Do you need a work permit to work in Canada?
You usually need a work permit to work in Canada. In some cases, you can work without a permit.
Answer this question to find out if you can work in Canada without a permit.
To work in Canada as an athlete or coach
You’re a foreign athlete, coach or member of a foreign team competing in Canada.
If this describes you, you do not need a work permit.
If you will work for a Canadian team, you need a work permit. Find out if you’re eligible for a work permit.
To work in Canada as an aviation accident or incident investigator
You’re an accredited agent or adviser working on an aviation accident or incident investigation being done under the Transportation Accident Investigation and Safety Board Act.
If this describes you, you do not need a work permit.
To work in Canada as a business visitor
You’re coming to Canada to do business activities, but you will not be part of the Canadian labour market.
If this describes you, you do not need a work permit.
Note: “Business people” does not mean the same thing as “business visitor.” Make sure you understand the difference, because “business people” usually need work permits.
To work in Canada as a civil aviation inspector
You check the flight operations or cabin safety of commercial airlines during international flights.
If this describes you, you do not need a work permit.
To work in Canada as a convention organizer
You organize or run international meetings or conventions.
If this describes you, you do not need a work permit.
Note: If you provide “hands-on” services at these events, you must have a work permit. These services include providing audiovisual services, doing show decorating, and building, setting up and taking down displays. Find out if you’re eligible for a work permit.
To work in Canada as a crew member
You may be a truck driver, bus driver, or shipping or airline worker.
If this describes you, you do not need a work permit if:
- you’re working on foreign-owned and registered vehicles that are used mainly to transport cargo and passengers internationally, and
- your work is related to operating vehicles or serving passengers.
If you do not meet these conditions, you need a work permit. Find out if you’re eligible for a work permit.
To work in Canada as an emergency service provider
You will help out in an emergency. You will be in Canada to help preserve life or property. Emergencies include natural disasters, such as floods or earthquakes, or industrial accidents that threaten the environment.
If this describes you, you do not need a work permit.
To work in Canada as an examiner and evaluator
You’re a professor or academic expert who evaluates or supervises academic projects, research proposals or university theses. You may work for Canadian research groups or schools.
If this describes you, you do not need a work permit.
To work in Canada as an expert witness or investigator
You will give evidence before a regulatory body, tribunal or court of law.
If this describes you, you do not need a work permit.
To work in Canada as a family member of a foreign representative
You do not need a work permit if you meet these three requirements:
- You’re the spouse or child of a foreign representative.
- You’re accredited (with a counterfoil in your passport) by Global Affairs Canada (GAC).
- You have a letter of no objection from GAC (normally issued only if there is a reciprocal employment arrangement with your home country). To find out how to get this letter, contact GAC’s Office of Protocol.
If you do not meet these requirements, you need a work permit. Find out if you’re eligible for a work permit.
To work in Canada as a foreign government officer or representative
You do not need a work permit if you’re:
- an employee of another government who is working under an exchange agreement that lets officials work in government departments in Canada and your country,
- a diplomat or official representative of another country, or
- a diplomat or official representative of the United Nations and its staff.
Note: Employees of other governments must have a formal letter if they will work here for more than three months.
If you’re any other kind of foreign government officer or representative, you need a work permit. Find out if you’re eligible for a work permit.
To work in Canada as a health care student
You do not need a work permit if you meet the following conditions:
- you’re doing clinical clerkships;
- the main goal of your work is training;
- you have written approval from the board that regulates your job (note that certain provinces do not need written approval); and
- your training will last less than four months.
If your training will last more than four months, or if you do not meet the other conditions listed above, you need a work permit. You may be eligible for an employer-specific work permit if:
- you will work for a Canadian employer that does not have an “ineligible” status on the list of employers who failed to comply with the conditions, and
- you meet the general eligibility requirements for a work permit.
Before you submit your work permit application, 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.
Note: 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.
Find out how to apply for a work permit.
To work in Canada as a judge, referee or similar official
You’re an official at an international amateur competition who will judge or be an official for an artistic or cultural event, such as:
- a music and dance festival,
- an animal show, or
- an agricultural contest.
If this describes you, you do not need a work permit.
To work in Canada as military personnel
You’re a member of an armed force of another country. You have movement orders stating that you’re entering Canada under the terms of the Visiting Forces Act.
If this describes you, you do not need a work permit.
