A Guide to Visa Types and Work Permits in Canada

Work permits & employment-based visas

Types of Canadian work permits

There are two types of Canadian work permits:.

• open work permits: Allow you to work for any employer in Canada.
• employer-specific work permits: Allow you to work for the employer listed on your permit.

Canadian work visa requirements

Work permits are issued to a variety of workers including temporary workers, businesspeople, and permanent workers. You can apply from outside Canada, from within Canada, or sometimes at your point of entry. The eligibility requirements vary depending on where you apply from.

Visa requirements for temporary workers

If you’re applying as a temporary worker, you’ll need to provide proof of the following:

• that you plan to leave Canada when your work permit expires
• that you have enough funds to support yourself and any family members with you, as well as to return home
• police clearance certificate

You must also:

• be in good health (a medical exam may be required)
• plan to work for an eligible employer (for example, not in strip clubs, escort services, or erotic massage businesses)
• have the appropriate documents to enter Canada

Business visas

Requirements for a business visa

Canada makes a distinction between business people and business visitors.

• Businesspeople: Can work in Canada under free trade agreements such as the Unites States-Mexico-Canada agreement (USMCA), other Free Trade Agreements (FTAs), or the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS).
• Business visitors: Take part in international business activities without entering the Canadian labour market. They typically stay a few days or weeks but can remain up to six months without a work permit.

United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement (USMCA): For US and Mexican citizens

There are four categories under the United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement (USMCA):

• business visitors: allowed to carry out international business activities without joining the Canadian labor market (no work permit required)
• professionals: must have a job offer in Canada to partake in one of the specific jobs listed under USMCA (e.g., engineer, accountant, computer systems analyst) and require a work permit
• intra-company transferees: managers and executives sent to work in Canada for the same employer; these types of workers must have worked for the company for at least one year and require a work permit
• traders and investors: supervisors or executives involved in significant trade between Canada and their home country or who have made a substantial investment in Canada; a work permit is required

Other Free Trade Agreements (FTAs)

Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) are agreements between Canada and other countries or regions that make it easier to trade goods, provide services, and move professionals across borders.

In addition to the United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement (USMCA), Canada has major FTAs with:

• The European Union (EU) through the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA)
• The United Kingdom (UK) through the Canada–UK Trade Continuity Agreement (Canada–UK TCA)
• Several Asia-Pacific countries, including Japan, Australia, and Singapore, through the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP)

These agreements generally follow a similar model to the USMCA and cover categories such as business visitors, professionals, intra-company transferees, and traders and investors.

For foreign professionals, these FTAs can make it faster and easier to obtain temporary work permits or business entry without going through Canada’s standard labor market approval process.

Visa requirements for permanent workers

Skilled Worker Programs (Express Entry)

Permanent workers have to be skilled and usually apply through Canada’s online Express Entry system. There are three main types of skilled worker immigration programs, each with its own requirements:

• Federal Skilled Worker
• Federal Skilled Trades
• Canadian Experience Class

If you plan to live in Québec, keep in mind that they have their own Québec-selected skilled workers program.

Required documents

The documents you’ll need for the Express Entry application are:

• passport or travel document
• language test results
• education credential assessment report
• provincial nomination (if you have one)
• written job offer from a Canadian employer (if you have one)
• police certificate
• medical exam
• proof of funds

Canada’s immigration point system

Canada uses the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). To qualify for the Federal Skilled Worker Program, you need a score of at least 67 out of 100 points. Points are awarded based on:

• English or French skills: up to 28 points
• education: up to 25 points
• experience: up to 15 points
• age: up to 12 points
• arranged employment in Canada: up to 10 points
• adaptability: up to 10 points

Language skills are tested based on listening, speaking, reading, and writing.

For education, you must prove you have a Canadian diploma or certificate, or have any international education assessed by a Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC)-approved agency to show it is equal to a Canadian credential.

