Canada Open Work Permits for Foreign Nationals
Any foreign national who wishes to work in the Canadian economy requires a permit from the government. It can come in many forms, the most sought-after being the Canadian open work permit. An individual with an authorized work permit is eligible to work for any Canadian employer(s) in any province.
An open work permit is an LMIA-exempt permit and allows you the maximum freedom. You are neither tied to an occupation nor to an employer. However, certain work permits may come with a few limitations.
Beingcanada.com by Sayal Immigration Inc. assists eligible foreign nationals in acquiring an open work permit in Canada. After a thorough evaluation, we suggest the right path that can grant you the legal freedom to work in the land of the maple leaf. When you are represented by a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC), you get unparalleled information. We strictly operate under guidelines set by IRCC. Book a consultation with us to apply for a work visa for Canada.
Difference Between Open and Closed Work Permit
Canada offers two types of work permits to foreign nationals – an open work permit and a closed work permit. A closed work permit requires a positive job offer and ties you to one employer. If your contract with that employer is over, you are terminated or you leave the job due to any reason, your Canada work visa will cease to exist. You will either have to apply for a different permit or return to your home country.
Open work permit holders have a number of advantages. You don’t need a positive job offer or stay associated with one employer. You can extend your services to any number of employers in any location in Canada. You can choose your occupation, however, some occupations do have limitations. An open work permit remains valid till its expiry date. It does not depend on your job status.
Can You Apply for a Canada Work Permit?
Your residency status, the status of your spouse or common-law partner, and many other factors can make one eligible for procuring a work visa for Canada. While your chances of getting a work permit depend greatly on your individual profile, the following are some of the common reasons that can make you eligible for it.
- PR applicants residing in Canada
You may be eligible to apply for a Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP) if you are currently in Canada, your work permit is about to expire but you have already submitted your Canada PR application. If you are in Quebec, you may be eligible for an employer-specific work permit.
- Inland Sponsorship for spouses and common-law partners
If your spouse or common-law partner is a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident and they are willing to sponsor your PR application through Inland Sponsorship, you may be given an open work visa.
- Your spouse or common-law partner is a temporary foreign worker
If your spouse or your common-law partner is a Skill Level 0, A or B temporary foreign worker in Canada, currently residing in Canada and has been holding a job for six months, then, you may be eligible to apply for an open work permit if they intend to reside in the country permanently.
- You or your spouse and common-law partner is an international student
An international student who has graduated from a designated learning institute in Canada and has completed a course of at least 8 months is eligible to apply for a post-graduate work permit.
You must be 18 years of age or older. The PGWP is a kind of open work permit that you receive after studying in Canada. It allows you to work from any employer in Canada and in any province.
If your spouse or common-law partner is an international student who has been granted the PGWP, you may also be eligible to apply for an open work permit. The validity of a permit required through this route is often tied to the validity of the spouse’s permit.
There are a few other factors to consider here. Such as:
- You should not be a full-time student.
- Your spouse or common-law partner should be enrolled in a designated learning institute.
- International Experience Canada Participants
Under the Working Holiday category, you can get an open work permit if you are participating in the International Experience Class program. IEC is a bilateral youth mobility program. If your country has reciprocal agreements with Canada, you may be eligible to apply for an open work permit.
How to Apply for a Work Permit in Canada
You can apply for a work permit in Canada from anywhere in the world. It is not mandatory for you to be in Canada at the time of submitting the application. It is important to note that Canada has different application processes and forms for citizens of different countries. In addition to that, the processing time also varies.
Every application follows a few common steps. These are:
- Submission of the country-specific open work permit form
- Payment of open work permit fee
- Payment of work permit processing fee
You must be diligent while submitting your application. If at any stage you feel you are unsure about how to apply for a work permit in Canada, beingcanada.com by Sayal Immigration Inc. will be ready to guide you.
What Is the Cost of Work Permit
There is no fixed cost of the Canadian open work permit. The cost will depend on which permit you are applying from, your home country and whether or not you are opting for extensions. For example, for a work permit with extension for an individual, you are required to pay 155 Canadian dollars while for a group of performing artists, it cannot exceed 100 Canadian dollars.
As per the currency exchange rate, the rate of a Canada work visa fee in Indian rupees would be 9,337. You can visit the official IRCC website to know more about the cost of an open work permit.
Why Us
We cannot stress enough that Canada is selective in issuing open work permits to foreigners. Instead of wondering whether you are eligible for the same or wondering how to get a work visa for Canada, it is better to contact the experts.
As Registered Canadian Immigration Consultants, we suggest some of the best pathways that are suited to your profile. After assessing your profile, we will let you know if you are eligible to apply for an open work permit. If the answer is a firm ‘yes’, we will apply for the permit on your behalf. By filing for a permit through beingcanada.com by Sayal Immigration Inc., you get the assurance that everything will be done in accordance with the guidelines set up by IRCC.
To know more about our services or to get your profile analyzed by experts, reach out to us.