Application to work in Canada — work permits including open work permits

You need different forms depending on how you’re applying and where you’re applying from. Tell us more to get the forms you need.

Ukrainian nationals applying for open work permits

Follow these special instructions for Ukrainian nationals.

Venezuelan passport holders

You may need to complete extra steps when you fill out your application.

Apply online for a work permit

You must apply online for a work permit.

Who’s eligible to apply on paper

You’re only eligible to apply on paper if you

  • have a disability that prevents you from applying online
  • are applying under the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program
  • hold an identity or travel document for non-national residents, refugees or stateless persons

How are you applying?

  • Online (required in almost all cases)

    Where are you applying from?

    • Afghanistan
    • Albania
    • Algeria
    • Andorra
    • Angola
    • Anguilla
    • Antigua and Barbuda
    • Argentina
    • Armenia
    • Aruba
    • Australia
    • Austria
    • Azerbaijan
    • Bahamas
    • Bahrain
    • Bangladesh
    • Barbados
    • Belarus
    • Belgium
    • Belize
    • Benin
    • Bermuda
    • Bhutan
    • Bolivia
    • Bonaire
    • Bosnia and Herzegovina
    • Botswana
    • Brazil
    • British Virgin Islands
    • Brunei
    • Bulgaria
    • Burkina Faso
    • Burma (Myanmar)
    • Burundi
    • Cabo Verde
    • Cambodia
    • Cameroon
    • Canada
    • Cayman Islands
    • Central African Republic
    • Chad
    • Chile
    • China (People’s Republic of)
    • Colombia
    • Comoros Island
    • Congo
    • Costa Rica
    • Côte d’Ivoire
    • Croatia
    • Cuba
    • Cyprus
    • Czech Republic
    • Democratic Republic of the Congo
    • Denmark
    • Djibouti
    • Dominica
    • Dominican Republic
    • Ecuador
    • Egypt
    • El Salvador
    • Equatorial Guinea
    • Eritrea
    • Estonia
    • Ethiopia
    • Fiji
    • Finland
    • France
    • Gabon
    • Gambia
    • Georgia
    • Germany
    • Ghana
    • Greece
    • Grenada
    • Guatemala
    • Guinea
    • Guinea-Bissau
    • Guyana
    • Haiti
    • Holy See
    • Honduras
    • Hong Kong (SAR)
    • Hungary
    • Iceland
    • India
    • Indonesia
    • Iran
    • Iraq
    • Ireland
    • Israel
    • Italy
    • Jamaica
    • Japan
    • Jordan
    • Kazakhstan
    • Kenya
    • Kiribati
    • Kosovo
    • Kuwait
    • Kyrgyzstan
    • Laos
    • Latvia
    • Lebanon
    • Lesotho
    • Liberia
    • Libya
    • Liechtenstein
    • Lithuania
    • Luxembourg
    • Macao
    • Madagascar
    • Malawi
    • Malaysia
    • Maldives
    • Mali
    • Malta
    • Marshall Islands
    • Martinique
    • Mauritania
    • Mauritius
    • Mexico
    • Micronesia (Federated States of)
    • Moldova
    • Monaco
    • Mongolia
    • Montenegro
    • Morocco
    • Mozambique
    • Namibia
    • Nauru
    • Nepal
    • Netherlands
    • New Caledonia
    • New Zealand
    • Nicaragua
    • Niger
    • Nigeria
    • North Korea
    • North Macedonia (Republic of)
    • Norway
    • Oman
    • Pakistan
    • Palestinian Authority (Gaza)
    • Palestinian Authority (West Bank)
    • Panama
    • Papua New Guinea
    • Paraguay
    • Peru
    • Philippines
    • Poland
    • Portugal
    • Puerto Rico
    • Qatar
    • Romania
    • Russia
    • Rwanda
    • Samoa
    • San Marino
    • Sao Tome and Principe
    • Saudi Arabia
    • Senegal
    • Serbia
    • Seychelles
    • Sierra Leone
    • Singapore
    • Slovakia
    • Slovenia
    • Solomon Islands
    • Somalia
    • South Africa
    • South Korea
    • South Sudan
    • Spain
    • Sri Lanka
    • St. Kitts and Nevis
    • St. Lucia
    • St. Vincent and the Grenadines
    • Sudan
    • Suriname
    • Swaziland
    • Sweden
    • Switzerland
    • Syria
    • Tahiti
    • Taiwan (Republic of China)
    • Tajikistan
    • Tanzania
    • Thailand
    • Timor-Leste (Timor oriental)
    • Togo
    • Tonga
    • Trinidad and Tobago
    • Tunisia
    • Turkey
    • Turkmenistan
    • Turks and Caicos Islands
    • Tuvalu
    • Uganda
    • Ukraine
    • United Arab Emirates
    • United Kingdom
    • United States of America
    • Uruguay
    • US Virgin Islands
    • Uzbekistan
    • Vanuatu
    • Venezuela
    • Vietnam
    • Yemen
    • Zambia
    • Zimbabwe
  • Paper (only for eligible applicants)

    Very few applicants are eligible to apply on paper. Visa application centres will only accept paper applications from eligible applicants, and paper applications take longer to process. To avoid delays, don’t apply on paper unless you’re eligible.

