Work Permits in Canada

A Canadian work permit is not a single program. IRCC has two main types of work permit: employer-specific and open. Employer-specific permits may require a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) or may be LMIA-exempt under the International Mobility Program (IMP); open work permits are available only in specific eligible situations. The right route depends on your job, your employer, your nationality, your current status and your circumstances. MAK Canadian Immigration Services reviews which route may realistically apply to your facts, what documents each route needs, and which refusal risks should be addressed before filing. We do not recruit, place, or match applicants with employers, and we do not guarantee a job or a work permit. Final decisions are made by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

Work permit options at a glance

• LMIA-Based Work Permits (Temporary Foreign Worker Program)
• LMIA-Exempt Work Permits (International Mobility Program)
• Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP)
• Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP)
• Spousal Open Work Permit (SOWP)
• Intra-Company Transfer (ICT) Work Permit

Work permit application, extension and renewal

For a new Canadian work permit application, first identify whether you need an employer-specific or open work permit and whether you are eligible to apply from outside Canada, inside Canada, or at a port of entry. Employer-specific applications usually require the employer to complete the applicable LMIA or LMIA-exempt employer steps before the worker applies. Open work permits are available only in specific eligible situations.

If your current work permit will expire soon, IRCC generally treats what people call a work permit renewal as an application to extend the permit or change its conditions. IRCC recommends applying at least 30 calendar days before expiry. If you submit an eligible extension or change-of-conditions application before your permit expires, you may have maintained status and may be authorized to keep working while IRCC decides the application, provided you remain in Canada and continue to follow the conditions that still apply. The result can differ if the permit has already expired, if you leave Canada, or if you are changing employers or conditions.

Use IRCC's current instructions to check which type of work permit you need, apply from inside Canada, or extend or change conditions on a work permit.

LMIA-based vs LMIA-exempt work permits

With an LMIA-based permit, the employer first obtains a Labour Market Impact Assessment from ESDC, and the permit is tied to that specific employer and job. With an LMIA-exempt permit under the International Mobility Program, no LMIA is required because the work meets an exemption - for example, certain trade-agreement professionals (such as under CUSMA), intra-company transfers, or work considered to bring a significant benefit to Canada, where applicable. We review which route, if any, fits your situation.

Open work permits

Some permits are "open" (not tied to one employer), such as certain spousal permits, bridging permits, and post-graduation permits. Eligibility for open permits has narrowed in recent years, so we confirm whether you currently qualify before you apply.

Employer-specific work permits

Most LMIA-based permits, and some LMIA-exempt permits, authorise work for one employer in one role. We review the job offer, the employer's documents, and the conditions attached to the permit.

Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP)

The PGWP lets eligible graduates of designated learning institutions work in Canada after studies. Eligibility depends on the institution and, for non-degree programs, on whether the program's field of study is on IRCC's eligible list. For 2026, IRCC says it will not add or remove eligible fields of study. Confirm your program's status before relying on it.

Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP)

A BOWP can let certain applicants who have applied for permanent residence keep working while their PR application is processed. We review whether you meet the current conditions.

Spousal Open Work Permit (SOWP)

Eligibility for spousal open work permits has narrowed. We confirm current eligibility before advising on this option.

Intra-Company Transfer (ICT) Work Permit

The Intra-Company Transfer (ICT) category lets multinational companies move executives, senior managers, or specialized-knowledge employees to a qualifying Canadian branch, parent, subsidiary, or affiliate, without an LMIA. It is an LMIA-exempt work permit under the International Mobility Program, not a business-investment program. We review whether your role and the company relationship realistically fit the category.

Common misconceptions about Canadian work permits

Three beliefs cause most of the trouble we see. First, that you can buy a job offer. You cannot. A licensed recruiter is paid by the employer, and the federal rules for temporary foreign workers state that an employer cannot make you reimburse the recruitment fees it paid to hire you (ESDC, Temporary foreign workers: your rights are protected, page read 7 September 2026). Anyone asking a worker for money in exchange for a job offer is a warning sign, not an opportunity. Second, that a work permit turns into permanent residence on its own. It does not. Canadian work experience can help you qualify for a permanent residence route such as the Canadian Experience Class, but the permit by itself gives you no status as a permanent resident and no entitlement to apply. Third, that an approved LMIA guarantees a work permit. It does not. The labour market impact assessment and the work permit are two separate decisions taken by two different federal bodies, and the officer deciding the permit can still refuse it.

Common work permit refusal risks

Common reasons applications are refused include weak or inconsistent documents, an offer or exemption that does not clearly fit the rules, dual-intent and ties concerns, and incomplete evidence. We help you identify and address these before filing. We cannot guarantee approval.

Work permit to permanent residence

Canadian work experience can support a future PR application through Express Entry (for example, the Canadian Experience Class) or a Provincial Nominee Program, but it is not automatic and depends on your full profile. We map the realistic path from a work permit toward PR.

How a licensed RCIC helps

We review work permit options, eligibility, documents, status, and refusal risks; we help you understand whether a route may fit your facts; and we help organize and review your application before filing. We do not recruit, place, or match jobs, and final decisions are made by IRCC.

Frequently asked questions