Working experience is counted as full-time, paid employment (at least 30 hours per week) or an equivalent amount of part-time work. Points are given as follows:

You will also earn points based on your age.

If you have a permanent, full-time job offer from a Canadian employer before arriving, you’ll also gain points in the arranged employment category.

Family visas for permanent and temporary workers

For temporary workers, family can come along if they:

· meet the requirements for temporary residents

· can prove to customs they’ll only stay for the approved period

· have no criminal record

· get a temporary resident visa if they’re from one of the countries that require a visa to enter Canada

Permanent workers, spouses, common-law partners, and dependent children can also move with you, provided they are not inadmissible to Canada, and you meet the sponsorship requirements.

Each member of the family must apply separately. The forms and documents required may include:

• passports
• birth certificates
• marriage or divorce certificates · Statutory Declaration of Common-Law Union — for applicants in a common-law relationship
• national ID cards
• military service documents
• other civil documents

Spouses or dependent children who wish to work in Canada must apply for their own work permits. These applications can be submitted from within Canada.

Medical exam

Some applicants will need to complete a medical exam as part of the visa or work permit process. The exam must be conducted by a panel physician approved by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and is valid for 12 months. For full details on what to expect and how to prepare, see the Medical and Health Requirements section of our Relocating to Canada guide.

Self-employment visas

Note: The federal Self-Employed Persons Program is currently paused, and no new applications are being accepted until further notice. For the latest updates, check the Government of Canada’s official website.

Canada also offers a Self-Employment Persons Program for those with relevant experience in cultural or athletic experience in cultural or athletic fields who can make a significant contribution to Canadian society.

If you’re a self-employed worker moving to Québec, keep in mind that they have their own business immigration program.

Eligibility Requirements

• at least 100,000 CAD (approx. 74,300 USD) in assets
• at least two years of self-employment experience or have taken part in cultural/athletic activities at a world-class level
• medical exam
• police certificate
• proof of sufficient funds to support you and your family in Canada
• biometrics (fingerprints and photo)

Applicants are also assessed on their experience, education, age, language abilities, and adaptability. For a detailed list of the supporting documents you’ll need, refer to this checklist by the Canadian Government. If you’re missing any required document, your application will be sent back and won’t be processed.

Application process and costs

1. Fill out the online application form.
2. Pay the application fee online (starting from 2,075 CAD, approx. 1,580 USD).
3. Print the application package and mail it to the appropriate IRCC office:

For outside Québec:

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada Self-employed Class Centralized Intake Office P.O. Box 7200 Sydney, NS B1P 0E9 Canada

For Québec applicants:

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada Québec Business Class Centralized Intake Office P.O. Box 7100 Sydney, NS B1P 0E8 Canada

If sending by courier (both programs):

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada Self-employed Class / Québec Business Class Centralized Intake Office 49 Dorchester Street Sydney, NS B1P 5Z2 Canada

What counts as relevant experience?

Your experience is considered relevant if, within the five years before applying, you have:

• taken part in cultural activities or athletics at a world-class level, or
• been self-employed in cultural activities or athletics

This is one of the key requirements to qualify for the program.

How to get a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV)

The application form is available online through the Government of Canada website. You’ll need to complete, submit, and pay for the application online before arriving in Canada. A TRV is for people visiting Canada, including business visitors. Any family members traveling with you must apply separately for their own TRV.

Requirements and fees for a Canadian visa

To qualify for a TRV, you must:

• show proof that you’ll leave at the end of your stay
• demonstrate sufficient finances
• not plan to work or study (unless authorized)
• have no criminal record
• not be a security risk
• complete a medical exam (if required)
• provide biometrics (if required)

Fees: 100 CAD (approx. 75 USD) for the TRV, plus 85 CAD (approx. 65 USD) for biometrics (if needed).

How to get permanent residency in Canada

Permanent residency (PR) can be applied for from within or outside Canada. Many permanent residents first live in Canada as temporary residents, often as workers or students.

