Canada Employer-Specific Work Permit: Requirements, Eligibility, Process & Documents for Indians
A closed work permit tied to one employer, one role, and one location. It is issued through LMIA under the TFWP or as LMIA-exempt under the International Mobility Program. The worker pays CAD 240. The employer pays the CAD 1,000 LMIA fee.
Varies by stream. Check the IRCC tool
CAD 240
Up to 3 years (matches LMIA or offer)
Canada Employer-Specific Work Permit is a closed work permit issued by IRCC. It lets you work in Canada for one specific employer, in one specific job, and usually at one specific location. Unlike the Open Work Permit, you cannot use it to switch jobs freely. You need a new permit application to change employer. It is the most common work permit route for Indian professionals entering Canada's labour market. The permit has two main paths. One path uses a positive Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP). The other path uses an LMIA-exempt offer of employment under the International Mobility Program (IMP).
The fees paid by the worker are CAD 240. This includes CAD 155 for the work permit and CAD 85 for biometrics. You do not pay the CAD 100 open permit holder fee for an employer-specific work permit. For LMIA-based applications, the Canadian employer pays the CAD 1,000 LMIA processing fee to ESDC. The employer cannot legally pass this cost to the worker. Since the 2024 TFWP reforms, LMIAs face closer review. Employers must prove they tried to hire Canadians first. Low wage position caps and moratoria may apply in high unemployment Census Metropolitan Areas. Permit validity usually matches the LMIA or offer length, often 1 to 3 years. The permit can also help with permanent residence through Express Entry (Canadian Experience Class), Provincial Nominee Program streams, and provincial pathways linked to employers.
Eligibility
Who can apply for Canada Employer-Specific Work Permit?
- Foreign nationals with a genuine, written job offer from a specific Canadian employer for a specific role and work location
- Workers whose Canadian employer has obtained a positive Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) from ESDC under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program
- Intra-Company Transferees being moved to a Canadian branch, subsidiary, or affiliate of a multinational employer in an executive, senior managerial, or specialised knowledge role
- Professionals covered by a free trade agreement, such as CUSMA (USA/Mexico), CETA (EU), CPTPP, or another bilateral agreement, entering Canada under LMIA-exempt IMP streams
- Applicants under Significant Benefit (C10) or Reciprocal Employment (C20) provisions where ESDC confirms the role delivers major cultural, social, or economic benefit to Canada
- Workers under the Global Talent Stream (Category A or B) where employers receive priority LMIA processing in about two weeks for high skill tech roles
- Francophone skilled workers under the Mobilité Francophone stream destined for work outside Quebec (LMIA-exempt)
- Caregivers under the Home Care Worker Immigration Pilots where the offer is tied to a specific Canadian household or care employer
- Agricultural workers under the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program (SAWP) or Agricultural Stream (LMIA required)
- Workers whose employers are covered by Mobility Francophone, research, academic, or international agreement LMIA exemptions
Employer-specific work permit eligibility depends on the job offer and the stream. Confirm whether your offer is LMIA-based (TFWP) or LMIA-exempt (IMP) with your employer before applying.
Requirements
What are the requirements and key details of Canada Employer-Specific Work Permit?
- Written Job Offer: Signed, written offer from a specific Canadian employer stating role, wage, duties, hours, and work location
- LMIA (TFWP Path): Positive or neutral LMIA from ESDC. Most TFWP-stream work permits need this. The employer pays the CAD 1,000 LMIA fee
- LMIA-Exempt Proof (IMP Path): Offer of Employment number (Offer of Employment portal submission + CAD 230 employer compliance fee) for LMIA-exempt IMP streams
- Eligible IMP Stream: Intra-Company Transferee (C12), CUSMA / CETA / CPTPP professional, Significant Benefit (C10), Reciprocal (C20), Francophone Mobility, or another explicit LMIA exemption
- NOC Qualification: Meet the education, experience, and duties described in the target NOC. Most TEER 0 to 3 roles are eligible
- Regulated Occupation Licensure: Provincial licensing or regulatory body approval where the role is regulated (healthcare, engineering, trades, teaching, etc.)
- Government Work Permit Fee: CAD 155 paid by the worker to IRCC
- Biometrics Fee: CAD 85 per applicant. Most applicants from India need biometrics
- Medical Exam: Upfront e-Medical from an IRCC-panel physician for stays over 6 months from India or for public facing occupations
- Police Clearance: Certificate from every country where you lived for 6 or more months after age 18, if IRCC requests it
- Proof of Funds: Bank statements showing funds to cover relocation and initial living costs until the first Canadian paycheque
- Genuineness of Job Offer: The employer must be in good standing. The role must be genuine. The wage must match the prevailing wage for the role and region
- TFWP Wage & Recruitment Rules (2024 Reforms): The employer must prove active recruitment of Canadians. Low wage stream caps and moratoria apply in high unemployment CMAs
- Ties to Home Country (Outside Canada Applicants): Evidence that you will leave Canada at the end of your allowed stay, such as property, family, or ongoing obligations in India
- Compliance with Permit Conditions: You may work only for the employer, role, and location named on the permit. You need a new permit for any change
Documents
What are the documents required for Canada Employer-Specific Work Permit?
