Work in Canada (Work Permits)

Canada issues hundreds of thousands of work permits each year. A Canadian work permit lets a foreign national work legally in Canada, either for a specific employer (employer-specific/“closed” permit) or for any employer (open permit), depending on the program. Most pathways fall under one of two umbrellas:

Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) — usually requires a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA).
International Mobility Program (IMP) — LMIA-exempt categories that serve Canada’s broader economic, social, cultural, or trade interests (e.g., intra-company transferees, certain free-trade agreement categories, significant benefit, Francophone Mobility). Employers submit an offer in the Employer Portal and pay the compliance fee.

Flagpoling

Flagpoling is when a foreign national with temporary resident status in Canada leaves the country and then re-enters within 24 hours to access immigration services. The term comes from the idea of traveling around the flagpole before presenting oneself at the border.

Canada ended flagpoling for most work-permit types at land borders in December 23, 2024. Flagpoling for spousal OWP was also ended.

Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP)
PGWP requires minimum language results (CLB 7 for degree programs; CLB 5 for most other eligible programs) and many non-degree programs must be in fields linked to long-term labour shortages (check IRCC’s live list by CIP code). Exceptions apply to flight training. IRCC updated the eligible field-of-study list again on July 4, 2025 and signalled the next large update in early 2026

Check Field of study: Currently eligible CIP codes

Types of Canadian work permits

1) Employer-specific (LMIA-required under the TFWP)

The employer gets a positive LMIA from ESDC, then you apply for a work permit naming that employer, occupation, and location.

High-wage stream: offered wage must be ≥ 20% above the provincial/territorial median; transition plans are required.
Low-wage stream: strict caps (generally 10% of workforce; some sectors 20%) and refusal-to-process rules in CMAs with unemployment ≥ 6% or for certain regions in Québec.
Median wage thresholds that determine high- vs low-wage are updated by ESDC, always confirm the current table.

Employer responsibilities: pay prevailing wage for the occupation/location; meet advertising and recruitment standards; comply with inspections/record-keeping; and, for low-wage LMIAs, additional obligations (e.g., transportation, housing access, etc., where applicable).

TFWP wage and processing controls

Since Nov 8, 2024, the high-wage LMIA stream requires an offered wage 20% above the provincial/territorial median. Separately, Service Canada may refuse to process certain low-wage LMIAs, including in CMAs with unemployment ≥ 6% (updated quarterly) and where an employer exceeds the 10% low-wage cap (some sectors have a 20% cap). Provincial/territorial median wage thresholds were raised on June 27, 2025; check the live ESDC table when planning offers.

Employer-specific (LMIA-exempt) under the IMP

Common examples:

Intra-Company Transferee (ICT) (executive, senior manager, or specialized knowledge).
Free-trade agreement categories (e.g., CUSMA professionals).
Significant benefit (C10/C11), Francophone Mobility, research and reciprocal employment categories.
Employers submit the job offer through the Employer Portal and pay the compliance fee before the worker applies.

Spousal open work permits (SOWP) tied to international students and workers
Since January 21, 2025, spouses/common-law partners of some international students remain eligible (e.g., master’s programs of 16+ months, doctoral, and specific professional degrees). Dependent children are no longer eligible for open permits under this stream. For foreign workers, spousal OWP eligibility is tied to the principal worker’s occupation (TEER 0–1 and select TEER 2–3) and having at least 16 months remaining on the principal’s work authorization.

3) