Canadian Work Permits
Whether you have a Canadian job offer, are a spouse of a worker or student, recently graduated from a Canadian institution, or qualify for an LMIA-exempt category, we can guide you through the appropriate work permit pathway.
Two kinds of work permit
- ● Employer-specific — tied to one employer, one job and often one location. Usually needs an LMIA, unless an exemption applies.
- ● Open — work for almost any employer. You cannot simply apply for one; each route has its own gateway, set out on our open work permit page.
What changed recently
- ● Spousal open work permits were narrowed on 21 January 2025. The principal's occupation now decides eligibility, dependent children lost eligibility entirely, and the principal's permit must have 16 months of validity left.
- ● Flagpoling ended for most applicants on 23 December 2024 — work and study permits are no longer issued at ports of entry except for a short list of exceptions.
- ● PGWP now carries a field-of-study requirement for non-degree programmes and a language requirement for essentially everyone.
- ● Low-wage LMIA permits were cut to one year, and are not processed at all in census metropolitan areas with unemployment at or above 6% — which currently includes Abbotsford–Mission, Vancouver, Chilliwack and Kelowna.
- ● Applicants under the 2025 Home Care Worker pilots are not eligible for a bridging open work permit.
Routes people overlook
Francophone Mobility is the clearest example. It is LMIA-exempt, covers almost every occupation outside Quebec, needs no advertising and no $1,000 fee — and asks only for intermediate French at NCLC 5. Employers rarely know it exists, and applicants who learned French at school often do not think of themselves as French speakers.
Intra-company transfers, free trade agreement categories and the Global Talent Stream are the other routes worth testing before defaulting to a 88-business-day high-wage LMIA.
Costs and timing
- ● Work permit $155, plus a $100 open work permit holder fee where it applies, plus $85 biometrics.
- ● Employer compliance fee $230 for LMIA-exempt offers submitted through the Employer Portal.
- ● LMIA processing as at July 2026: 10 business days for Global Talent, 73 for low-wage, 88 for high-wage.
- ● The vulnerable worker open work permit has no fee at all.
Reviewed by a licensed RCIC · Last updated 13 August 2026. Immigration rules change often — confirm anything time-sensitive with us or on canada.ca.
Work Permit Streams
Open Work Permit (No Job Offer Required)
Every route that does not need an employer or an LMIA, and what each one actually requires
Learn more →Spousal Open Work Permit
Narrowed in January 2025 — who still qualifies, and the 16-month permit validity rule
Learn more →Vulnerable Worker Open Work Permit
Free, and does not need your employer's consent. For workers facing abuse or at risk of it
Learn more →Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP)
Degree holders are exempt from the field-of-study list; college graduates are not. Language now applies to everyone
Learn more →Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP)
Keeps you working while PR is processed. The 2025 Home Care Worker pilots do not qualify
Learn more →Francophone Mobility Work Permit
LMIA-exempt at any TEER level outside Quebec with NCLC 5 French — the most underused route in the system
Learn more →Common Work Permit Refusal Reasons
- ⚠ Insufficient evidence of intent to leave Canada at the end of authorized stay.
- ⚠ Genuineness concerns about the job offer (vague duties, mismatched qualifications).
- ⚠ NOC misclassification.
- ⚠ Insufficient proof of funds.
- ⚠ Misrepresentation or inconsistency between application and supporting documents.
- ⚠ Past visa refusals not disclosed.
- ⚠ Medical or criminal inadmissibility.
Why Choose Us?
Personalized Assessment
- Understanding your Canadian immigration needs and goals.
- Assessing eligibility across multiple programs.
- Recommending the best pathway for your situation.
- Answering all questions and addressing concerns.
Tailored Approach
- Custom Canadian immigration plan suited to you.
- Clear proposal outlining services and payment structure: 50% before processing, 50% before submission.
- Comprehensive checklist after initial payment.
Application Fulfillment
- Dedicated case manager assigned to your file.
- Strong application prepared within 7–10 business days.
- Review and final approval before submission.
Trusted Partnership
- Kept informed at every stage from submission to decision.
- Ongoing support and guidance until you reach your goals.
- Available for status updates at any time.
Ready to take the next step?
Book an appointment with our licensed RCIC team. We'll review your case, identify your best pathway, and outline the next steps.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between an open work permit and an employer-specific work permit?
An open work permit lets you work for most employers in Canada without a named employer on the document, while an employer-specific permit ties you to one employer, and often to one location and occupation. Employer-specific permits usually require an approved LMIA or a recognized exemption. Open permits are only available to defined categories of applicant, not on request. See our open work permit page.
Can I change employers while holding an employer-specific work permit?
Not simply by starting the new job. You generally need a new work permit naming the new employer, supported by a new LMIA or an exemption, before you begin working. A process exists that lets some applicants start after submitting a complete application rather than waiting for approval, but its conditions are specific. Working outside your permit conditions puts your status and future applications at risk.
Can I apply for a work permit from inside Canada?
In many cases yes, if you hold valid status and fall within an eligible category, such as extending an existing permit or moving between defined streams. Applicants who do not qualify to apply inland generally have to apply from abroad. Timing is critical, because applying before your current status expires preserves options that disappear once it lapses. Check eligibility rather than assuming you can apply here.
Why was my work permit application refused?
Frequent reasons include an officer not being satisfied you would leave Canada at the end of your authorized stay, insufficient evidence of funds or ties, doubts about the genuineness of the job offer or the employer, gaps between your work history and the offered role, and missing documents. Refusal letters are often brief, so requesting the officer's notes before reapplying usually reveals the real problem.
Can I keep working while my extension is being processed?
Usually yes, provided you applied to extend before your current work permit expired. In that situation you generally continue working under the same conditions until a decision is made, which is commonly called maintained status. It can be lost if you leave Canada, and it does not apply at all if you applied late. Submit the extension well before expiry to preserve it.
Still unsure how this applies to your case? Book an appointment with a licensed RCIC.
Waymark runs on the Nova System platform — built in Abbotsford, BC by practising RCICs.