Apply for a work permit: employees with foreign diplomatic mission, government or organization
You need a work permit to work in Canada for a mission, international organization or foreign government.
When hiring you under the International Mobility Program, your employer does not need to:
- get a Labour Market Impact Assessment
- submit an offer of employment to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
- pay the employer compliance fees
Who can apply
To be eligible, you must work for:
- a foreign diplomatic mission
- a consular post
- a foreign government
- an international organization recognized under the Foreign Missions and International Organizations Act
- an owner or operator of an international bridge or tunnel authority
You also need to meet our general eligibility requirements for work permits.
How to apply
You need to select certain answers on your application to be considered for a work permit in this situation. These choices are provided in this section.
Get the application package
Get the Application for a Work Permit Made Outside of Canada (IMM 1295) (PDF, 465.84KB). Use the application guide to help you complete each form.
To make sure we recognize the type of work permit you are applying for, complete the IMM 1295 form with the following responses.
What type of work permit are you applying for?
Select “Other”.
Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) no. or Offer of Employment (LMIA-exempt) no.
Leave this field blank.
You don’t need a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) number or Offer of Employment (LMIA exempt) number to apply.
Pay your fees
The work permit fee is $155.
You may need to include biometrics with your application (fingerprints and photograph). Find out if you need to give biometrics.
If you are applying online, you will pay at the same time you submit your application.
If you are applying on paper, your payment options will depend on where you are applying from. Find out how to pay your fees for a paper application.
Submit your application
You can submit your application online or at a Visa Application Centre (VAC).
Your employer needs to give you an employment contract or letter with:
- name of employer
- address of employer
- occupation title
- salary
- duration of work (start and end date)
- hours of work
- any other pertinent details.
You need this to apply.
Submit your application online
To submit your application online, complete the eligibility questionnaire. When asked, use the following responses to make sure we recognize the type of work permit you are applying for.
Do you have a written offer from an employer in Canada?
Answer “Yes.”
What type of work permit do you want to apply for?
Select “A work permit with a Labour Market Impact Assessment exemption.”
Supporting documents: letter from current employer
Upload your employment contract or letter in the “Letter from current employer” section of your document checklist.
When you are finished, you will be forwarded to the online application to create an account, pay and submit your application.
In some cases, you may be able to get your application processed in two-weeks. Find out if you are eligible.
Submit your paper application
You can submit your application in paper to the Visa application centre (VAC) that serves your country. Make sure you include your employment contract or letter.
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