A Canada work visa is really a work permit, and the main fee is CAD $155 per person, plus $85 for biometrics, with the employer-specific kind tied to a job offer and the open kind free of one. Most workers need a job offer, and many employers must first get a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) or use an LMIA-exempt route.
The search term “Canada work visa” covers a few different things. Canada issues a work permit that lets you do a job, and depending on your passport you may also need a visitor visa or an electronic travel authorization to enter. This guide explains the permit types, the LMIA, the LMIA-exempt route, the Global Talent Stream, the fees, the steps and the mistakes to avoid. The facts come from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) pages on working in Canada (the outside-Canada page was updated March 31, 2026), the IRCC fee list and the Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) pages for the Global Talent Stream (updated September 16, 2026). If you are an American planning the move, start with a valid passport, and our US passport guide covers how to get or renew one.
What Is a Canada Work Visa?
A Canada work visa is a work permit, an official document that lets a foreign national work in Canada for a set period. IRCC splits permits into two main types.
The two types are:
- Employer-specific work permit: You need a job offer, and the permit names the employer, the job and the place of work.
- Open work permit: You do not need a job offer, and the permit lets you work for most employers.
IRCC also lists special-instruction permits with their own rules. They include the post-graduation work permit, working as a student, International Experience Canada, working while waiting for permanent residence and open permits for family members of foreign workers. You can apply from outside Canada, from inside Canada or at a port of entry, and you can later extend a permit or change conditions, jobs or employers.
Most people reading this want the employer-specific route. The rest of the guide covers it first, then the open route.
Which Canada Work Visa Route Fits You?
Your route depends on whether you have a job offer and whether the employer needs an LMIA. The table compares the main paths.
| Route | Job offer needed | Employer step | Typical user |
| Employer-specific with LMIA | Yes | Employer gets a positive LMIA | Skilled worker hired by a Canadian firm |
| Employer-specific, LMIA-exempt (International Mobility Program) | Yes | Employer pays $230 and submits an offer of employment | Worker in an exempt category |
| Global Talent Stream | Yes | Employer gets an LMIA, with a $1,000 fee per position | Highly skilled tech or specialized worker |
| Open work permit | No | None | Eligible family members and other special cases |
Each route ends the same way: the worker applies to IRCC for the permit. The difference is the employer paperwork that comes first.
What Is an LMIA and When Do You Need One?
A Labour Market Impact Assessment is the document that shows an employer needs to hire a foreign worker because no Canadian is available for the job. The International Mobility Program exists so some employers can hire without it.
The LMIA belongs to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program. The employer applies, not the worker, and a worker cannot pay for it. For the Global Talent Stream, the ESDC page says the employer pays $1,000 per position requested, the fee is non-refundable if the application is withdrawn, cancelled or refused, and it cannot be paid by or recovered from the temporary foreign worker. Employers and anyone recruiting for them also cannot charge workers recruitment fees.
If an employer asks you to pay for an LMIA, treat that as a warning sign. IRCC keeps a list of non-compliant employers, which is worth checking before you accept a job.
What Is the LMIA-Exempt Route?
The International Mobility Program lets Canadian employers hire temporary foreign workers without an LMIA, using an offer of employment and a $230 employer compliance fee in most cases. The worker then uses a 7-digit offer of employment number to apply for the permit.
IRCC describes these employer steps:
- Pay the employer compliance fee of $230, in most cases.
- Submit an offer of employment form through the Employer Portal, covering the business, the worker, the job details, and wages and benefits.
- Receive a 7-digit offer of employment number.
- Give the number to the worker, who uses it to apply for a work permit.
IRCC lists examples of exempt hiring, such as French-speaking or bilingual workers outside Quebec who meet the language level, overnight camp counsellors, and the Innovation Stream. If the worker already holds an open work permit, the employer does not need to submit an offer of employment or pay the fee. Ask your employer which category they use, because that decides your documents.
What Is the Global Talent Stream?
The Global Talent Stream is a stream of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program for highly skilled workers, and it requires an LMIA. It has two categories.
- Category A: The employer must be referred by a designated partner, and the job must be unique and specialized. Pay must be at least $38.46 an hour ($80,000 a year) for the first 2 positions in a calendar year.
- Category B: The job must be on ESDC’s global talent occupations list, which includes roles such as software developers, data scientists and engineers. No referral is needed.
The employer must pay the prevailing wage, give a signed employment agreement on or before the worker’s first day and commit to a Labour Market Benefits Plan. If your offer comes through this stream, your employer handles the LMIA, and you apply for the permit after.
How Much Does a Canada Work Visa Cost?
The work permit fee is CAD $155 per person, and biometrics add $85. The open work permit holder fee is $100.
IRCC lists these fees:
- Work permit, per person, including extensions: $155.
- Open work permit holder: $100.
- Biometrics, per individual: $85.
- Biometrics, per family of 2 or more eligible people: $170 maximum.
- Employer compliance fee for the LMIA-exempt route: $230, paid by the employer.
