Canada Work Visa FAQs 2026

A Canada work permit lets a foreign national work in Canada, either for one employer or any eligible employer. It is temporary and does not give PR by itself, but Canadian work experience can support Express Entry and PNP pathways.

An open work permit allows work for most eligible employers without an employer obtaining an LMIA for that permit. An employer-specific permit names an employer and may limit location or duration. Its route requires either an LMIA or the applicable LMIA-exempt employer requirements.

An LMIA is an ESDC labour-market assessment used for certain employer-specific permits. Other employer-specific routes are LMIA-exempt. IEC includes open Working Holiday permits and employer-specific Young Professionals and International Co-op permits. PGWP, BOWP and family open permits have their own eligibility rules.

Use the current IRCC processing-time tool for your application type and country. An outside-Canada application from India and an extension inside Canada are different selections. Estimates change and do not guarantee a decision or start date.

Eligibility depends on the route. The general skilled-worker spouse route requires TEER 0 or 1, or selected TEER 2 or 3 work, and at least 16 months of work authorization remaining. Separate rules cover eligible PR applicants, certain PR pathways, students and other exceptions. Do not apply the general rule to every BOWP family.

A PGWP is an open work permit for eligible graduates who meet current school, program, language and any applicable field-of-study requirements. Length depends on the program and passport validity and may be up to 3 years. Graduation from a DLI alone does not guarantee eligibility or PR.

A BOWP is for eligible principal PR applicants living in Canada. The required PR stage and proof depend on the program. Express Entry requires a complete PR application that passed the completeness check and an AOR. A profile or ITA is not enough. Worker status, maintained status or restoration conditions also apply.

Yes. A work permit does not automatically lead to PR, but Canadian skilled work experience can improve Express Entry CRS scores and support CEC or PNP eligibility. One year of skilled Canadian work can be enough for CEC if other requirements are met.

Follow the checklist for your permit category and application location. Employer-specific applications need the applicable job-offer and LMIA or exemption evidence. Open permits need proof of eligibility for their specific route. Passport, forms, status evidence, biometrics, medicals and other supporting documents depend on the case.

The standard work permit fee is CAD 155. A non-exempt open work permit also carries a CAD 100 holder fee, for CAD 255 total. Biometrics cost CAD 85 per person when required. IEC uses its own participation-fee structure. Restoration, employer compliance and exemption rules can change the total.