Overview
A work permit authorises you to work in Canada. It is separate from the visa that lets you travel there: Indian citizens who are approved for a work permit are also issued the entry document they need.
There are two types. An employer-specific work permit ties you to one employer and needs a job offer. An open work permit lets you work for most employers without a job offer, but Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) grants it only in certain situations.
A visitor visa does not let you work in Canada.
Work routes
| Route | Who it is for | Job offer or sponsor needed? |
|---|---|---|
| Employer-specific work permit, with an LMIA | Workers hired through the Temporary Foreign Worker Program | Yes. The employer obtains the LMIA |
| Employer-specific work permit, LMIA-exempt | Workers in categories exempt from the LMIA | Yes. The employer submits an offer of employment and pays a compliance fee |
| Open work permit | People in specific situations, such as recent graduates of Canadian institutions and some family members of workers and students | No job offer needed |
IRCC also runs special processes for groups such as recent graduates, family members of foreign workers and people waiting for permanent residence decisions. Use IRCC’s tool to find the permit you need.
Eligibility
Employer-specific work permit
- A job offer from a Canadian employer.
- An LMIA from the employer, unless the job is exempt.
- The documents your local visa office requires.
- Biometrics and, where required, a medical exam.
LMIA streams used by employers
- High-wage and low-wage positions, set by provincial and territorial wage thresholds.
- The Global Talent Stream.
- Primary agriculture and caregiver positions.
- Quebec has its own process.
Open work permit
- You must be in one of the situations IRCC lists.
- No job offer or LMIA is needed.
- An extra open work permit holder fee applies.
Job offer and sponsorship
For an employer-specific permit you need a job offer first. The LMIA is the employer’s application, made to Employment and Social Development Canada, to show the need for a foreign worker. Employers apply through the LMIA Online portal.
Exceptions are LMIA-exempt jobs, where the employer submits an offer of employment through IRCC and pays an employer compliance fee, and open work permits, which need no job offer at all.
Who does what
Work visa applications fail most often when it is unclear who is responsible for which step. This is how the duties are split.
What the employer does
- Apply for the LMIA, or submit the offer of employment for an LMIA-exempt job.
- Pay the employer compliance fee of CAD 230 for LMIA-exempt offers.
- Give you the job offer and the LMIA or offer of employment details for your application.
- Meet the programme’s compliance obligations.
What you do
- Apply online to IRCC and pay your work permit fee.
- Give biometrics.
- Take a medical exam if required.
- Carry your documents when you arrive in Canada.
- After arrival, get a social insurance number.
Documents
Common documents
- Valid passport
- Completed online application form
- Documents required by your local visa office
- Job offer and employment-related documents
- Biometrics
- Medical exam results, where required
Route-specific documents
| Route or case | Additional documents |
|---|---|
| Employer-specific permit with an LMIA | The LMIA details from your employer |
| LMIA-exempt employer-specific permit | The offer of employment details your employer submitted to IRCC |
| Open work permit | Evidence that you are in an eligible situation |
For photo sizes and background rules, see our visa photo requirements tool.
How to apply
Check which type of work permit you need with IRCC’s tool.
For an employer-specific permit, get a job offer. The employer then obtains an LMIA or submits an LMIA-exempt offer of employment.
Gather the forms and documents, including those your local visa office requires.
Apply online to IRCC from India and pay the fees.
Give your biometrics and complete a medical exam if asked.
Wait for the decision.
Travel to Canada with your documents; the work permit itself is issued when you arrive.
Fees
| Fee | Amount | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Work permit, including extensions | CAD 155 per person | IRCC processing fee |
| Open work permit holder fee | CAD 100 | Paid in addition to the work permit fee, for open permits only |
| Biometrics | CAD 85 per person; CAD 170 per family | Fingerprints and photo |
| Employer compliance fee | CAD 230 | Paid by the employer for LMIA-exempt offers |
| LMIA processing fee | Not confirmed here | Paid by the employer to Employment and Social Development Canada |
| Restoring status as a worker | CAD 401.25 | For people in Canada who have lost status: restoration plus a new permit |
Fees are in Canadian dollars, from IRCC’s fee list dated 21 September 2026. Employer fees are the employer’s cost, not yours.
Processing time
| Stage or route | Official timeframe |
|---|---|
| Work permit applied for from India | Varies; IRCC publishes current times in its processing time tool |
| LMIA | Varies by stream; not confirmed here |
IRCC does not publish one fixed time. Check the tool for India on the day you apply, and add time for biometrics and any medical exam.
Validity and renewal
| Route | Validity | Renewal and conditions |
|---|---|---|
| Employer-specific work permit | Set on the permit, in line with the job offer or LMIA | Names the employer you may work for; can be extended |
| Open work permit | Set on the permit | Work for most employers |
Family and job changes
Dependants
Family members of foreign workers have their own IRCC process, and some can apply for an open work permit. Eligibility rules have changed in recent years, so check IRCC for the current conditions before you plan.
Changing employers
An employer-specific work permit names the employer you may work for. To move to a different employer you need to apply for a new work permit. Confirm the current rules on IRCC’s website before you start a new job.
Common mistakes
- Assuming a job offer alone is enough: most offers also need an LMIA or an LMIA-exempt offer submitted by the employer.
- Paying an employer or recruiter for an LMIA or a job offer.
- Missing the documents required by the local visa office.
- Delaying biometrics.
- Working for a different employer than the one named on the permit.
- Trying to work on a visitor visa.
How we can help
My Visa Assistance provides visa information, document checklists and application support. For a work visa or permit, that means:
- An assessment call to identify which route fits your job offer and profile.
- A personalised document checklist for that route.
- Help completing the application forms and booking appointments.
- A review of your file before you submit it.
What we do not do: we are not a recruitment agency or a registered recruiting agent, we do not arrange jobs or employer sponsorship, and we cannot guarantee approval. Decisions are made only by the government authorities.
Send us an enquiry or call +91 85518 05523. If you are travelling as a visitor instead, see our Canada visa guide.
FAQs
An employer-specific work permit needs a job offer and ties you to that employer. An open work permit lets you work for most employers without a job offer, but you are only eligible in certain situations.
A Labour Market Impact Assessment is a process Canadian employers use to hire temporary foreign workers. The employer applies for it, not the worker.
IRCC charges CAD 155 per person for a work permit, plus CAD 85 for biometrics. An open work permit also carries a CAD 100 open work permit holder fee.
It varies. IRCC publishes current processing times in its online tool, so check it when you apply.
Only with an open work permit, which IRCC grants in specific situations. Otherwise you need a job offer for an employer-specific permit.
No. Some jobs are LMIA-exempt. For those, the employer submits an offer of employment to IRCC and pays a CAD 230 employer compliance fee.
Not on the same employer-specific permit: it names one employer. You need to apply for a new work permit to work for someone else.
No. The work permit authorises work; the entry document lets you travel to Canada. Both are handled in the same application.
Official sources
Last verified: . The facts on this page come from these official pages. Immigration rules, fees and timeframes change, so confirm them before you apply.
- IRCC: work in Canada temporarily, eligibility
- IRCC: types of work permits
- IRCC: apply for a work permit from outside Canada
- IRCC: fee list
- Employment and Social Development Canada: Temporary Foreign Worker Program
What we could not verify
- The LMIA fee, LMIA processing times and current work permit processing times for India were not confirmed.
- The list of open work permit situations and the detailed rules for changing employers could not be read; the IRCC pages returned errors.