Canada · Work
Canada Employer work permit
First stay: 3 yrs
Employer-specific work permit (LMIA-based)
First checked against official sources on Change log
Key facts
Employer work permit is a work route for Canada. Local work: limited. Checked 2026-10-10 against the official source.
- Government fees
- CAD 155 ≈ $110
- Processing
- Up to 60 days
- First stay
- 3 yrs
Cost, time and long term
To apply: government fee CAD 155 ≈ $110; decision: up to 60 days. No lawyer or agent fee is included.
Government feesCAD 155 ≈ $110
- CAD 155 (≈ $110)Work permit fee per person, including extensions.
RenewalRenewable
An employer-specific work permit can be extended, or its conditions, job or employer changed, by applying to IRCC.
CitizenshipAfter 3 years as a permanent resident
Each day as a temporary resident counts as half a day (maximum 365 days of credit), and you still need at least 730 days as a permanent resident within the 5 years before applying, for 1,095 days in total.
ProcessingUp to 60 days
The service standard is 60 days for a first work permit applied for from outside Canada and 120 days for an extension inside Canada.
Where to applyAbroad or in-country
You can apply from outside Canada, from inside Canada, or at a port of entry, depending on your situation.
Why this route may not fit
Check this before you apply.
- Needs a job offer from an employer in Canada
- Work rights are limited
What you'll need
Who can apply3
- The applicant has a job offer from an employer that is not on the list of non-compliant employers.
- The applicant meets the general requirements for all work permit applicants.
- A positive LMIA confirms the need for a foreign worker; some jobs are LMIA-exempt.
What you must show1
- The work permit fee is CAD 155 (≈ $110) per person, including extensions.
Documents1
- The employer gives the worker the LMIA letter and Annex A to include in the work permit application.
Steps2
- The employer finds out whether the job needs an LMIA and applies for one if needed.
- Apply from outside Canada, inside Canada or at a port of entry, depending on the situation.
What happens at day 183
How Canada decides tax residence and treats foreign-source income, from its tax records.
- Stay on this route
Up to 3 years at first, renewable
- Tax residence
- At least 183 days in a calendar yearDay count used in the CRA residency decision flow (page wording: fewer than 183 days versus more than 182 days throughout the year); significant ties and treaty residence are assessed together with it.
- At least 183 days in a tax yearA person who sojourned in Canada in the year for 183 days or more is deemed resident for the whole year (Income Tax Act s.250(1)(a))
- Foreign-source income
Worldwide income for residents; Canadian-source income for non-residents
All tax rules for Canada Tax records checked
Full official text
Work permit tied to one employer, occupation and location; most jobs need a positive Labour Market Impact Assessment obtained by the employer unless the job is LMIA-exempt. 1 2 3 4 5
What you must show and pay
- A fee of CAD 155 (≈ $110) · Work permit fee per person, including extensions. 4
Requirements
- The applicant has a job offer from an employer that is not on the list of non-compliant employers. 1
- The applicant meets the general requirements for all work permit applicants. 1
- A positive LMIA confirms the need for a foreign worker; some jobs are LMIA-exempt. 1 2
- The work permit fee is CAD 155 (≈ $110) per person, including extensions. 4
- The employer gives the worker the LMIA letter and Annex A to include in the work permit application. 1
- The employer finds out whether the job needs an LMIA and applies for one if needed. 1
- Apply from outside Canada, inside Canada or at a port of entry, depending on the situation. 1
Stay
- Valid until the expiry date on the permit; a high-wage LMIA position can request an employment duration of up to 3 years.
- First stay: up to 36 months, decided case by case.
- Renewable, subject to the conditions in force at renewal.
Nationality
No nationality restriction.
Work
Work only for the named employer, location and occupation.
Family
Family members may apply for their own permits.
Official sources
- Employer-specific work permits · Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada · checked 2026-10-10
- Hire a temporary foreign worker: find out if you need a labour market impact assessment · Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada · checked 2026-10-10
- Work in Canada temporarily: types of work permits · Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada · checked 2026-10-10
- Citizenship and immigration application fees: fee list · Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada · checked 2026-10-11
- Hire a top foreign talent through the Global Talent Stream · Employment and Social Development Canada · checked 2026-10-10
- Apply for citizenship: who can apply (physical presence) · Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada · checked 2026-10-11
- IRCC service standards · Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada · checked 2026-10-11
Employer work permit and its alternatives
| Route | Money needed | Stay | Work |
|---|---|---|---|
| Employer work permit | – | 3 yr, renewable | Limited |
| Atlantic Immigration | – | – | Limited |
| BC PNP Skills Immigration | Needs income from CAD 26k a year ≈ $18k | – | – |
| Express Entry · Trades | Needs savings from CAD 15k ≈ $11k | – | – |
| Express Entry · Skilled Worker | Needs savings from CAD 15k ≈ $11k | – | – |
Questions people ask
How much money do I need for the Employer work permit?
A fee of CAD 155 (≈ $110). Work permit fee per person, including extensions.
How long can I stay on the Employer work permit?
Valid until the expiry date on the permit; a high-wage LMIA position can request an employment duration of up to 3 years.
How long does the Employer work permit take to process?
The service standard is 60 days for a first work permit applied for from outside Canada and 120 days for an extension inside Canada.
Can I work on the Employer work permit?
Limited. Work only for the named employer, location and occupation.
Can I bring my family on the Employer work permit?
Family members may apply for their own permits.
How are Employer work permit holders taxed in Canada?
No special regime in our records is tied to the Employer work permit. The standard rules apply: Tax obligations follow residency status decided on all facts, mainly significant residential ties; residents report world income from all sources.
More in Canada
Work visas elsewhere
≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated.
Ask the AI about this route AI
An AI assistant answers from the published records on this page and cites them. It can't assess your personal eligibility. Don't include personal details.
How this was checked
Checked on 2026-10-10 against 7 official sources. Status: verified against the official sources.
Every figure on this page comes from the official source it links to. The record was researched against these sources, then reviewed separately, with special attention to effective dates and amendments. Where a source does not state something, the page leaves it out.
- Employer-specific work permits · Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada · checked 2026-10-10
- Hire a temporary foreign worker: find out if you need a labour market impact assessment · Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada · checked 2026-10-10
- Work in Canada temporarily: types of work permits · Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada · checked 2026-10-10
- Citizenship and immigration application fees: fee list · Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada · checked 2026-10-11
- Hire a top foreign talent through the Global Talent Stream · Employment and Social Development Canada · checked 2026-10-10
- Apply for citizenship: who can apply (physical presence) · Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada · checked 2026-10-11
- IRCC service standards · Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada · checked 2026-10-11
Tracked since 2026-10-10. Rule changes and corrections are listed on the changes page, and the methodology page explains how facts are checked. Found something out of date? Email contact@stayglobe.app with a link to the official source.