Temporary Work Permits & Working In Canada
Working in Canada has a vast array of advantages to choose from: a low unemployment rate, strict labour laws that prevent labour injustices, employment benefits above the average for a developed country and generous retirement benefits to name a few.
Working temporarily in Canada is one of the best ways to accomplish a permanent residency. Dual intent is accepted by immigration law in Canada as long as you comply with the requirements and conditions of all your temporary stays during your journey to become a permanent resident. This is one of the main reasons why investing in an Education Program with the goal of getting a Post-Graduate Work Permit afterwards is one of the most used methods to accomplish your goal of immigrating to Canada. Visit our section Study in Canada to learn more.
The best way to come to Canada and work is by using one of their federal, provincial or pilot immigration programs which aim to bring foreign nationals as permanent residents. Visit our section Immigrate to Canada to learn more.
Canada is also open to bringing temporary workers to fulfill labour shortages, but has implemented laws, processes and regulations to protect their local labour market in order to provide the best chances of employment to their citizenships and permanent residents. This means that prior to obtaining a temporary work permit; the need for foreign workers must be clearly justified.
The two main federal programs are the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) and the International Mobility Program (IMP) which have evolved through the years to adjust to the labour demands in Canada. Both have a different approach on how to attract and select foreign nationals.
Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP)
In order to fulfill the labour demands that can help the economy, the Canadian government launched the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) in 1973. Currently, one of the main purposes of the government is to guarantee the fulfillment of any labour shortage with Canadian citizens or Canadian permanent residents first, before any new foreign worker comes to Canada. As a result, the first step within the program is to get a positive Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA).
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In order to qualify under the TFWP, you need to obtain a job offer from an employer that is willing to go through all the different steps required to hire you which includes the process to obtain a LMIA (Labour Market Impact Assestment). At Canada Platform, we currently do not offer employment matching services. However, if you already have a job offer you can contact us to find the best and fastest way to proceed with your application.
International Mobility Program (IMP)
This program is popular among employers and foreign nationals as it does not require a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) which results in faster processing times. There is a vast list of LMIA exemption options. All of them with different requirements that need to be met by the employer and/or the foreign national. The following is a list of the most common ones:
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Post-Graduate Work Permit
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Students working off-campus
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Spouses and common-law partners of skilled workers and students
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Spouse or common-law partner in Canada
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Co-op positions and practicums
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International Experience Class (IEC)
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Working Holiday, including SWAP Working Holiday
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International co-op
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Young professionals
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International agreements between Canada and Foreign countries, including NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement, now named Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA)), CETA (Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement), GATS (General Agreement on Trade in Services)
Your nationality and personal situation are among the most important aspects that will determine your eligibility. During our Initial Consultation we will evaluate your personal and professional profile to see if you qualify under any of these LMIA exceptions.
Caregiver Pilots
The programs with the most changes in recent years in Canada have been the related ones to caregivers. There have been different pilots for people caring for children and people with high medical needs over the years. On June 18, 2019 the new Home Child Care Provider Pilot and Home Support Worker Pilot were launched changing the requirements to apply and the conditions that need to be met in order to pursue temporarily work and permanent residency in Canada.
At Canada Platform, we currently do not offer employment matching services. If you are a candidate for this program, you still need to find an employer by yourself. However knowing if you fulfill the requirements may help you with your search.
If you have experience in the field and want to know if you are a suitable candidate for this program, or you are an employer in need of a foreign worker in this field, we can assist you.
Employer Compliance
In December 2015, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada enhanced its regime of compliance for employers that use or have used the TFWP and IMP programs. Non-compliance on the employer's obligations may have consequences such as monetary penalties and bans, as well as refusals, suspensions and/or removal of current or future LMIA applications.
At Canada Platform we work closely with the employees of the temporary workers to avoid any inconvenience in this matter.
We can also assist employers that have hired foreign workers since December 2015 but are not aware of what the compliance regime is and suspect they may need help with this matter.
Personalized Immigration Consultations
Planning an immigration process may be overwhelming and stressful. At Canada Platform we will help you with an appropriate action plan to increase your chances of success. We will assist you to find the best route to take and help you understand the requirements and documentation needed in order to apply.
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An Initial Consultation is the first step to get a personalized immigration plan. To know more about how we work, please visit here.