Canada: Visa and immigration

Do I need a visa and/or work permit?

Temporary work permit

In order to work temporarily in Canada, a work permit must be issued. These are normally issued on the basis of a temporary offer of employment that has been confirmed by the Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC) . If you intend to work in the province of Quebec, a Certificat d’acceptation du Québec (CAQ) may be needed from the Quebec government. 

Generally, the employer must prove that the position could not be filled by a Canadian citizen or resident. However, certain jobs are exempt from the requirement for a work permit and there are some positions that, although they require a work permit, are exempt from the need for HRSDC confirmation. More information can be found on the Citizenship and Immigration Canada  website. In addition, there are special programmes for specific professions and areas of work, such as IT workers and live-in caregivers.

You will need a Social Insurance Number (SIN) to work in Canada and to receive any government services. You should apply for your SIN card after you arrive in Canada by submitting your application at a local Service Canada Centre. Visit the Service Canada  website to find your nearest office.

Permanent immigration

There are a number of options for those interested in taking up permanent residence in Canada, including skilled worker, business and family class immigration. Immigration to Canada on the federal level is built around a points system. Applicants must fulfil certain criteria, earn enough points across a number of factors and meet the minimum financial requirement. Factors include: 

• education;
• language ability;
• work experience;
• age;
• arranged employment;
• adaptability.

Additional points are awarded for family connections with Canada. The rules, especially those applying to skilled worker applications, are subject to change. Up-to-date information and a self-assessment tool that enables you to see if you qualify as a skilled worker are available on Citizenship and Immigration Canada - Skilled Workers and Professionals . 

An alternative route to immigration is as a provincial nominee. Most provinces in Canada have an agreement with the Canadian government that allows them to play a more direct role in selecting immigrants who wish to settle in that province. Applications must be made direct to the province and are considered on the province's immigration needs. Contact information for the Provincial Nominee Programme is available on Citizenship and Immigration Canada - Provinical Nominees . 

The Quebec government and the Canadian government have an agreement that allows Quebec to select immigrants who best meet its needs. To come to Canada as a Quebec Skilled Worker, you must first apply to the Quebec government for a Certificat de selection du Québec. Further information can be found on Quebec Immigration . 

If you are from a non-EU country, please check with your embassy about regulations for working in Canada.

How do I apply for a visa and/or work permit?

If you are living in the UK, contact the Canadian High Commission  in London to apply for a work permit. Details of the application process and forms are available online. Applications forms are also available on the Citizenship and Immigration Canada  website.

If you are not a UK national, contact the Canadian embassy in the country where you are currently residing about how to obtain visas and work permits.

You might also find it helpful to contact your ministry of foreign affairs (or your own embassy if you are not living in your home country) to ask whether there are any issues to be taken into account when considering working in Canada. 

How do I apply for permanent residency?

According to Citizenship and Immigration Canada, an application for permanent residency is eligible for processing if:

• you have an offer of arranged employment; or
• you are a foreign national who has been living legally in Canada for one year as a temporary foreign worker or an international student; or
• you are a skilled worker who has at least one year of experience in one or more of the skilled occupations listed on Skilled Workers and Professionals - Who Can Apply .

To qualify as a skilled worker you must also meet the following minimum requirements:

• at least one year of continuous full-time paid work experience or the equivalent in part-time continuous employment; or
• your work experience must be Skill Type 0 (managerial occupations) or Skill Level A (professional occupations) or B (technical occupations and skilled trades) on the National Occupational Classification List ; and
• you must have had this experience within the last ten years. 

If you meet these minimum requirements, your application will then be processed according to the selection factors in the skilled worker points grid, as described above. You must also show that you have enough money to support yourself and your dependants after you arrive in Canada.