Canada is a top destination spot for immigrants, and as a result, there are numerous entry programs for different types of immigrants available. One of these is the Canada Work Permit, also called the Canada Work Visa, which is a temporary permit for a skilled worker from a foreign country to immigrate to and reside in Canada for the purposes of working for a Canadian firm.

The Canadian Work Permit is most preferred for skilled foreign workers looking to get jobs with Canadian companies and work with them in the country, as it skips the point-based assessments required in many other immigrant entry programs in Canada. That does not mean that it is extremely easy to get, though, as there are several steps involved. These are explained below.

About Canada Work Visa

As briefly explained earlier, Canadian Work Visas are meant for foreign skilled workers looking to immigrate to Canada and work in Canadian firms. These work visas, also called work permits, are issued under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) by the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

Pre-requisites

There are two important pre-requisites to getting a Canada Work Permit: a valid job offer from a Canadian company, and a Labour Market Opinion. A Labour Market Opinion (LMO) is a document that states that the hiring of a foreign worker will have a positive or neutral effect on the Canadian labor market, and it is issued by the Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC). Once you have these, you can go ahead and start the application process with your prospective employer.

Gather Necessary Documents

Now that you’ve gotten the pre-requisites out of the way, it’s time to gather all necessary documents for your application. The documents needed for an application vary on the type of visa you’re applying to and some other factors, so make sure you visit a nearby Canadian visa office or a reputable website to get the full information needed, including the processing fee if required.

Getting all documents required for your application in order, and in time, goes a long way to reduce the visa processing time. Also, make sure that you do not undergo identity changes (name change, change in marital status, etc) during the application status, as you’d have to resubmit all related documents, further slowing down the process.

To wrap it up, take care to apply due diligence in submitting your application, as a single missing document or required information could result in the delay or outright rejection of your visa application.