What type of permit is required?

In most cases, the employee needs a work permit to work in Canada as a foreign national. A work permit is a legal document issued by the Canadian government that allows an employee to work temporarily in the country. There are limited situations where an employee may be exempt from obtaining a work permit. These exemptions include:

• Work permit exemptions under international agreements: Some individuals, such as diplomats, military personnel, or certain government officials, may be exempt from requiring a work permit under international agreements to which Canada is a signatory.
• Business visitors: If the employee is visiting Canada for business purposes, such as attending meetings, conferences, or engaging in international business activities, and not entering the Canadian labor market or being paid by a Canadian employer, the employee may be eligible to enter Canada as a business visitor without a work permit.
• Foreign representatives and certain foreign workers: Foreign representatives, such as consular officers, and certain foreign workers, including emergency service providers, may be exempt from a work permit under specific circumstances.

Foreign nationals planning to temporarily live and work in Canada, will need a work permit

Generally, the employee will need to follow these steps:

1. Determine the eligibility: Ensure the eligibility criteria are met for working in Canada, which may include having a valid job offer, meeting specific skill or educational requirements, and being able to demonstrate that the employee will leave Canada after the work permit expires.
2. Obtain a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA), if required: In some cases, the employer may need to obtain an LMIA from Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) to demonstrate that there are no available Canadian workers to fill the position.
3. Apply for a work permit: Once the employee has a job offer and, if necessary, an approved LMIA, he can apply for a work permit. The application can be made online or through a paper-based process, depending on their situation.
4. Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) or Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA): Depending on the country of citizenship, you may also need a TRV or eTA to enter Canada. This requirement applies to citizens of certain countries and is separate from the work permit.