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.
A Canadian work permit lets a foreign national work legally in Canada. There are two main types: employer-specific permits (usually requiring an LMIA) and open work permits that let you work for any employer. One year of skilled Canadian work experience can qualify you for permanent residence through the Canadian Experience Class.
- Types
- LMIA-based · LMIA-exempt · Open WP
- Processing Time
- 2 weeks – 6 months (varies by type)
- LMIA-Exempt
- ICA Trade Agreements, ICTs, spouses
- PR Pathway
- Canadian work exp → CEC / PNP
Programs We Specialize In
Specific pathways where the ITC iLand team has deep expertise
LMIA — Labour Market Impact Assessment
The standard LMIA process for employers — fees, recruitment advertising, and high/low-wage streams.
Learn moreGlobal Talent Stream (GTS)
The fastest work permit for IT professionals — GTS LMIA has a 10-business-day service standard, work permit targeted within 2 weeks.
Learn moreIntra-Company Transfer (ICT)
Transfer to your Canadian branch as an executive, manager, or specialized knowledge worker — no LMIA required.
Learn moreC11 — Entrepreneurs & Self-Employed
For entrepreneurs and self-employed business owners. The full guide is on the dedicated C11 page.
Learn moreWho 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.
LMIA-exempt work permit codes explained: C10, C11, C12, C20 and more
IRCC gives each LMIA-exempt situation an administrative code. The code tells the officer which exemption your work permit application is assessed under. It is not a permit type you choose, and it is not an approval: IRCC’s own guidance says that meeting the criteria for a code only means you do not need an LMIA, and the officer must still be satisfied that every regulatory requirement for a work permit is met.
Several codes were renumbered on December 15, 2022, which is why older articles still say “C12”. The table lists the codes we are asked about most, using IRCC’s published wording.
| Code | Exemption (IRCC wording) | Regulation |
|---|---|---|
| C10 | Significant benefit – General | R205(a) |
| C11 | Entrepreneurs or self-employed business owners | R205(a) |
| C60 | Provincial business candidates or Quebec self-employed applicants with a Quebec Selection Certificate (CSQ) | R205(a) |
| C61, C62, C63 | Intra-company transfers: employees starting a branch or affiliate in Canada (C61); executives, senior or functional managers at an existing business (C62); specialized knowledge (C63). Previously coded C12 | R205(a) |
| C16 | Francophone mobility | R205(c)(ii) |
| C20, C22, C23, C24, C26 | Reciprocal employment (C20); academic exchanges (C22); performing arts (C23); residential summer camp counsellors (C24); coaches and athletes (C26) | R205(b) |
| C21 | International Experience Canada Program | R204(d) |
| C41, C42, C43 | Spouses or common-law partners of high-skilled workers, TEER 0 through 3 (C41); spouses or common-law partners of full-time students (C42); post-graduation employment, PGWP (C43) | R205(c)(ii) |
| T13, C18 | Canada-provincial/territorial: nominated by a province for permanent residence, significant investment projects, exceptional or unforeseen events (T13); Atlantic Immigration Program (C18) | R204(c) |
| T34, T35, T36, T37, T38 | CUSMA traders (T34), investors (T35), professionals (T36), intra-company transferees who are executives or senior managers (T37) or specialized knowledge workers (T38). Previously coded T21–T24 | R204(a) |
C10 vs C11
Both sit under R205(a), “significant benefit”, but they are separate lines in IRCC’s table with their own listed situations. C10 is the general category, which includes unique work situations such as interns with international organizations and experts on mission for a United Nations office in Canada. C11 is for entrepreneurs and self-employed business owners, and also lists a few unique situations such as fishing guides on Canadian lakes and foreign camp owners or directors. If you are starting or buying a business in Canada, C11 is the line to read.
IRCC renumbers codes from time to time. Check the code that applies to your own file against IRCC’s current list before you rely on any article, including this one.
Source: IRCC — LMIA exemption codes, International Mobility Program
Why ITC iLand for This Program?
ITC iLand has processed temporary visa applications of every kind — LMIA-based and LMIA-exempt work permits, study permits, and visitor visas across dozens of nationalities. With 25+ years of experience and over 1,000 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.
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