Canadian Work Permit

Canada Work Visa

To enter the Canadian job market with a Canada Work Visa, foreign nationals seeking employment in Canada must have a profession that is highly in demand, and the existing labor shortage in Canada must be currently unmet. It must be demonstrated that closing this labor gap by having foreign workers move to and work in Canada will bring various benefits to the Canadian economy.

Individuals applying under this category are usually preferred to have higher education and belong to sought-after professions. Examples include university research assistants, professionals in industries such as agriculture, food, and petroleum, and those with skills in computer technologies. Individuals who obtain a Canada Work Visa in certain professional groups and begin working in Canada may apply for permanent residency after working full-time for 2 years.

People in professions that do not require higher education can also obtain a Canada Work Visa and travel to Canada. Application options are available for caregivers for the sick and children, construction workers, heavy machinery operators, and farmers, among others.

A prerequisite for living in Canada as an immigrant or with a work visa—the mandatory ability to speak and understand English or French at a certain level—applies to individuals in all professional groups. You can contact the Canadian Embassy for detailed information about the Canada Work Visa.

Eligibility Requirements for a Canada Work Visa Application:

You must convince the immigration officer that you will leave Canada when your work visa expires.
You must prove that you have sufficient financial resources to support yourself and your family during your stay in Canada and to return to Turkey.
You must prove that you are law-abiding and have not been involved in any criminal activity (a police certificate/criminal record check may be requested).
You must not pose a threat to Canada’s security and must undergo a medical examination if required.
The employer you will be working for in Canada must not be listed as "ineligible" on the list of non-compliant employers.
You must provide all documents requested by the Visa Application Center to enter Canada.

Work Permits Required for a Canada Work Visa

There are two types of work permits that allow you to work temporarily in Canada and are essential for your employment:

1. Employer-Specific Work Permit: With this type of work permit, you can only work under the conditions specified on your permit. The name of the employer you can work for, the duration you can work, and the location of your employment must be included in this work permit.

Job types for which you can apply for a Canada Work Visa by obtaining an Employer-Specific Work Permit:

Individuals working in film or television production: If your work in Canada is essential for film or TV production, if the production will bring significant economic benefits to Canadians, if your job is high-wage and unionized, and if you meet all other eligibility requirements, you can work in Canada with a Canada Work Visa by obtaining an employer-specific work permit.
Academic personnel: Research assistants, teaching staff, visiting professors, postdoctoral fellows, those wishing to go to Canada to receive an award, or other academic personnel can work in Canada by obtaining an employer-specific work permit. The majority of the work in Canada must be for education or research.
Individuals conducting research at specific Canadian institutions: These institutions may include the International Development Research Centre, Atomic Energy of Canada Limited, the National Research Council of Canada, or the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada. Applicants for research positions at these organizations must be distinguished scientists. Furthermore, these positions must be partially or fully funded by federal or provincial governments.
Repair or maintenance workers for industrial or commercial equipment: Those who need to travel to Canada to perform emergency repairs on industrial equipment can work in Canada with a Canada Work Visa by obtaining an employer-specific work permit, provided that the failure to complete these repairs on time would result in job losses for Canadians, and they meet all other eligibility requirements.
Religious workers or charity workers: You can obtain an employer-specific work permit if you will be working to address social issues like hunger or poverty, to meet a community need such as education, or in another job with a religious purpose.
Professional athlete or coach: You can obtain a Canada Work Visa if you will be working for a Canadian team as a professional athlete or coach and meet the other eligibility requirements.
Dancer, actor, orchestra musician, opera singer: Individuals with these professions can work in Canada by obtaining an employer-specific work permit if their employer in Canada is a non-profit arts organization, receives federal funding, and the job creates reciprocal opportunities for Canadians.
Entrepreneur: If you will be creating jobs in Canada, you must obtain an employer-specific work permit. For this, you must be providing significant social and cultural benefits for people living in Canada.
Intern: You must obtain an employer-specific work permit if you will be working as an intern for an international organization such as the International Civil Aviation Organization.

2. Open Work Permit: With the open work permit you receive, you can work for any employer in Canada. The employers you cannot work for are:

Employers listed as "ineligible" on the list of non-compliant employers.
Employers that offer striptease, erotic dance, or massage services.

In situations other than those requiring an employer-specific work permit, you may only obtain an open work permit. If you wish to obtain this type of work permit, you can leave the employer section of the application forms blank.

Before applying for a Canada Work Visa, you must have obtained certain information from your prospective employer in Canada. The information you need to obtain will vary according to the type of work permit you will receive, based on the nature of your job. Furthermore, your education documents and work experience proving that you can meet the job requirements must be included in your application.

After ensuring that you meet all the eligibility requirements for a Canada Work Visa, you can apply with all the necessary documents. Following your application, consulate officials will begin the review process. If the consulate deems it necessary, they may request additional documents from you or invite you for a face-to-face interview by setting an appointment date.

