Canadian Work Permit Options

A practical guide to choosing the right work permit type and avoiding common refusal triggers.

Most work permit problems are not about paperwork. They are about fit.

People apply under the wrong permit category, or they submit documents that don’t prove what IRCC needs to see. The result is delay, refusal, or a permit with conditions they didn’t expect.

Quick start: Which work permit are you actually applying for?

Use this as a quick filter before you touch the application forms:

·       You have a Canadian job offer → usually an employer-specific work permit (supported by an LMIA or an LMIA-exempt offer number).

·       You graduated from an eligible Canadian program → Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP), if you meet the current requirements.

·       You are the spouse or common-law partner of a worker or student → you may qualify for an open work permit, but eligibility is specific and has changed in recent years.

·       You qualify under a specific category (intra-company transferee, international agreement, research/cultural exchange, IEC, etc.) → often LMIA-exempt, but still evidence-heavy.

Canadian Work Permit types in plain English

1) Employer-specific work permits

These permits tie you to one employer (and often one role and location). They usually rely on one of two support routes:

·       LMIA-supported: your employer has a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA).

·       LMIA-exempt (International Mobility Program): your employer submits an offer of employment in the Employer Portal and receives an offer number (plus pays the compliance fee), unless exempt.

Why this matters: the support route determines what proof you must upload and what IRCC will verify. If the LMIA or offer number is missing or mismatched, the application can be refused.

2) Open work permits

Open work permits are not tied to a single employer. They are issued only when you fit an eligible category. Common examples include:

·       Some spouses or common-law partners of international students

·       Some spouses or common-law partners of foreign workers (eligibility depends on specific criteria)

·       Certain vulnerable workers

·       Some applicants in special programs or policy measures (time-limited)

Important: open work permits are category-based. “My spouse is in Canada” is not, by itself, a category. Eligibility needs to be checked against current IRCC instructions before applying.

3) Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP)

A PGWP can be a strong bridge to Canadian work experience, but it is not automatic. Eligibility depends on your program, your school, and current IRCC requirements.

A key change for many applicants: if you apply on or after November 1, 2024, you must provide proof of English or French language results (with limited exceptions).

4) Other LMIA-exempt work permits (specialized categories)

Some work permits are LMIA-exempt because they fall under specific legal or policy categories, for example:

·       Intra-company transferees

·       International agreements (for example, USMCA/CUSMA)

·       Research and academic categories

·       Cultural or reciprocal exchange programs

·       International Experience Canada (IEC)

LMIA-exempt does not mean “easy.” It means the application has a different legal basis, and you must prove you fit it.

Canadian immigration office with work permit forms

What IRCC is actually assessing

Regardless of category, most work permit decisions turn on the same core questions:

·       Do you qualify for the specific permit category you selected?

·       Are your documents consistent with each other (job title, duties, dates, employer details, pay, location)?

·       Does your evidence match the legal basis (LMIA vs LMIA-exempt offer number, PGWP eligibility, spouse category, etc.)?

·       Are there admissibility issues (medical, criminality, misrepresentation concerns)?

·       If required, did you complete biometrics within the deadline?

A clean application process

1.     Confirm the permit category and the legal support route (LMIA or LMIA-exempt offer number, where applicable).

2.     Build your document set so it proves eligibility, not just identity (offer letter, contract, role duties, qualifications, proof of status where relevant).

3.     Apply through your IRCC secure account when possible (easier tracking and uploads).

4.     Pay the correct fees and keep receipts with your records.

5.     If you receive a Biometrics Instruction Letter (BIL), book biometrics right away at a Visa Application Centre (VAC) or a designated Service Canada location (as applicable).

6.     Monitor your account messages and respond quickly to document requests.

7.     If approved from outside Canada, understand that the approval letter (port of entry letter of introduction) is not the work permit. The permit is issued when you enter Canada and are examined at the border.

Canadian work permit document on desk

Document checklist (what matters, not what’s obvious)

The exact list depends on your category, but a strong file usually includes:

·       Valid passport (with enough validity for the requested period)

·       Proof of the job offer and terms (offer letter + contract)

·       LMIA or LMIA-exempt offer number (if applicable)

·       Evidence you meet the role requirements (education, licensing, work history)

·       Proof of current status in Canada (if applying from inside Canada)

·       Police certificates and medical exam results if requested or required

·       Proof of relationship (for spouse-based open work permits), plus the principal applicant’s status and eligibility documents

·       For PGWP: proof of completion and any current IRCC requirement evidence (including language results where required)

Tip: refusals often come from missing the “bridge” documents. Example: you provide a job offer, but nothing that proves you meet the qualifications the employer says you need.

Common refusal triggers (the ones you can actually prevent)

·       Wrong category selection (for example, applying as “open” when you only qualify for employer-specific).

·       LMIA or offer number issues (missing, expired, mismatched employer details, wrong job title/role).

·       Inconsistent story across documents (dates, duties, salary, location, job title).

·       Weak proof you meet the role requirements (especially regulated professions).

·       Gaps or contradictions in prior immigration history that are not addressed clearly.

·       Late biometrics or missed deadlines after a request letter.

·       Overconfident wording in letters that creates credibility issues (“I will definitely leave” without evidence, or vague “I have experience” without proof).

Processing times and what to do with them

Processing times change constantly and depend on the application type and where you apply from. Use IRCC’s official processing times tool to check current estimates and plan around them.

If your file is time-sensitive, the practical move is not “hope it’s fast.” It is to submit a complete application early and avoid avoidable requests for more documents.

The Canadian city skyline represents opportunities

FAQ

Is the approval letter the same as the work permit?

No. If your application is approved from outside Canada, you typically receive a port of entry (POE) letter of introduction. The work permit is issued after you arrive and are examined by border services.

Do I always need an LMIA for an employer-specific work permit?

Not always. Some employer-specific permits are LMIA-exempt, but the employer usually must submit an offer of employment through the Employer Portal and obtain an offer number, unless exempt.

Can my spouse get an open work permit?

Sometimes. Eligibility depends on your status and specific IRCC criteria, and the rules have changed in recent years. Treat this as a category check, not an assumption.

Can I work while my extension is in process?

It depends on your situation and status. If you are relying on maintained status, travel can change your ability to work when you return. Get advice for your specific facts before you leave Canada.

Final note

A work permit is a legal instrument. The content of your file needs to match the legal category you are applying under. If those two are aligned, the process becomes much more predictable.

Disclaimer: This article is general information, not legal advice. Work permit eligibility and requirements change, and outcomes depend on your specific facts.