    Where are you applying from?

    • Afghanistan
    • Albania
    • Algeria
    • Andorra
    • Angola
    • Anguilla
    • Antigua and Barbuda
    • Argentina
    • Armenia
    • Aruba
    • Australia
    • Austria
    • Azerbaijan
    • Bahamas
    • Bahrain
    • Bangladesh
    • Barbados
    • Belarus
    • Belgium
    • Belize
    • Benin
    • Bermuda
    • Bhutan
    • Bolivia
    • Bonaire
    • Bosnia and Herzegovina
    • Botswana
    • Brazil
    • British Virgin Islands
    • Brunei
    • Bulgaria
    • Burkina Faso
    • Burma (Myanmar)
    • Burundi
    • Cabo Verde
    • Cambodia
    • Cameroon
    • Canada
    • Cayman Islands
    • Central African Republic
    • Chad
    • Chile
    • China (People’s Republic of)
    • Colombia
    • Comoros Island
    • Congo
    • Costa Rica
    • Côte d’Ivoire
    • Croatia
    • Cuba
    • Cyprus
    • Czech Republic
    • Democratic Republic of the Congo
    • Denmark
    • Djibouti
    • Dominica
    • Dominican Republic
    • Ecuador
    • Egypt
    • El Salvador
    • Equatorial Guinea
    • Eritrea
    • Estonia
    • Ethiopia
    • Fiji
    • Finland
    • France
    • Gabon
    • Gambia
    • Georgia
    • Germany
    • Ghana
    • Greece
    • Grenada
    • Guatemala
    • Guinea
    • Guinea-Bissau
    • Guyana
    • Haiti
    • Holy See
    • Honduras
    • Hong Kong (SAR)
    • Hungary
    • Iceland
    • India
    • Indonesia
    • Iran
    • Iraq
    • Ireland
    • Israel
    • Italy
    • Jamaica
    • Japan
    • Jordan
    • Kazakhstan
    • Kenya
    • Kiribati
    • Kosovo
    • Kuwait
    • Kyrgyzstan
    • Laos
    • Latvia
    • Lebanon
    • Lesotho
    • Liberia
    • Libya
    • Liechtenstein
    • Lithuania
    • Luxembourg
    • Macao
    • Madagascar
    • Malawi
    • Malaysia
    • Maldives
    • Mali
    • Malta
    • Marshall Islands
    • Martinique
    • Mauritania
    • Mauritius
    • Mexico
    • Micronesia (Federated States of)
    • Moldova
    • Monaco
    • Mongolia
    • Montenegro
    • Morocco
    • Mozambique
    • Namibia
    • Nauru
    • Nepal
    • Netherlands
    • New Caledonia
    • New Zealand
    • Nicaragua
    • Niger
    • Nigeria
    • North Korea
    • North Macedonia (Republic of)
    • Norway
    • Oman
    • Pakistan
    • Palestinian Authority (Gaza)
    • Palestinian Authority (West Bank)
    • Panama
    • Papua New Guinea
    • Paraguay
    • Peru
    • Philippines
    • Poland
    • Portugal
    • Puerto Rico
    • Qatar
    • Romania
    • Russia
    • Rwanda
    • Samoa
    • San Marino
    • Sao Tome and Principe
    • Saudi Arabia
    • Senegal
    • Serbia
    • Seychelles
    • Sierra Leone
    • Singapore
    • Slovakia
    • Slovenia
    • Solomon Islands
    • Somalia
    • South Africa
    • South Korea
    • South Sudan
    • Spain
    • Sri Lanka
    • St. Kitts and Nevis
    • St. Lucia
    • St. Vincent and the Grenadines
    • Sudan
    • Suriname
    • Swaziland
    • Sweden
    • Switzerland
    • Syria
    • Tahiti
    • Taiwan (Republic of China)
    • Tajikistan
    • Tanzania
    • Thailand
    • Timor-Leste (Timor oriental)
    • Togo
    • Tonga
    • Trinidad and Tobago
    • Tunisia
    • Turkey
    • Turkmenistan
    • Turks and Caicos Islands
    • Tuvalu
    • Uganda
    • Ukraine
    • United Arab Emirates
    • United Kingdom
    • United States of America
    • Uruguay
    • US Virgin Islands
    • Uzbekistan
    • Vanuatu
    • Venezuela
    • Vietnam
    • Yemen
    • Zambia
    • Zimbabwe

Online applications

Before you apply online, make sure you have:

Depending on your situation, you may need to submit Statutory Declaration of Common-Law Union [IMM 5409] (PDF, 637 KB) 

You need an account to apply online. Use it to pay your fees, check your status and extend your permit.

Create an account or sign in

Paper applications

You need:

All applicants must fill out and sign their own form, including people travelling as part of a family. If you’re under 18, your parent or guardian must sign your form.

Validate, sign and include the barcode form on top of your application. Learn how to use the electronic application form.

Where to submit your application

Page details

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