Canadian Work Permits
Work permits are where status problems begin. Applying at the wrong time, working outside your conditions, or letting a permit lapse can close doors that were otherwise wide open.
Temporary status, work
Job offer holders and LMIA-exempt candidates
Filing before your permit expires
Two broad categories
Canadian work permits fall into two broad types. Employer-specific permits tie you to a named employer, and usually require the employer to obtain a Labour Market Impact Assessment first. Open work permits let you work for most employers and are available only in defined circumstances.
A significant number of work permits are issued under exemptions that do not require an LMIA at all: international agreements, intra-company transfers, certain spousal situations, and post-graduation work permits among them. Identifying whether an exemption applies to you is often the difference between a straightforward application and a lengthy employer-led process.
Whichever route applies, the timing of the application relative to your current status is critical, and it is the area where we see the most avoidable damage.
Who we act for
Whether you need an employer-specific permit, an open permit, or qualify for an exemption changes the timeline and cost substantially. That is the first thing to establish.
Not sure which one fits?
That is exactly what the free assessment answers, in writing, at no cost.
Workers with a job offer
Where an employer-specific permit is needed, we coordinate the application alongside the employer’s LMIA process.
Candidates who may be LMIA-exempt
Exemptions are frequently missed. If one applies, it usually saves months and considerable cost.
Workers extending or changing status
Extensions, employer changes and restoration where status has already lapsed.
Spouses and dependants
Open work permit options for accompanying family members, where the principal’s status supports it.
How we handle work permit files
Route and exemption analysis
First we establish whether an LMIA is genuinely required, or whether an exemption applies. This single question shapes everything that follows.
Status audit
We check your current status, expiry dates and any prior compliance issues before advising on timing.
Application preparation
Job offer documentation, qualifications, and where required the employer’s supporting evidence are prepared together so the file is internally consistent.
Maintained status and extensions
Where an application is filed before expiry, we advise on what you may and may not do while it is pending.
Not sure this is the right route?
Send us your situation and Jagdeep Kailey, RCIC #R535381, will tell you which routes are realistically open to you. Free, and no obligation.
What is assessed
- A genuine job offer, and where required a positive Labour Market Impact Assessment
- Whether an LMIA exemption applies under an international agreement or Canadian interest category
- Your qualifications and experience for the role offered
- Any provincial licensing requirement for regulated occupations
- That you are a genuine temporary resident who will comply with permit conditions
- Medical, criminal and security admissibility
Work permit categories, exemption codes and processing streams change. We confirm the current route before filing rather than relying on how a similar case worked previously.
Get a free assessment
A written review of your situation, read personally by a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant. You will get an honest answer, including when the answer is not yet.
Where we make the difference
Every file is handled personally by Jagdeep Kailey, RCIC #R535381. Here is where that makes a measurable difference on this route.
Exemptions identified early
Many applicants begin an LMIA process they never needed. We check exemption categories first, because the saving in time and cost is substantial.
Timing and maintained status
Filing before expiry can allow you to keep working while a decision is pending. Filing after it cannot. The date matters enormously.
Restoration where status has lapsed
If status has already been lost there is a limited window to restore it. Acting quickly materially improves the position.
Built with PR in mind
If permanent residence is the goal, the occupation and duration on your permit affect your later options. We plan for that now.
Common work permit problems
These are the problems we see most often in files that arrive after something has already gone wrong. Almost every one is preventable at the preparation stage.
Where these applications fail
- Working before the permit is issued, or outside the conditions it imposes
- Letting a permit expire without filing an extension, losing the ability to keep working
- Beginning an LMIA process when an exemption was available
- A job offer whose duties do not match the occupation on the application
- Overlooking provincial licensing requirements for regulated occupations
- Changing employers on an employer-specific permit without applying first
Frequently asked
Hover or tap any question to open it.
Can I work while my extension is being processed?
If you applied to extend before your current permit expired, you may generally continue working under the same conditions while a decision is pending. If you applied after expiry, you may not. This is one of the most consequential dates in the whole system.
Do I always need an LMIA?
No. A significant proportion of work permits are issued under exemptions: international agreements, intra-company transfers, certain spousal categories and post-graduation work permits among them. Checking for an exemption is the first thing we do.
My permit expired. What now?
There is a limited restoration window after status is lost, subject to conditions. Contact us immediately, the options narrow sharply with time and disappear entirely after the window closes.
Can my spouse work if I hold a work permit?
In some circumstances an open work permit is available to an accompanying spouse, but eligibility has been narrowed in recent years and depends on your occupation and permit type. We will confirm the current position.
Can I change employers?
On an employer-specific permit you generally need a new permit before starting with a different employer. Starting first and applying later is a compliance problem that can affect future applications.
You may also need
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For businesses hiring foreign workers, recruitment compliance, LMIA applications and inspection readiness.
Canadian Experience Class
For people who already have skilled work experience in Canada and want to convert it into permanent residence.
Business Immigration & ICT
Intra-company transfers for businesses expanding into Canada, moving executives, managers and specialists.
Start with a free assessment
Tell us about your situation and Jagdeep Kailey, RCIC, will review it personally. No cost, no obligation.