To work in Canada as a news reporter or as part of a film or media crew
You’re:
- a news reporter or member of a reporter’s crew,
- a member of a film or media crew who will not enter the Canadian labour market,
- a journalist who works for a print, broadcast or Internet news service (journal, newspaper, magazine, television show, etc.) and your company is not Canadian,
- a resident correspondent, or
- a manager and or member of clerical staff, as long as the event is short term (six months or less).
If this describes you, you do not need a work permit.
To work in Canada on an advertising shoot
You do not need a work permit if you’re working on a foreign-financed commercial/advertising shoot for television, magazines or other media and you’re:
- a film producer,
- an actor,
- a director,
- a technician, or
- other essential personnel.
Note: You must be entering Canada for a short period of time, usually no more than two weeks.
To work in Canada as a performing artist
You do not need a work permit if:
- you’re a foreign artist or the artist’s key support staff (people vital to the performance),
- you will perform in Canada for a limited period of time,
- you’re not being hired for ongoing employment by the Canadian group that has contracted you, and
- you’re not involved in making a movie, television or radio broadcast.
Examples include:
- a foreign-based band or theatre group and their key crew,
- street performers (buskers),
- disc jockeys,
- members of a foreign or travelling circus,
- guest artists working within a Canadian performance group for a limited time,
- World Wrestling Entertainment wrestlers (and members of similar groups),
- people who will perform at a private event, such as a wedding,
- air show performers,
- rodeo contestants,
- artists attending or working at a showcase,
- film producers (business visitors),
- film and recording studio users (limited to small groups renting studios who will not enter the labour market, and to business visitors) and
- people doing guest spots on Canadian television and radio broadcasts (guest speakers), such as news programs.
If this does not describe you, you need a work permit. Find out if you’re eligible for a work permit.
To work in Canada as a public speaker
You do not need a work permit if you’re a guest speaker, commercial speaker or seminar leader who is speaking at specific events, provided the event is no longer than five days.
If this does not describe you, you need a work permit. Find out if you’re eligible for a work permit.
To work in Canada as a religious leader
You don’t need a work permit as a religious leader if your duties include
- assisting your congregations to reach spiritual goals
- preaching doctrine
- leading worship, or
- providing spiritual counselling
Examples of religious leaders include
- missionaries
- monks
- pastoral animators
- archbishops
- bishops
Even if you don’t need a work permit, you may still apply for a work permit as a religious worker. A work permit may allow you to:
- be eligible for some government services or benefits
- stay in Canada longer
If you’re not a religious leader
If you’re doing religious work, but not performing duties as a religious leader, you may be eligible to apply for a work permit as a religious worker.
To work in Canada as a high-skilled worker for a short term
You do not need a work permit if you will come to Canada as a high-skilled worker and
- your job is under the NOC skill type 0 (managerial) or A (professional)
- you will only work for
- up to 15 consecutive days once every six months or
- up to 30 consecutive days once every year
If you are eligible, you may need a temporary resident visa or electronic travel authorization to come to Canada.
If you do not meet these conditions, you need a work permit. Find out if you’re eligible for a work permit.
To work in Canada as a researcher for a short term
You do not need a work permit if you will come to Canada as a researcher
- at a public degree-granting institution or affiliated research institution
- who will work for 120 or fewer consecutive days
- who has not worked in Canada under this exemption in the last 12 months
If you are eligible, you may need a temporary resident visa or electronic travel authorization to come to Canada.
If you do not meet these conditions, you need a work permit. Find out if you’re eligible for a work permit.
To work in Canada as a student working off-campus
Full-time international students can work off-campus without a work permit:
- up to 20 hours per week during regular academic sessions, and
- full-time during scheduled breaks, such as the winter and summer holidays or spring break.
To qualify, you must:
- have a valid study permit,
- be a full-time student,
- be enrolled at a designated learning institution at the post-secondary level or, in Quebec, a vocational program at the secondary level, and
- be studying in an academic, vocational or professional training program that leads to a degree, diploma or certificate that is at least six months in duration.
You must stop working on the day you no longer meet the eligibility requirements listed above (e.g., if you’re no longer a full-time student during an academic session).
To work in Canada as a student working on-campus
If you’re a full-time international student, you do not need a work permit to work on the campus of the university or college where you study.
If your job is not on the list (other job)
You need a work permit. Find out if you’re eligible for a work permit.
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