Entering Canada with a Temporary Work Permit
Every year, over 90,000 foreign workers enter Canada on a Canadian work permit, to work temporarily to help Canadian employers address skill shortages. Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) and Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC) ensure that these workers will support economic growth in Canada and create more opportunities for all Canadian job seekers.
Canada offers several opportunities to work and live in Canada as a foreign worker. The process is different from the immigration
process. You will need a job offer from an employer in Canada and this job offer has to be for a job approved by Human Resource & Skills Development Canada (HRSDC) in order for permission to be granted.
You cannot immigrate with a work permit.
There are several programs available under which you can apply for a seasonal or temporary permit. See the pages on the navigation bar. On those pages we will describe information specific to that program
You must be offered a job in Canada before you apply for permission to work.
You may apply at a Canadian Embassy, high Commission or Consulate at any time.
Once in Canada, you need to apply to change your permit if:
your job changes;
your work will take longer than planned;
or you need to change jobs or employers.