- Valid Indian passport with at least 6 months validity beyond the intended stay in Canada, plus digital passport-size photographs per IRCC specifications and copies of any previous Canadian or other visa stamps (including any refusal records)
- Completed application form IMM 1295 (if applying outside Canada) or IMM 5710 (if applying inside Canada)
- Signed written job offer or employment contract from the Canadian employer, plus a letter of employment detailing role, NOC code, duties, wage, hours, and work location
- Employer business registration or Canada Revenue Agency documentation if requested, plus proof of the employer's compliance with provincial labour standards and wage regulations
- For TFWP applications: positive or neutral LMIA confirmation letter and LMIA number
- For LMIA-exempt IMP streams: Offer of Employment number (A-number) from the Employer Portal, evidence of LMIA-exempt category eligibility, and proof of the employer's CAD 230 compliance fee payment
- Educational degrees, diplomas, and transcripts matching the NOC TEER requirements, plus an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA). This is useful for credential checks and later Express Entry use
- Employment reference letters from current and previous employers on company letterhead with duties, dates, and wage
- Professional licensure or provincial regulatory body approval for regulated occupations (healthcare, engineering, teaching, trades)
- Biometrics (fingerprints and photograph) collected at a VFS Canada centre, with a Police Clearance Certificate from every country where you lived for 6 or more months since age 18, if IRCC requests it
- Upfront medical examination (e-Medical) from an IRCC-approved panel physician if your stay is over 6 months or you will work in a specified occupation
- Payment receipts for the CAD 155 work-permit fee and the CAD 85 biometrics fee
- Additional documents and requirements may vary based on the specific Canada Employer-Specific Work Permit stream, applicant profile, or immigration pathway
Application Process
How to Apply for a Canada Employer-Specific Work Permit: Step-by-Step Process
Employer Obtains LMIA or Submits the Offer of Employment
For TFWP roles, the Canadian employer applies to ESDC for a Labour Market Impact Assessment and pays the CAD 1,000 LMIA fee. For IMP LMIA-exempt roles, the employer submits the job offer through the Employer Portal, pays the CAD 230 compliance fee, and receives an Offer of Employment (A-number).
Worker Gathers Documents
Collect the signed job offer, LMIA letter or A-number, educational credentials, employment reference letters that match the NOC, professional licensure if the job is regulated, proof of funds, and identity documents. Indian applicants should also prepare an Educational Credential Assessment for later Express Entry use.
Prepare the Online Application
Create an IRCC Secure Account. Complete IMM 1295 if you apply outside Canada, or IMM 5710 if you apply inside Canada. Upload identity documents, job offer, LMIA or A-number, credentials, and supporting evidence. Choose the employer, work location, and NOC code carefully. These details will be printed on the closed permit.
Pay Fees
Pay CAD 155 for the work permit and CAD 85 for biometrics. The worker-paid total is CAD 240. There is no CAD 100 open work permit holder fee for employer-specific permits. The employer pays the CAD 1,000 LMIA fee or CAD 230 compliance fee. The employer cannot legally charge these fees to the worker.
Submit the Application
Submit through the IRCC Secure Account. You will receive an Acknowledgement of Receipt (AOR). If you have not given biometrics in the last 10 years, IRCC will also send a Biometrics Instruction Letter (BIL).
Complete Biometrics
Attend your VFS Canada appointment in India within 30 days of the BIL. Fingerprints and photo are captured and transmitted to IRCC. Biometrics are reused across applications for 10 years.
Complete Medical Exam (If Applicable)
If your stay is over 6 months from India, book an upfront e-Medical with an IRCC-panel physician. You may also need one if the role is in healthcare, childcare, primary or secondary education, or agriculture. The physician uploads the results directly to IRCC.
Await Decision and Activate the Permit at the Port of Entry
Monitor your IRCC account for the decision. On approval, applicants outside Canada receive a Port of Entry Letter of Introduction. A CBSA officer prints the physical work permit when you arrive. Verify the employer name, NOC, and work location on the printed permit before leaving the port of entry. Corrections are much harder afterwards.
The Canada Employer-Specific Work Permit is the most common work route for Indian professionals entering Canada's labour market. It is a closed permit tied to one employer, one role, and one work location. The permit may be issued through an LMIA under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program or through an LMIA-exempt stream under the International Mobility Program.
The right path depends on the employer, the role, and the applicable trade agreement or IMP category. Intra-company transfers, Global Talent Stream tech roles, and Francophone Mobility can be strong routes for Indian applicants with the right profile.
Because the permit is closed, a change of employer requires a new work permit application. Workers should understand this restriction before accepting an offer. The permit can still help with permanent residence. After 1 year of Canadian work experience in a TEER 0 to 3 occupation, applicants may become eligible for the Canadian Experience Class under Express Entry. Many provinces also operate PNP streams for employer-sponsored workers already in Canada.
Always consult the official ESDC and IRCC pages for current LMIA rules, IMP exemption codes, and occupation-specific requirements before accepting a Canadian job offer. The TFWP has changed materially since 2024. Occupation-specific moratoria, wage floors, and recruitment rules continue to evolve. Verify the employer's LMIA or Offer of Employment documentation is current and correctly issued before submitting your application.
For detailed insights on eligibility, document checklist, visa validity, and common refusal reasons, explore the Canada Work Visa hub for FAQs and related work permit guides.
Last updated June 29, 2026
Official Canada.ca sources used for this employer-specific work permit guide
Employer-specific work permit rules depend on the LMIA or LMIA-exempt route, employer compliance, and current IRCC fees. Use these official pages as the final source before paying fees or submitting documents.
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