Can I Get Work Permit In Canada Without Job Offer
In order to get a work permit in Canada, foreign national must qualify for one of the available work permits. Getting a work permit doesn’t necessarily mean that you will find a job offer prior to coming to Canada. It is possible though. You can please your employer in many ways after you come to Canada.
Can I Get Work Permit In Canada Without Job Offer
Normally, it would be very tough for you to obtain a work permit if you did not have a job offer from a Canadian employer. In fact, if you had applied for a work permit prior to getting an offer of employment, the Canadian immigration officer would likely have denied your work permit application. However, you have been extremely lucky as there is one route that allows you to get a visa without having an employer in Canada to sponsor your application. This is possible through the International Experience Canada program (IEC).
As a foreign worker in Canada, you are allowed to perform any type of job in your profession even without job offer. In this case, all you need to do is submit a Work permit application. For the Work permit applicants from Kenya, you have the option to apply for work permit at the Canadian Visa office Nairobi or online. But first things first! You will need
Who is eligible to work in Canada?
Most foreign nationals require a permit to be eligible to work in Canada, with some exemptions.
To apply for a work permit, most candidates will require a Canadian job offer supported by a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). There are some exceptions to this requirement, where foreign workers can apply for a work permit without an LMIA, or a job offer. Examples of this include a recent graduate from a Canadian Designated Learning Institute (DLI), or the spouse of someone already on a Canadian work or study permit.
Candidates who qualify to apply for a work permit must also meet the following eligibility requirements:
- Demonstrate their intent to leave once their work authorization expires; and
- Prove they have sufficient funds to support them and their family in Canada and to return home; and
- Are not criminally or medically inadmissible to Canada; and
- Plan to work with an eligible employer; and
- Can provide any requested documents that may prove their eligibility to enter Canada
Types of Canadian work permits
There are many different options for obtaining a Canadian work permit. Some work permits require a job offer from a Canadian employer, some require that the employer provide a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA), while others require that a person has some sort of connection to Canada (previous education, spousal sponsorship, etc.). Please refer to the following categories below to determine the work permit which best suits your qualifications:
Requiring a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA)
LMIA-Exempt but requiring a job offer or employment contract
Open Work Permits (no job offer or LMIA required)
- Post-Graduation Work Permits (PGWP)
- Spousal Sponsorship from Inside of Canada
- International Experience Canada (IEC) (working holiday visa)
- Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP)
- Spouse Accompanying International Student or Worker
Immigration Tip: Canadian permanent residents do not require a work permit to work in Canada. Permanent resident status gives a person the legal right to live and work anywhere in the country. Find out more about permanent immigration options for professional and skilled workers.
How to obtain a Canadian work permit
The process for obtaining a Canadian work permit varies greatly depending on which type of work permit a person is applying for. For example, an international student studying in Canada will oftentimes be automatically issued authorization to work part-time as part of their study permit authorization.
Most closed work permit applications require that a foreign national has an official job offer from a Canadian employer which is supported by a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). Even those who are LMIA-exempt or exempt from requiring a work permit should be aware of the unique documentation they need to prepare in order to ensure they are granted entry to Canada. There are two general pathways for obtaining a Canadian work permit: a closed (restricted) work permit and an open work permit.
