Anyone who is not a permanent resident or a citizen, must usually obtain a work permit to work in Canada.  Typically, you apply for one at a visa office outside the country. Processing can take anywhere from one day to three months.

Before you apply for your Work Permit at the visa office your Canadian employer will often be required to obtain an "employment validation" from Human Resources Development Canada. HRDC will assess a company’s proposal to hire a foreign worker, to ensure that job opportunities for Canadians will not be adversely affected. This process usually takes about three to four weeks in the B.C. HRDC offices.

The work permit is normally for a period of one year, and can be renewed from within Canada, if you continue to meet all the qualifications.

Questions to consider:

1. Do you need a work permit for the type of work that you will be doing?
For example, some positions, such as performing artists, crew members of foreign vehicles, buyers and sellers, religious workers, or employees of foreign companies visiting Canadian branch offices, are exempt from the work permit requirement.

2. If you do need a work permit, do you need an employment validation by HRDC?
Not always.  There are many exemptions from HRDC validation under the Immigration Regulations.

Also, nationals of certain countries may qualify for certain exemptions under the North American Free Trade Agreement NAFTA, the General Agreement on Trade in Services, or other international agreements, depending upon the nature of the work that they wish to do in Canada.

Canada work permit-visa fees