Forms and documents
Not outside Canada?
See what documents you need if you’re applying from inside Canada or at a port of entry (POE).
Make sure you have the documents you need to apply for your work permit.
On this page
Forms and documents that all applicants must provide
All applicants need to include:
- Application For Work Permit Made Outside of Canada (IMM 1295)
- If you need help filling out the application form, read the instruction guide.
- a photocopy of your valid (not expired) passport or travel document
- 1 photo meeting the visa photo specifications
When you apply online, you’ll get a personalized document checklist in the portal. Make sure you provide all of the documents listed on the checklist.
Optional: You can also print the generalized document checklist to keep track of the documents as you gather them.
Documents required by your local visa office
Tell us where you're applying from to get the visa office requirements for your country or territory. In some cases, your visa office may not require more documents.
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
- Cambodia
- Cameroon
- Canada
- Cabo Verde
- Cayman Islands
- Central African Republic
- Chad
- Chile
- China (People’s Republic of)
- Colombia
- Comoros Island
- Congo
- Costa Rica
- Côte d’Ivoire
- Croatia
- Cuba
- Curaçao
- 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 SAR
- 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
- Palestine
- 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
- 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
Supporting documents you might need
Your document checklist may include supporting documents such as:
- proof of a medical exam (check if you need an upfront medical exam)
- a marriage certificate
- certified translations (if your documents aren’t in English or French)
- Family Information Form - Visitors, Students and Workers (IMM 5707)
- Statutory Declaration of Common-law Union (IMM 5409)
- employment documents (if you’re applying for an employer-specific work permit)
- Use of a Representative (IMM 5476) form (if using an authorized representative)
- Authority to Release Personal Information to a Designated Individual (IMM 5475) form (if authorizing information from your case file to be released to someone other than yourself)
- If you’re not a citizen of the country or territory where you’re applying, you must send proof of your present immigration status in that country or territory.
Documents for employer-specific work permits
If you're applying for an employer-specific work permit, you have to include some additional documents with your application. Your prospective employer needs to give you some of these documents.
You’ll always be asked to include the following documents:
- a letter from your current employer
- a reference letter from past employers
- proof of past work experience (for example, pay stubs)
- proof that you meet the requirements of the job (for example, the license or certification if your job is regulated)
- Upload a blank sheet of paper with “Not applicable” written on it if your job doesn’t require a license or certification
- a résumé
These additional documents listed below will depend on whether or not your job requires a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA).
LMIA-required work permits
If your job requires an LMIA, your employer must give you:
- a copy of the positive LMIA and LMIA file number
- an employment contract
- a job offer letter
- a Quebec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ) (if you plan to work a paid job in Quebec for more than 30 days)
Positive LMIA
A positive LMIA (sometimes called a confirmation letter) will show that:
- there’s a need for a foreign worker to fill the job
- no Canadian worker or permanent resident is available to do the job
Job offer letter
You need a job offer letter if your job requires an LMIA.
A job offer letter is a document that a Canadian employer gives you (as a temporary worker). It explains the details of your job.
Generally, a job offer letter (or “employment letter”) is less detailed than a contract.
The letter includes information about:
- your pay and deductions from your pay
- your job duties
- conditions of employment, such as hours of work
LMIA-exempt work permits
If your job is LMIA-exempt, your employer must give you:
- an employment contract
- an offer of employment number
Offer of employment number
You need an offer of employment number if your job is LMIA-exempt.
Your employer will need to submit an offer of employment in the Employer Portal. Once submitted, the portal generates an offer of employment number that you need when you apply for your work permit.
The offer of employment number starts with the letter ‘A’ followed by a 7-digit number. You can only apply using this number once. Your employer will need to give you a new number for any future application.
Exceptions
Some LMIA-exempt employers don’t need to submit an offer of employment and won’t have an offer of employment number for you, such as foreign missions or international organizations.
Open work permit applicants
If you’re applying for an open work permit and you’re asked to submit any employment documents, upload a blank document with the words “Not applicable”.