Types of work permits in Canada

You need a work permit in order to enter Canada as a Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW). For foreign nationals who desire to work in Canada, there are two different types of work permit in canada. As follows:

Open work permits

You can work for any authorised employer in Canada for a certain amount of time with an open work permit. This implies that when you are in Canada with an open work permit, you can work for nearly any company or change employment. However, you are not permitted to work for a company that appears on the government's list of prohibited employers. If you are prohibited from working in a particular industry, it will be stated on your open work permit as well.

In order to obtain an open work permit in Canada, you DO NOT need a job offer. Open work permits, however, are only issued in certain circumstances, such as:

• If you are a foreign student who has graduated from a Canadian institution of higher learning and are qualified for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP)
• if you have applied for permanent residence in Canada, or if you are a dependant family member of someone who has done so.
• If you live in Canada as the spouse or common-law partner of an international student or foreign skilled worker
• If you're an international student and you can't afford the tuition for your course of study
• If you are a protected person, a refugee, a refugee claimant, or a member of their family
• Those who possess temporary residency permits

Employer-specific work permits

You can work for a specific employer in Canada with an employer-specific work permit, also called a closed work permit. You need an employment offer from a Canadian company first in order to be eligible for an employer-specific work permit.

An employer-specific work permit, as opposed to an open work permit, outlines the terms of your employment in Canada, including the employer's name, the place of employment, and other details. This means that while holding an employer-specific work permit, you cannot change occupations.

Before making you a job offer, the employer will frequently first have to do a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA), depending on the industry you work in. There are no Canadians or permanent residents available to fill this employment, according to an LMIA, hence a temporary foreign worker must be hired.

If you have a closed work permit and want to change jobs, you must apply for and get a new work permit before starting the new position.