Canada is ranked as the top immigration destination in the world which receives
an estimate of 200,000 immigrants every year, of which, 90,000 foreigners enter
Canada as temporary workers under work permit category. Work permit category is
a very popular visa program and is intended for people with high levels of skills
and experience. You are allowed to work in Canada for a short time if you have skills
that are needed. In most cases, you must have a valid work permit.
These steps must be followed before you apply for a work permit:
- An employer must first offer you a job.
- HRSDC must normally provide a labor market opinion or "confirmation" of your job
offer.
- After HRSDC confirms that a foreign national may fill the job, you apply to CIC
for your work permit.
However there are certain categories which are exempted from this process, and do
not require you to have a work permit. These are:
- Business Visitors
- Foreign Representatives
- Family Members of Foreign Representatives
- Military Personnel
- Foreign Government Officers
- On-Campus Employment certain foreign students studying in Canada can work on their
campus without a work permit.
- Performing Artists
- Athletes and Coaches
- News Reporters
- Reporters working for foreign newspapers, television channels, news agencies, or
companies involved in reporting news events may work in Canada to report on events
in Canada.
- Public Speakers
- Convention Organizers
- Clergy
- Judges and Referees
- Examiners and Evaluators
- Expert Witnesses or Investigators
- Health Care Students
- Civil Aviation Inspector
- Accident or Incident Inspector
- Crew Members
- Emergency Service Providers
Spouse (wife, husband, or common-law partners) and dependents accompanying the temporary
visa holder, if they want to work in Canada, they are required to have their own
work permit. Your spouse may qualify for a work permit without the need for a job
confirmation from Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC).
Before your spouse can apply for a work permit without an HRSDC confirmation, you
must meet two requirements:
-
You must be authorized to work in Canada for six months or longer.
- The work
you are doing must meet a minimum skill level (usually work that would require at
least a college diploma). Specifically, your job must be listed in Skill Level O,
A or B in the National Occupational Classification.
If you meet these two requirements, your spouse may apply for a work permit that
is “open” and that will allow them to accept any job depending on whether or not
a medical exam was done.
Your spouse’s permit will be valid for the same period as your authorization to
work in Canada.
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