- LMIA fee under the Global Talent Stream: $1,000 per position, paid by the employer.
All amounts are in Canadian dollars. Medical exams, police certificates, translations and courier costs are extra, and they vary. Some people are exempt from fees, and IRCC publishes a fee exemptions page. Check the exact rules for your case on the IRCC site before you pay.
How Do You Apply for a Canada Work Visa?
Check your eligibility, gather the documents, apply online, give biometrics, wait for the decision and carry your documents to the border. IRCC describes six stages when you apply from outside Canada.
Follow these steps:
- Review the eligibility rules for your situation and permit type.
- Gather the application form, the local visa office requirements and your employment documents, such as the offer number or LMIA.
- Sign in to your IRCC account, upload the documents, pay the fees and give biometrics.
- Wait for a decision, and check your application status in your account.
- Arrive in Canada with the documents needed at the border, and collect your work permit.
- After approval, get a Social Insurance Number and insurance, and learn how to extend the permit.
The IRCC page does not list a single processing time. It points to a processing times tool, and times change often. Check the tool before you plan a start date. Our visa processing time calculator gives a rough idea, and the visa documents checklist tool helps you keep every paper in one place.
What Documents Do You Need?
You need a valid passport, the job documents from your employer and proof that you meet the permit rules. The exact list depends on your country and your route.
Common items include:
- A valid passport with enough validity for the permit period.
- The offer of employment number for LMIA-exempt jobs, or a copy of the positive LMIA for LMIA jobs.
- A signed job offer or contract that matches the details your employer gave IRCC.
- Proof of your education, training and work experience for the role.
- Passport-style photos if your form asks for them.
- Biometrics, given at an approved location after you pay.
Your local visa office may ask for more, such as a medical exam or police certificate, so read the checklist that appears after you answer IRCC’s questions. A passport near expiry can limit the permit period, so renew early. See our passport renewal guide for how.
What Happens After Your Canada Work Visa Is Approved?
You travel to Canada with the documents needed at the border, collect your work permit there, and then set up your Social Insurance Number and insurance. IRCC’s page also covers extensions and job changes.
At arrival, officers check your documents before they issue the permit, so keep your approval letter, passport and job papers in your carry-on bag, not in checked luggage. After you collect the permit, apply for a Social Insurance Number, since employers need it for payroll. IRCC explains how to extend your permit, how to change conditions, jobs or employers, and what to do if you lose your job. It also covers worker rights and how to report an abusive employer. Read those sections early, so you know your options before a problem happens. Set a reminder at least a few months before the permit expires, because an extension needs time to process.
How Does a Canada Work Visa Compare With Other Countries?
Canada ties most permits to an employer, much like Germany’s work visa, but it adds an open permit option and a separate employer step. Comparing routes helps you choose a destination.
If you are weighing destinations, our guides on the Germany work visa and the study visa in Canada show how permits connect to study and work plans. Students who graduate in Canada can sometimes move to work through special-instruction permits such as the post-graduation work permit, which IRCC lists as its own category. For the broader US side of visas, see our guide to how to get an entry visa to the US.
What Mistakes Cause Delays or Refusals?
Missing employer documents, the wrong permit type and unverified job offers cause most problems. Check each point before you submit.
- Applying under the wrong route, such as an LMIA-exempt route when the job needs an LMIA.
- Entering the offer of employment number incorrectly.
- Paying a recruiter or employer for an LMIA, which employers cannot recover from workers.
- Skipping biometrics or paying the wrong fee.
- Starting work before the permit is approved.
- Using a passport that expires too soon.
If something looks wrong, contact IRCC through your account. For the official starting point, use the IRCC page on working in Canada.
FAQs
What is a Canada work visa?
It is a work permit that lets a foreign national work in Canada for a set time. It may be employer-specific, tied to a job offer, or open.
How much does a Canada work visa cost?
The work permit fee is CAD $155 per person, plus $85 for biometrics. The open work permit holder fee is $100.
Do I need a job offer for a Canada work visa?
Usually yes. Employer-specific permits need a job offer. Open work permits do not, but only certain people qualify for them.
What is an LMIA?
A Labour Market Impact Assessment is a document the employer obtains to show a foreign worker is needed. Some employers use the LMIA-exempt route instead.
Who pays for the LMIA?
The employer pays. Under the Global Talent Stream the fee is $1,000 per position, and it cannot be paid by or recovered from the worker.
Can I apply from outside Canada?
Yes. IRCC lets you apply from outside Canada, from inside Canada or at a port of entry, depending on your situation and permit type.
How long does a Canada work visa take?
Times change. IRCC points to its processing times tool, so check it for your permit type and country before you plan a start date.
Conclusion
A Canada work visa is a work permit, and most workers need a job offer, with an LMIA or an LMIA-exempt offer number behind it. Budget CAD $155 for the permit and $85 for biometrics, verify the employer, and use the IRCC processing tool to plan your timeline.
