Canada Work Permits
Canada offers multiple work permit pathways — from employer-specific permits requiring a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) to open work permits that let you work for any employer. Work experience in Canada is often the key to permanent residence.
Programs We Specialize In
Specific pathways where the ITC iLand team has deep expertise
Global Talent Stream (GTS)
The fastest work permit for IT professionals — LMIA in ~10 days, work permit in under 2 weeks.
Learn more →Intra-Company Transfer (ICT)
Transfer to your Canadian branch as an executive, manager, or specialized knowledge worker — no LMIA required.
Learn more →C11 Entrepreneur Work Visa
Establish or purchase a Canadian business and receive a 2-year work permit — no LMIA, no age limit, no points system.
Learn more →Who Is This For?
- LMIA-based: You have a job offer from a Canadian employer who has obtained a positive LMIA
- LMIA-exempt (ICA/trade agreements): Your country has a trade agreement with Canada (e.g., CUSMA/USMCA for US/Mexico nationals)
- LMIA-exempt (intracompany transfer): You are being transferred to a Canadian branch of your multinational employer
- Open Work Permit: You are a spouse/common-law partner of a skilled worker or international student
- Open Work Permit: You are a PGWP-eligible international graduate
- Open Work Permit: You are a refugee claimant or protected person (specific circumstances)
How It Works
- 1
Identify the right work permit type
We assess your situation to determine whether you need an LMIA-based permit, qualify for an exemption, or are eligible for an open work permit.
- 2
Secure your job offer (if needed)
For LMIA-based permits, your Canadian employer must first receive a positive LMIA from Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC).
- 3
Gather supporting documents
Prepare your job offer letter, educational credentials, work experience letters, and identity documents.
- 4
Apply for the work permit
Apply online or at the port of entry (for CUSMA/USMCA). Biometrics may be required.
- 5
Receive your work permit & arrive in Canada
A port of entry officer issues the work permit on arrival. Conditions on the permit specify which employer and location you can work at.
- 6
Build Canadian work experience toward PR
One year of skilled Canadian work experience makes you eligible for the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) and many PNP streams.
Why ITC iLand for This Program?
ITC iLand has processed thousands of temporary visa applications — LMIA-based and LMIA-exempt work permits, study permits, and visitor visas across dozens of nationalities. With 25+ years of experience and over 10,000 total cases handled, we know how to build applications that get approved and how to respond when officers push back.
Frequently Asked Questions
A Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) is a document an employer must obtain from Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) to show that no qualified Canadian worker was available for the position. Many work permits are LMIA-exempt — for example, intracompany transfers, CUSMA/USMCA applicants, and spouses of skilled workers or international students.
The duration depends on the type of permit and your job offer. Employer-specific permits are tied to your job offer period, typically 1–3 years. Open work permits (such as PGWPs) can be valid for up to 3 years. You can apply to extend your work permit before it expires.
A closed (employer-specific) work permit ties you to a specific employer. To change employers, you typically need a new work permit. However, under some programs (like the PGWP or spouse's OWP), you can work for any employer in Canada.
Spouses or common-law partners of skilled workers (in NOC TEER 0, 1, or some TEER 2/3 positions) with valid work permits may qualify for an open spousal work permit. Spouses of full-time international students in eligible programs also qualify. ITC iLand assesses spousal OWP eligibility for your specific situation.
Working full-time in Canada in a skilled NOC occupation (TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3) for at least 12 months makes you eligible for Express Entry's Canadian Experience Class. Many Provincial Nominee Programs also have dedicated streams for workers in their provinces. Building Canadian work experience is one of the most reliable paths to PR.
After You Land — We Stay With You
SIN, banking, housing, school enrollment and citizenship countdown — ITC iLand stays with you.
There is Always A Way