This guide explains, in plain terms, the two types of work permit, the two employer programmes behind them, who can apply, what it costs, which documents you need, and how the application works step by step. The most important point to understand is that most work permits start with a genuine job offer from a Canadian employer — and a real job offer is always free. Anyone who tries to sell you a job offer or a labour market document is running a scam.
The Two Types of Work Permit:
- Employer-specific (closed) work permit: ties you to one employer, one job and one location, as named on the permit. It usually requires either a positive Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) or an LMIA-exempt offer from the employer.
- Open work permit: lets you work for most eligible employers in Canada, without a specific job offer or LMIA in advance. Open permits are only available to people who meet particular eligibility rules, such as certain spouses or partners, graduates, or people in specific programmes — so confirm you fit an eligible category before you rely on this route.
The Two Employer Programmes — TFWP and IMP:
Canada runs two foreign-worker programmes. The Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) requires the employer to obtain a positive LMIA from Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC), confirming that no Canadian citizen or permanent resident was available for the position. The employer applies for the LMIA and pays CAD 1,000 per position — this is the employer's legal cost and must never be passed to you. A positive LMIA is valid for 6 months, and you must apply for your work permit within that window. The International Mobility Program (IMP) covers LMIA-exempt work, for example under an international agreement or a Canadian-interest category: the employer submits the offer of employment through the IRCC Employer Portal and pays a CAD 230 employer compliance fee before you apply. For work in Quebec, a Quebec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ) is also required in parallel with the federal application.
Who Can Apply — General Requirements:
- You have a genuine job offer or you fall into an eligible open-permit category
- You can prove you are qualified for the job — education, training and work experience
- You intend to leave Canada when your temporary status expires
- You can show proof of funds sufficient to support yourself and your family members
- You are not inadmissible on criminal, medical or security grounds
- You are willing to undergo a medical examination if your situation requires one, and to give biometrics if required
- Your passport is valid for the full length of the permit you want — IRCC never issues a permit that runs past your passport's expiry date
Costs — Fees You and Your Employer Pay:
- Work permit processing fee: CAD 155 per person, paid by you
- Open work permit holder fee: an additional CAD 100, so an open permit costs CAD 255 before biometrics
- Biometrics: CAD 85 per person, or a maximum of CAD 170 for eligible family members applying together, where biometrics are required
- LMIA fee: CAD 1,000 per position, paid by the employer — never by you
- IMP employer compliance fee: CAD 230, paid by the employer through the Employer Portal
Fees change from time to time, so re-check the official IRCC fee list before you pay anything, and keep the same discipline with documents as for any job application — the documents checklist for a walk in interview in Dubai shows how to keep copies ready, and the same habit helps here.
Documents Checklist:
- A valid passport
- Your job offer letter or employment contract, setting out the position, salary and working conditions
- The LMIA number or the Employer Portal offer of employment number, for employer-specific permits
- Proof of your qualifications for the job — education, training and work experience
- Proof of funds, such as bank statements, where required
- Police certificates, where IRCC asks for them
- A medical examination result from an IRCC panel physician, where required
- Translated documents, where any document is not in English or French
How To Apply — Step by Step:
- Step 1: Confirm the right permit. Decide whether your situation calls for an employer-specific or an open work permit, and confirm you meet that category's rules.
- Step 2: Secure the employer-side document. Your employer obtains a positive LMIA (TFWP) or submits an LMIA-exempt offer through the Employer Portal (IMP) and sends you the number.
- Step 3: Create an IRCC secure account and complete the online application, using the personalised document checklist the system generates for you.
- Step 4: Upload your documents and pay the fees — CAD 155, plus CAD 100 for an open permit, plus biometrics where required.
- Step 5: Give biometrics at a Visa Application Centre when you receive the instruction letter, and complete a medical examination if IRCC requires one.
- Step 6: Wait for a decision. If approved from outside Canada, you receive a letter of introduction, and the border officer issues your actual work permit when you arrive. Processing times vary by programme and country, so check the official processing-times tool rather than relying on any promised timeline.
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What a Work Permit Does and Does Not Do:
With an employer-specific permit you may work only in the job, for the employer and at the location named on the permit — changing jobs or employers normally requires a new application first. With an open permit you may work for most eligible employers, subject to any conditions printed on the permit. A work permit is temporary: it is issued for a set period, and you must extend it or change your status before it expires if you want to stay and keep working. A work permit on its own is not permanent residence, although some work-permit holders later qualify for permanent residence through a separate programme.
Red Flags and Fraud Warning:
- Never pay anyone who promises you a job offer, an LMIA document or a work permit for a fee. A real job offer is free, and employers are forbidden from charging workers for LMIA costs.
- Verify the employer and the job offer before you pay any fee or share original documents.
- Do not share original documents or bank details with anyone who contacts you unexpectedly.
- If an offer sounds too good to be true, or promises a permit without a genuine job or an eligible open-permit category, treat it as a warning sign. Never pay anyone for a job or a visa. For the same discipline in another country, see our guide on UK Skilled Worker Visa 2026 requirements, salary and costs, and for Canadian employers hiring now, see the Tim Hortons careers in Canada.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q1. How much does a Canada work permit cost in 2026?
The work permit processing fee is CAD 155 per person. An open work permit adds a CAD 100 holder fee, making CAD 255 before biometrics, which cost CAD 85 per person or up to CAD 170 for an eligible family applying together.
Q2. What is an LMIA and who pays for it?
An LMIA is Employment and Social Development Canada's confirmation that no Canadian citizen or permanent resident was available for the job. The employer applies for it and pays CAD 1,000 per position; it must never be charged to the worker.
Q3. What is the difference between a closed and an open work permit?
A closed (employer-specific) permit ties you to one employer, job and location. An open permit lets you work for most eligible employers, but it is only available to people who meet particular eligibility rules.
Q4. How long does a Canada work permit take to process?
Processing times vary by programme and by the country you apply from, so check the official IRCC processing-times tool for your case rather than relying on any single timeline.
