Recently, Canada announced plans to welcome over 1.4 million new immigrants including workers to help fill the current labour shortage in the country, this is contained in the federal government’s new Immigration Levels Plan.
Advertisements
For many years, the country has been one of the top destinations for international workers and it’s not surprising.
Canada has a strong economy, a high quality of life, and of course, there are many job opportunities for both local and foreign workers.
If you desire to work in Canada, this growing demand for foreign workers is a great opportunity for you to migrate and work in the country.
However, there is a little challenge, before you can legally work in Canada, you must have a valid work visa.
A Canadian work visa allows you to live and work in the country in paid employment for an employer or an industry.
Without it, you cannot work legally in Canada.
To get a Canadian work visa, you need to apply for it, during your application, you will be required to submit the following requirements:
List of all the necessary Canada work visa requirements
The first requirement is:
1. A valid job offer letter from a Canadian employer
The thing with a Canada work visa is that you don’t just go and start applying for it, it doesn’t always work that way.
To increase your chances of getting it, you need to secure a job offer in Canada first. A valid job offer from a Canadian employer who is ready to hire you makes your application easier to approve.
Another thing is that it is not all job offers that are acceptable.
For a job offer to be valid and acceptable, the offer must be:
- Full-time (at least 30 hours per week).
- It must last at least 1 year.
- It should fall under skill levels 0, A, or B of the National Occupation Classification (NOC) system.
It might look hard to get a job offer in Canada as a foreigner but, for a country where there are over 1 million job vacancies, especially in healthcare, tech, farming, and trades, getting an offer isn’t impossible.
Pro tip:
If you’re applying under the Global Talent Stream, you should look for a job offer, it will fast-track your work permit processing to just 2 weeks.
2. Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA)
To explain what this means better, let’s look at this short story.
Imagine you own a bakery in Toronto and want to hire a foreign baker. Before you can, the Canadian government wants to know:
“Have you tried hiring a Canadian first?”
That’s what the LMIA checks do. It’s a document from Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC).
This document shows that your prospective employer could not find a Canadian or a local worker who is willing to do the work you will do when you get to Canada.
In this case, there’s a real need for a foreign worker because no Canadian worker is available.
It can take your prospective employer 8 to 29 business days to get LMIA.
Note: Some workers are LMIA-exempt under trade agreements like CPTPP or if you’re applying under an open work permit.
The Canadian government is committed to promoting local employment first and that’s why the LMIA exists.
3. Proof of Qualifications and Work Experience
This requirement is very important, with it, you will increase your chances of success in your visa application.
Before you apply, you must:
- Have your certificates ready: Diploma, degree, or professional certification.
- Work references: Get letters from your previous employer – your letter should come from when you did a job that is similar to what you want to do in Canada.
- Resume/CV: Of course, you need a CV and it must follow Canadian standards.
Important statistics:
An IRCC report shows that 78% of successful work permit applicants had at least 2 years of related experience.
Another tip:
If you’re in tech, Canada’s Global Talent Stream only requires proof of specialized skills, and sometimes it comes without strict degree requirements.
4. Language Proficiency
Let me explain this better.
Canada is a dual-language-speaking country, there are parts dominated by French speakers like Quebec, while the other parts are dominated by English speakers.
Even if you are the best software developer or chef, if you can’t speak English or French, you’ll struggle with everything.
This is why Canada will check your language ability through tests like:
-
-
- IELTS (International English Language Testing System)
- CELPIP (Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program)
- TEF Canada (Test d’évaluation de français)
-
Benchmark requirement:
Most jobs you will see in Canada require a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) of 5 or higher (equivalent to IELTS 5.0 overall).
Fun Fact:
If you are applying for a job in Quebec, you should learn to speak French. It is the language of most residents there.
5. Proof of Funds
Showing proof of funds does not apply in all cases. For example, if you have a valid job offer or a work permit tied to a specific employer, you don’t need to show proof of funds.
If this situation does not apply to you, then, you must show that you can support yourself initially.
Required amounts.
- For a single applicant, it can get up to CAD 14,690
- For a family of four, expect to show up to CAD 27,297
Sources:
These figures are based on the official IRCC Settlement Funds table (it is updated yearly and can change any year).
Why does proof of funds matter?
The proof of funds shows the Canadian government that you won’t become a financial burden to them when you arrive in the country.
It shows you can take care of yourself upon arrival. Canada wants you to come into the country but they don’t want you to be a problem to the country when you arrive.
6. Medical examination result
Take for instance, if you’re applying to work as a nurse or a childcare worker.
Because your job involves public health or close contact with people, you must undergo a medical exam.
Canada needs your medical results to ensure that you are not a health risk to the country.
