Canada: IRCC may hold off on refusing a work permit while ESDC reviews an LMIA
How IRCC handles a work permit application while ESDC hasn't yet decided the LMIA: conditions, documents, the two-week window before expiry, and limits.
VisaProAdviserVisas, migration and life abroad
Work permit rules for Canada and Poland: IRCC renewals, open permits for spouses, LMIA-exempt codes like C11 and C13, exemptions and options after expiry.
14 articles tagged work permit
How IRCC handles a work permit application while ESDC hasn't yet decided the LMIA: conditions, documents, the two-week window before expiry, and limits.
How to choose an Alberta Immigration Program stream: check your job, permit, sector. Four routes from job offer to Express Entry and rural communities.
Alternative family reunification routes in Canada through an open work permit if traditional sponsorship is paused in Quebec.
The 540-day EAD renewal is gone. After work authorization expires, you cannot work even if your extension is pending. How to file your extension on time.
What's the difference between C20 work permit and ICT transfer visa to Canada. Requirements, opportunities, and how to choose the right option for your company.
What a Canadian officer checks when assessing an LMIA: recruitment proof, prevailing wage, job classification, and consistency across the whole application history.
A work permit authorises a foreign national to take paid employment in a specific country, and it is separate from the visa or entry document that lets the person cross the border. In Canada, permits are issued by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) in two main forms: employer-specific permits tied to one employer and job, and open permits that allow work for almost any employer.
Most employer-specific permits require a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) from Employment and Social Development Canada, which shows that hiring a foreign worker will not harm the local labour market. The International Mobility Program covers LMIA-exempt cases identified by exemption codes, including those based on trade agreements such as CPTPP and CUSMA. A few activities, such as business visits or officiating at some international sporting events, need no permit at all. A worker who applies for an extension before the current permit expires generally keeps maintained status and can continue working under the same conditions while IRCC decides.
Poland uses a different model: the employer obtains a work permit from the regional voivode, and the worker then applies for a national D visa at a Polish consulate.