Work Permit Applications in Canada

Canadian work permits come in two families: employer-specific permits, usually backed by an LMIA, and open work permits, which let you work for most employers. Inside those families sit dozens of categories, each with its own rules — choosing the right one is the strategy.

 LMIA-Based Permits

The classic route: a positive LMIA plus a job offer supports an employer-specific permit. We run the employer’s LMIA and the worker’s permit as one coordinated file.

 LMIA-Exempt Permits (International Mobility Program)

Significant-benefit cases (C10), Francophone Mobility for French speakers destined outside Quebec (C16), intra-company transfers, trade-agreement professionals, spouses of eligible workers and students, and more. Exemption categories are powerful and frequently misunderstood — they are a core specialty of this firm, including complex C10 significant-benefit submissions.

 Open Work Permits

Post-graduation work permits (PGWP), spousal open work permits, bridging open work permits for PR applicants, and permits tied to specific public policies. Eligibility for several of these has narrowed recently — we confirm your category against current rules before you apply.

 PGWP Problems and Reconsiderations

PGWP refusals — including program-eligibility refusals affecting whole cohorts of graduates — are a growing part of our practice. If your PGWP was refused, bring the refusal letter: reconsideration requests, restoration and alternative permits may all be on the table.

Apply to extend before your permit expires and maintained status generally lets you keep working under the same conditions while IRCC decides. Miss the date and the options narrow fast. We calendar every client’s expiry dates and plan extensions — or the PR transition — months ahead.

Do I need a job offer to get a work permit?

For employer-specific permits, yes. Open permits — PGWP, spousal, bridging — do not require one. Which family you fall into is the first question we answer.

What is an LMIA-exempt work permit?

A permit issued under the International Mobility Program where the LMIA requirement is waived — for example significant benefit (C10), Francophone Mobility (C16) or intra-company transfers. The employer still submits an offer of employment through the Employer Portal.

Can my spouse work in Canada?

Spouses of certain workers and students qualify for open work permits, but eligibility now depends on your occupation, program level and other conditions. We check the current rules for your exact situation.

Can I change employers on an employer-specific permit?

Not until you obtain a new permit or authorization for the new job — working for anyone other than the named employer breaches your conditions. If you have a new offer, we handle the change properly.

How long does a work permit application take?

Processing times vary by stream and by the country you apply from, and they shift through the year. We confirm current IRCC processing times at your consultation and build the filing calendar backwards from your intended start date — preparation time is usually the part applicants underestimate.

Can I apply for a work permit from inside Canada?

Often, yes. Visitors in eligible situations, workers changing employers and permit holders extending status can frequently apply from inside Canada, and applying before your current status expires generally lets you keep working under the same conditions while IRCC decides. The safe sequence depends on your exact status — we confirm it before anything is filed.

What happens if my work permit application is refused?

A refusal is information. We obtain the officer’s GCMS notes, identify the real concern, and choose the right response — a rebuilt application, a reconsideration request or a different category. See our refusal and reapplication service for the full method.