Working temporarily in Canada
Every year, over 150,000 foreign workers enter Canada to work temporarily
in jobs that help Canadian employers address skill shortages. A work
permit is needed for most temporary jobs in Canada.
A Temporary Work visa is a popular choice for applicants who wish to
come to live and work in Canada as soon as possible. This visa will
allow applicants to live and work in Canada, and gain Canadian work
experience. The Federal government's expansive Temporary Foreign Worker
Program allows eligible foreign workers to work in Canada for an
authorized period of time if their employers can demonstrate that they
are unable to find suitable Canadians/permanent residents to fill the
jobs and that the entry of these workers will not have a negative impact
on the Canadian labour market.
Foreign workers for all types of businesses and with a wide range of
skills can be recruited to meet temporary labour shortages. Once
granted, work visa holder will be allowed to come and work in Canada for
the designated employer in the specified role. Accompanying partners
and children may also be eligible to work and study.
Temporary work basic visa requirements
The requirements and processing times of application for work visa
depend on the sort of work the applicant will do when they come to
Canada.
To be employed in Canada, after searching a job in Canada the foreign
workers must generally obtain a positive Labour Market Opinion (LMO)
from Service Canada, unless the work category is exempt from the LMO
process. A Labour Market Opinion confirms that the Canadian employer is
authorized to employ a foreign worker. Thereafter, foreign workers must
generally apply for a work visa at a Canadian visa office abroad.
Depending on the type of work they will undertake in Canada and where
they have resided in the last year, foreign workers may also require a
medical examination before entering Canada.
Generally Temporary Worker visa holder will be allowed to live and work
in Canada for between 6 months and 2 years. The spouse and children may
also be eligible to work and study during the stay. It may be possible
to extend the Temporary Work visa for workers seeking to continue
working in Canada.
A Foreign Worker may also be eligible to have their application for
permanent residence processed during their temporary stay in Canada,
allowing them to become permanent residents of Canada, once the
application is approved.