Submit your application
Not inside Canada?
Check how to apply from outside Canada or at a port of entry (POE).
Follow the instructions below to apply for a work permit from inside Canada.
On this page
Step 1: Check if you need special instructions
You might need special instructions for:
- how to answer the questionnaire to get your document checklist
- how to fill out the application form
Priority processing for work permit applicants
We’re prioritizing certain work permit applications.
Provincial nominees in certain specialized health-care occupations
You may be eligible for faster processing for an employer-specific work permit 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
Other eligible occupations that perform or support essential services
We’re prioritizing the applications of people who perform or support essential services.
When you fill out the work permit application form
To get priority processing, follow these steps:
- Get the National Occupational Classification (NOC) number your employer entered on the
- offer of employment or
- labour market impact assessment (LMIA)
- Enter that number in the Job title box.
- This is box 4 in the Details of intended work in Canada section.
- You must enter only the number.
NOC 2021
On November 16, 2022, we switched to the 2021 version of the NOC system.
If you apply for a work permit on or after November 16, 2022, make sure you use the NOC 2021 codes.
Agriculture and agri-food occupations
NOC 2021 codes
- Butchers – retail and wholesale (NOC 63201)
- Meat cutters and fishmongers – retail and wholesale (NOC 65202)
- Agricultural service contractors and farm supervisors (NOC 82030)
- Livestock labourers (NOC 85100)
- Specialized livestock workers and farm machinery operators (NOC 84120)
- Harvesting labourers (NOC 85101)
- Nursery and greenhouse labourers (NOC 85103)
- Fish and seafood plant workers (NOC 94142)
- Labourers in food and beverage processing (NOC 95106)
- Labourers in fish and seafood processing (NOC 95107)
- Industrial butchers and meat cutters, poultry preparers and related workers (NOC 94141)
Health-care occupations
NOC 2021 codes
- Nursing coordinators and supervisors (NOC 31300)
- Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses (NOC 31301)
- Specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine (NOC 31100)
- Specialists in surgery (NOC 31101)
- Police investigators and other investigative occupations (NOC 41310)
- General practitioners and family physicians (NOC 31102)
- Nurse practitioners (NOC 31302)
- Physician assistants, midwives and allied health professionals (NOC 31303)
- Respiratory therapists, clinical perfusionists and cardiopulmonary technologists (NOC 32103)
- Other professional occupations in health diagnosing and treating (NOC 31209)
- Pharmacists (NOC 31120)
- Medical laboratory technologists (NOC 32120)
- Medical laboratory assistants and related technical occupations (NOC 33101)
- Medical radiation technologists (NOC 32121)
- Cardiology technologists and electrophysiological diagnostic technologists (NOC 32123)
- Licensed practical nurses (NOC 32101)
- Paramedical occupations (NOC 32102)
- Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates (NOC 33102)
- Home child care providers (LMIA-required in-Canada applicants) (NOC 44100)
- Home support workers, caregivers and related occupations (LMIA-required in-Canada applicants) (NOC 44101)
You may be eligible for even faster processing 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 to apply for a work permit, depending on where you apply from
Popular programs with special instructions
Step 2: Sign in to your account
Sign in or create an IRCC secure account to start your application.
Sign in to start your application
If you can’t apply online and need accommodations
You can only apply on paper if one of these situations applies to you:
- you have a disability that prevents you from applying online
- you’re applying under the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program (SAWP)
- you hold an identity or travel document for non-national residents, refugees or stateless persons
Step 3: Upload forms and documents
After you answer the questionnaire, you’ll get a personalized document checklist. You’ll need a scanner or camera to create electronic copies of your documents.
If you want to know what documents you might need, go to the list of all forms and documents.
Step 4: Pay the fees
We’ll ask you to pay your fees at the end of your application. You’ll need a valid credit or debit card.
In most cases, your fees will include processing fees for you and anyone you include on your application.
Some applicants may be exempt from paying some or all work permit application fees.
| Type of fee | Amount | Who needs to pay this fee |
|---|---|---|
| Work permit processing | $155 | All applicants |
| Open work permit fee | $100 | Open work permit applicants |
| Biometrics fee | Individual: $85 Family: up to $170 (if you’re eligible) |
Check if you need to give biometrics |
Step 5: Submit a complete application
Make sure you submit a complete application in your IRCC secure account. Your application may be refused if you’re missing documents or other required information.
Step 6: Give your biometrics again after you apply If applicable
Even if you already have valid biometrics, you may want give them again.
Some reasons why you might want to give your biometrics again even if they’re still valid include:
- your biometrics will expire soon
- We can’t issue you a work permit that’s valid for longer than your biometrics.
- you applied for permanent residence and your application was refused
- you only gave partial biometrics with your application (fingerprints or photo)
To give your biometrics,
- Pay the biometrics fee when you apply
- Wait for your biometrics instruction letter (BIL), and then book your biometrics collection appointment as soon as you can to avoid processing delays.
Maintain your status
If you applied for a new work permit before your previous permit expired, you’re legally allowed to stay in Canada while we finish processing your application, even if your temporary resident status expires. This is called maintained status. You must stay in Canada to benefit from maintained status.
Find out if you can keep working.
Temporary resident permit applicants do not benefit from maintained status
Temporary resident permit (TRP) applicants can’t maintain temporary resident status while their application is being processed. This applies to both
- initial TRP applications, and
- any other TRP applications