Temporary Work Permits

• GETTING STARTED
• APPLICATION GUIDE AND FORMS
• REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL TEMPORARY WORK PERMIT APPLICANTS
• FEE PAYMENT OPTIONS
• WORKING IN QUEBEC
• FREE TRADE AGREEMENTS (NAFTA AND GATS)
• PASSPORT VALIDITY
• MEDICAL EXAMINATIONS
• SUPPLEMENTARY FORMS
• WHERE TO APPLY
• DOCUMENT ISSUED
• CUSTOMS INFORMATION
• PROCESSING TIMES

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GETTING STARTED

Read this information carefully before you submit your application for a Temporary Work Permit

• Do you require a Work Permit to work temporarily in Canada?
• Do you need a labour market opinion from Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC)?

APPLICATION GUIDE AND FORMS

Electronic submission of the application form is not yet available. You must print the application form and submit it by mail. We do not offer pre-assessment or counselling services. Submit your completed application with all your supporting documents and the appropriate fees and an Immigration Officer will assess it.

Access the guide (PDF* 237 KB), the checklist (PDF* 29.4 KB) and application form (PDF* 22.1 KB).

REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL TEMPORARY WORK PERMIT APPLICANTS

1) Application for a Work Permit made outside of Canada (IMM 1295) (PDF* 221 KB) completed and signed (The Guide "Applying for a Work Permit outside Canada (PDF* 237 KB)" will help you complete the application form properly. The Guide also contains important information on such issues as maintaining your status and that of any accompanying dependants while you are in Canada, your permitted length of stay, documentary requirements when travelling with children, etc.)

2) All items indicated on the Document Checklist (PDF* 29.4 KB)

3) Proof of lawful status in the United States or Canada.

• If you are a citizen of the United States, please provide a photocopy of one of the following documents:
  • US passport
  • Birth Certificate
  • Naturalization Certificate
    
    
• If you are a permanent resident of the United States, please provide a photocopy of one of the following documents:
  • Valid Green Card
  • Valid I-551 endorsement in your passport
    
    
• If you are in the United States with temporary status, please provide:
  • Your US Non-Immigrant Visa, (whether it is in your current passport or an expired passport)
  • The original I-94 card issued by US authorities at the time of your entry into the US,
  • The original document issued to you by US authorities to confer that status (e.g.: SEVIS I-20 or DS-2019 or I-797 form).
    
    
• If you are in Canada with temporary status, please provide:
  • A photocopy of the page in your passport on which your entry to Canada was authorized and
  • A copy of the document issued to you by Canadian authorities to confer that status (Work Permit, Study Permit, etc.)
    
    

4) A letter of reference from your current employer describing your job duties, length of service and salary.

5) Photocopies of educational or trade certificates, professional licences or apprenticeship papers.

6) If you are applying for a TEMPORARY WORK PERMIT in a validation exempt category and do not require an HRSDC-confirmation, you must provide:

• a letter from your prospective employer describing your job duties
• anticipated duration of employment and
• salary.

FEE PAYMENT OPTIONS

You may pay fees in Canadian or US dollars. See the Fee Schedule

Fees must be paid by certified cheque or money order (if applying in person, fees may be paid by Canadian or US cash in the exact amount of the fee).

The fee must be payable to "The Canadian Consulate-General

The fee must be drawn on a US or Canadian bank

WORKING IN QUEBEC

There are special requirements for persons intending to work in the Province of Quebec. For more information, please consult: Quebec Immigration.

FREE TRADE AGREEMENTS (NAFTA AND GATS)

Temporary worker provisions of free trade agreements can be found at the Citizenship and Immigration Canada web site. 

PASSPORT VALIDITY

If you are from a country whose citizens require Temporary Resident Visas (TRVs) to enter Canada, your passport should be valid for at least 3 months from your intended date of arrival in Canada. If your passport is nearing expiration, you should obtain a validity extension or a new passport prior to submitting your TEMPORARY WORK PERMIT application.

MEDICAL EXAMINATION REQUIREMENTS for VISITORS

You may be required to undergo a medical examination.

SUPPLEMENTARY FORMS

Allpersons between 16 and 65 years of age from the following countries must complete this questionnaire and include it with their applications:

Afghanistan, Bosnia, Croatia, Haiti, Iraq, Iran, Kosovo, Libya, Macedonia, Palestinian Authority, Rwanda, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria

WHERE TO APPLY

Certain persons may submit applications upon arrival at a Canadian Port-of-Entry (e.g., your airport of arrival or land crossing into Canada).

See Citizenship and Immigration Canada for more details.

Persons lawfully admitted to the United States or Canada may submit TEMPORARY WORK PERMIT applications, either in person or by mail, at any of the six Canadian Visa Offices listed below:

• Buffalo
• Detroit
• Los Angeles
• New York
• Seattle
• Washington

It is advisable to choose the Visa Office nearest your current place of residence.

You may be required to attend an interview at the Visa Office where you submit your application.

An interview with a Visa Officer is neither a right nor a requirement. In most cases, the Officer will make a decision based on the information contained on the application form and on the documentation submitted. It is your responsibility - and in your own self-interest - to ensure that you complete the application form fully and submit all requested documentation with it.

For Visa Office Specific instructions, visit the webpage of the office where you will submit your application.

DOCUMENT ISSUED

If you are a citizen of a visa-exempt country, you will be issued a letter to present at the Canadian Port-of-Entry when you enter Canada. The Canada Border Services Agency officer will issue your TEMPORARY WORK PERMIT.

If you are from a country whose citizens require Temporary Resident Visas (TRVs) to enter Canada, your passport will be requested so that a TRV can be issued at the same time as the letter to be presented at the Canadian Port-of-Entry. The Canada Border Services Agency officer will issue your TEMPORARY WORK PERMIT. There is no extra fee payable for a TRV and you do not have to complete a separate application form.

CUSTOMS INFORMATION

For information on Canadian Customs requirements, please visit the Canada Border Services Agency web site.

PROCESSING TIMES

Most applications are processed within 1 - 28 days. Please see processing times.

Mail-in applications will face longer processing times than in-person applications.

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