There are many benefits to permanent residency in Canada. As a Canadian permanent resident, you:

· have access to the country’s healthcare system

· can live, work, and study anywhere in the country

· may apply for citizenship after a qualifying period

· are protected under Canadian law and the Charter of Rights and Freedoms

Note: Permanent residents cannot vote. To gain this right, you must become a citizen. To find out if you’re eligible to apply for Canadian permanent residency, the Government of Canada website has a handy tool called Come to Canada, which prompts you to answer a series of questions about your individual circumstance and situation. Based on your answers, it will suggest a list of programs that you may be eligible for. Applications are completed online.

There are more than 60 Canadian immigration programs that can lead to permanent residency. They can be divided into three main classes:

• economic – through the Express Entry for skilled workers
• family – sponsorship by a Canadian citizen or permanent resident
• business – for investors, entrepreneurs, and the self-employed

Economic-based permanent residency (Express Entry)

If you’re a skilled worker, you can create an [online profile](w www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/express-entry/create-profile.html)(valid for one year). You’ll be ranked under the Comprehensive Ranking System (Canada’s point system) based on different categories of assessment (see above). Those with the highest scores will be invited to apply for permanent residency.

If you receive an official invite, you’ll have a limited amount of time to complete your application, which includes health and security checks.

Family sponsorship (including spouse or partner)

Canadian permanent residents or citizens can sponsor the following family members:

· spouse · common law partner · dependent child · orphaned brothers, sisters, nephews, nieces, granddaughters, or grandsons who are under the age of 18 and not married or in a common-law relationship · and their immediate dependents (such as a child) who will accompany them to Canada

If you’re a sponsor

Requirements include:

· minimum 18 years of age · must not receive social assistance (other than disability-specific) · must be able to cover basic needs of the person sponsored · biometrics may be required

Documents usually required:

· photocopy of permanent residence card or Canadian citizenship card/ certificate (both sides) · letter from an employer in Canada (including salary details, regular working hours, etc.) · ID, travel documents, and passport · civil status documents

If you’re being sponsored

Requirements include:

· certified translations of all documents in English or French · proof of relationship to the sponsor · police certificate · medical exam · biometrics may be required

If you’re a sponsor living in Québec, requirements may differ slightly. Contact the Québec Ministry of Immigration for more details. Keep in mind that there is no Canadian fiancé visa process — you must qualify as a marital or common-law partner.

Business visa

The final class operates under federal or provincial immigration programs. Most provincial programs require a two-step process, starting with a work permit (see above). Medical exams, police certificates, and certified translations of all documents are usually required.

The Provincial Nominee Entrepreneur Program also falls under this category. In this category, applicants are nominated by a province if they meet the program requirements (vary based on province). Typically, they all require:

• a minimum net worth of 350,000 CAD (approx. 263,300 USD)
• managerial experience
• in some cases, a refundable deposit, returned once the business is established

Participating provinces include:

British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Yukon, Saskatchewan, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, and Northwest Territories.

Québec runs its own Immigrant Investor Program, Entrepreneur Program, and Self-Employed Program, which falls under business class.

Maintaining permanent residency

Once you have obtained your permanent residence visa for Canada, there are specific requirements you must maintain to keep your status. The residency requirement states that for every five years you must live two of those years in Canada. Otherwise, you risk losing your permanent residency status in Canada. If you do lose it, you can appeal within 60 days.

Canadian permanent resident fees (as of 2026)

• economic immigration (Express Entry): 1,525 CAD (approx. 1,120 USD)
• spouse, parent, or grandparent sponsorship: 1,205 CAD (approx. 880 USD)
• dependent child sponsorship: 170 CAD (approx. 125 USD)
• permanent resident card: 50 CAD (approx. 37 USD)
• biometrics: 85 CAD (approx. 60 USD) per person, or 170 CAD (approx. 125 USD) for families of two or more