Additionally, the consulate may ask some applicants to undergo a medical examination. In such a case, consulate officials will inform you and send you all the instructions. The processing time for your visa may be extended up to 3 months due to the medical examination.

Consulate officials will also check the following:

Whether the employer you will be working with in Canada is on the list of non-compliant employers.
Whether you have worked in Canada for a total of 4 years in a single or multiple periods.
Whether you are eligible to receive a work permit and have provided all the necessary documents.

If your work permit application is approved, you will receive a letter stating that you are authorized to work in Canada. This letter is not your work permit. It is sent for you to show to the border services officer when you enter Canada. You must also show your passport and visa along with this letter. The border services officer will then issue your work permit, which specifies your conditions of stay and work in Canada, including the type of job you can do, the employer you can work for, where, and for how long you can work.

If you wish to extend your work permit in Canada, you can check the expiration date and apply for an extension at least 30 days before that date. One of the following reasons must exist for you to apply for an extension:

Your job in Canada has been expanded, extended, or will be changed.
You have received another job offer in Canada.
You wish to live and work permanently in Canada.

If your Canada work permit has expired and you were unable to apply for an extension, you may, in some cases, re-apply to restore your status. For this, you must apply within 90 days after losing your status, still meet the requirements for your stay, fulfill all the conditions stated in your work permit document, and submit your application by paying all the necessary fees. You can use this method to work for a new employer or to renew your worker status which you lost due to expiration. In your application, you must explain in detail all aspects of your situation and why you stayed in Canada longer than stated on your work permit. Canadian immigration authorities will decide whether to accept your application. You can stay in Canada during the decision-making process regarding your application, but you cannot continue to work.

Global Skills Strategy

Through the Global Skills Strategy program, you can start your temporary job in Canada quickly, after a processing time of two weeks. For this, one of the following must be true:

You must be exempt from the Labour Market Impact Assessment process, your chosen job must be classified as Skill Type 0 (management) or Skill Type A (professional) according to the National Occupational Classification system, the work permit must be employer-specific, and the employer offering the job must have used the employer portal.
Or, your employer must have received a positive assessment under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, and your work permit application must be employer-specific.

Canada Permanent Work Visa

Skilled workers can receive a permanent work permit, settle permanently in Canada, and work in Canada, based on the contribution they can make to the Canadian economy. You can obtain a Canada Work Visa under certain programs using the Express Entry method.

Programs for obtaining a Permanent Canada Work Permit:

Federal Skilled Worker Program: To apply for this program, you must have at least 1 year of qualified work experience within the last 10 years, possess test results that demonstrate you have the required foreign language proficiency, and hold a high school or university diploma that is deemed equivalent in Canada. To be included in the Federal Skilled Worker Program, you must score at least 67 points out of 6 criteria, totaling 100 points. These criteria are English and/or French skills, education, work experience, age, a valid job offer, and adaptability.
Federal Skilled Trades Program: To qualify for a Canada Work Visa under this program, you must have received a full-time job offer for at least 1 year or hold a qualified trade certificate issued at the regional or national level. Furthermore, you must have test results that show you meet the required foreign language proficiency, at least two years of full-time trade experience within the five years preceding the application, and meet all the requirements for a skilled trade according to the National Occupational Classification system.
Canadian Experience Class: Only individuals with work experience in Canada can apply for this program. For this, you must have at least 12 months of full-time work experience in Canada with a valid work permit and test results that show you meet the required foreign language proficiency.

Individuals interested in these programs and wishing to obtain a permanent work permit in Canada must first:

Fill out the Express Entry form online.
Meet the necessary conditions to enter the candidate pool.
A job offer must be prepared and sent to you by the employer you will be working for in Canada.

All applicants are gathered in a pool and evaluated. Candidates are ranked based on their potential contribution to the Canadian economy. Candidates who apply with a valid job offer gain an additional 50 or 200 points, depending on the job type. This increases their chances. Only candidates who manage to rank at the top are invited to apply for permanent residence and a work permit. Invited candidates must complete their application process within 90 days. Applications for permanent residence and a work permit are finalized within a maximum of 6 months.

Documents Required for a Canada Work Permit Application

A Work Permit Application Form in English or French.
A valid passport.
35x45 mm biometric photograph.
An invitation letter from your employer. This document should include:
- The name of the Canadian company you will be working for, the contact person from the company, the office address, and phone number.
- A job description that introduces your position.
- The duration you will be working for the company, the likely salary, and the nature of fringe benefits such as compensation for relocation or accommodation.
Labour Market Opinion (where necessary), a copy of the HRSDC approval if the job offer is not exempt from this condition (must be sent by your employer).
A signed employment contract.
Educational or professional documents proving that you possess the necessary qualifications for the job offered to you.
Reference letters from your previous employers.

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