You need a work permit
If you’re a provincial nominee who hasn’t applied for permanent residence yet, you need a work permit to work in Canada.
You may be eligible for an employer-specific work permit if you’re a provincial nominee who has
- a letter from the provincial government confirming that the province has nominated you for permanent residence
- a job offer from an employer based in that province and
- a statement from the province that identifies the job and employer and states that
- you’re urgently needed by your employer, who’s offered you a job in that province or territory
- the job offer is genuine and the job offer will create economic benefits or opportunities
- the employment is not part-time or seasonal and
- the wages and working conditions of the employment would be sufficient to attract and retain Canadian citizens
Workers in Quebec
You’re not eligible if you’re a skilled worker in Quebec.
Before you apply for your work permit
Your employer must
- submit an offer of employment to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
- pay a $230 employer compliance fee and
- provide you with an offer of employment number
Type of work permit
When you complete your work permit application, select “Exemption from Labour Market Impact Assessment” as the type of work permit in the “Details of intended work in Canada” section.
Medical doctors and certain healthcare specialists
You may be eligible for faster processing for your work permit application if you
- have a full-time and non-seasonal job offer in one of the three eligible NOCs
- NOC 31100 – Specialist in clinical laboratory medicine
- NOC 31101 – Specialists in surgery
- NOC 31102 – General practitioners and family physicians
- have a support letter from a Canadian province or territory
- The letter nominates you as a permanent residence applicant through the Provincial Nominee Program.
- meet the general eligibility requirements (opens in a new tab) to apply for a work permit, depending on where you apply from
When you can apply
You can apply for this work permit before you submit your application for permanent residence.
How to apply for a work permit