How to do it:
- You will go to any IRCC-approved Panel Physician.
- There, you will take a chest X-ray, blood tests, and other basic physical exam.
When your result is out, you will submit it with your visa. Do not forget that the results are valid for 12 months only.
If you delay too long after the medical exam, you will retake it and submit the newest result.
7. Police clearance certificate
Think of this like a “character report card” from your home country’s police.
Canada wants to ensure you’re not a security risk. They don’t want to allow someone who will cause security issues into the country.
Where will you get your police clearance certificate from?
You must get it from every country where you lived for 6 months or more after you turned age 18.
According to IRCC, around 5% of visa applications face delays because of incomplete or missing police certificates.
Don’t give IRCC a reason to delay your application.
8. Do your biometrics
This isn’t much of an issue, you just need to submit your fingerprints and a photo at a Visa Application Centre (VAC).
- Cost: CAD 85 per person
- Validity: 10 years
Canada recently expanded biometric collection centres to 150+ countries, therefore, check where you can do it in your country.
9. Application fee
Let’s do a little bit of mathematics here.
You will pay:
- For Work permit (per person): CAD 155
- For Open work permit holder fee (if applicable): CAD 100
- For biometrics (per person): CAD 85
This means that if you are applying alone for an open work permit, it will cost you:
155 + 100 + 85 = CAD 340
Accepted payment methods for Canada work visa application fee
You can pay your visa application fee online via Visa, Mastercard, American Express, UnionPay, or Interac.
10. Admissibility requirements
This is one of the most important parts, even if you meet every other requirement, Canada can still deny you entry if:
- You have a criminal record.
- You have serious medical issues that will put the lives of others in the country at risk.
- You have violated immigration laws before.
Quote from IRCC (2024)
“Being admissible means being eligible AND not presenting a risk to Canadian society.”
Canada work visa checklist
You can use this checklist to prepare your documents when you want to apply for a Canada work permit.
| Requirement | Have it? (✓/✗) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Valid Job Offer | ✓ | Full-time, NOC 0, A, or B position |
| Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) | ✓ | Required unless LMIA-exempt |
| Proof of Qualifications | ✓ | Diplomas, Certificates, Resume |
| Work Experience Letters | ✓ | Minimum 1 year, similar field |
| Language Test Results | ✓ | IELTS, CELPIP, or TEF (CLB 5 minimum) |
| Proof of Funds | It depends | CAD 14,690 (single applicant) |
| Medical Examination | ✓ | IRCC-approved doctor only |
| Police Clearance Certificate(s) | ✓ | From each country lived in 6+ months |
| Biometrics Appointment | ✓ | Fingerprints + photo |
| Application Fee Payment | ✓ | CAD 155 (or 340 if open permit) |
| Admissibility Check | ✓ | No criminal record, no medical risks |
Common Canada work visa mistakes you must avoid
- If you want your application to be approved, don’t go and apply without a genuine job offer, your application will be refused.
- Another mistake you must avoid is working with an employer who doesn’t follow the LMIA rules.
- If your proof of funds is required for your application, ensure that your proof shows enough money.
- Make sure you submit all the required documents in your application.
- Be honest in your application. Making false claims will get your application refused.
FAQs
How long does it take to process a Canada work visa?
Processing time depends on your country and stream.
For:
- Global Talent Stream: ~it takes 2 weeks
- While the Regular Work Permit: ~takes 8–20 weeks (IRCC recent update)
Can I bring my family with me on a work visa?
Yes, you can bring your family with you on a work visa. To do this, you can apply for an Open Work Permit if you are married.
When approved, your children can study in Canada without getting a separate study permit if they are in primary and secondary levels.
Is IELTS mandatory for a Canada work visa?
It’s not always mandatory. If the job you want to do in Canada does not require you to have strong language communication skills, then there is no need for IELTS.
But if you are going for professional roles (tech, healthcare, finance), you need to present proof of your language skills.
What if my job offer is from Quebec?
If your offer is from Quebec, it means you must get a Certificat d’acceptation du Québec (CAQ) and submit it with other requirements.
Can I switch employers after getting a work permit?
If you have a closed work permit, you can’t switch employers but if you have an open work permit, you can switch employer when you arrive in Canada.
If you want to work in Canada, getting a Canada Work Visa is achievable – but only if you submit all the requirements and ensure your application is in order.
The Canadian government is serious about protecting jobs for Canadians, but it’s also welcoming global talent who meet the requirements to work in the country.
Always remember that Canada isn’t just looking for workers; the country’s looking for contributors to its economy, culture, and future.
If you prove that you’re ready to be given a chance to work in the country, Canada will welcome you with open arms.
Advertisements