Canada in North America is one of the wealthiest countries on the planet. According to Wikipedia, the Canadian economy is characterized by a highly developed market economy. It has the tenth greatest nominal GDP and the sixteenth largest GDP in purchasing power parity (PPP) in the world. As is the case in other industrialized countries, the service sector dominates the Canadian economy, accounting for around three-quarters of all Canadians and foreigners residing in the country.
As her economy continues to grow at an exponential rate, Canada is in desperate need of a more trained workforce and people to propel her burgeoning economy forward.
Anyone interested in working in Canada will require a work visa that has been approved by the Canadian government.
The following are the steps to follow in order to apply for a work visa in Canada.
Check Your Eligibility
It is recommended that you find employment with a Canadian company; however, you must first obtain a job offer from a Canadian company before you can submit an application for a work permit. You will be sponsored by your company for a work visa and will be provided with all of the qualifications and documentation you will need to complete your application.
In some instances, such as when employment is carried out in accordance with the rules of an international agreement such as NAFTA, an LMIA may not be required. Inquire with your company about whether you require a copy of their LMIA in order to complete your work permit application.
If you don't have a job, you should look into the requirements for an open work permit. Work permits for open positions are tough to obtain. If you meet the requirements, however, you will be able to work in Canada for virtually any organization if you qualify. To be eligible for an open work permit, you must meet a number of requirements, including a baseline qualification as well as some additional conditions. The following are some fundamental qualifiers:
- Permanent resident status in Canada
- Dependent family member status of a permanent Canadian resident
- The spouse or common-law partner of an international student or skilled worker
- An international student no longer able to meet the cost of your studies
- A refugee, protected person, or their family member
- A temporary resident permit holder
Start Your Online Application
It's necessary that you do this. Using a scanner, convert your paper documents into digital files that may be uploaded to the portal. You must have high-quality scans of all the documents required to obtain a Canadian work visa before you begin the application process. Depending on where you're coming from, you may require different documents, but in general, you'll need:
- A valid passport
- Two passport-sized photos
- Evidence that you meet employment requirements
- Your job offer letter
- A Certificate D’Acceptation du Quebec, if your job is in Quebec.
Make Payment Online
An online application requires three payments: the application fee, the processing charge, and a biometrics payment. When you submit your application, you must pay a processing fee. A separate online form can be used to pay for the application and biometrics, located at http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/fees/index.asp
Fees must be paid online using a credit or debit card.
The cost of a work permit is $155 Canadian dollars. You must pay an extra $100 CAD on top of the work permit price in order to obtain an open work permit. The charge for biometrics is an extra $85 Canadian dollars.
Finish your biometrics at a visa application center
Currently, biometrics such as fingerprints and digital photo for identity purposes are required for visa applicants from Europe, Africa, and the Middle East, and they will be required for all visa applicants in the near future. Make an appointment with a Visa Application Center that has been approved in order to submit your biometrics (VAC).
An approved list of VACs can be found at https://www.canada.ca.
Applicants from the United States can visit one of the Application Support Centers located throughout the country. You must schedule an appointment with the Centers in advance, just as you must with the VAC.
Submitting Your Application
You must now submit your application, which is the final step.
If other members of your family are applying, you should combine all of their applications into a single package and send it to the same location where your application will be processed (based on their type of application).
For additional information on how to submit your application and where to do so, click here.
