Trades Program

• Canadian Experience Class

The Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) allows provinces and territories to nominate individuals with the skills and experience needed to fill specific labour market gaps. Successful nominees receive a provincial nomination letter, which can help them to obtain permanent residency in Canada.

This program may linked to “Express Entry” or “Non-Express Entry” streams.

If you would like to make changes to your work permit (new employer, change from a work permit to visitor visa) or extend your current work permit, you must submit an application to extend or alter the work conditions within 30 days before the expiration of the work permit.

• Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP): A type of work permit that allows individuals who are currently in Canada on a temporary resident status and have applied for permanent residence to continue working while waiting for their application to be processed.

If your work permit has already expired, you must apply within 90 days of losing your status and must meet the requirements of your work permit. This process is called restoring your temporary resident status.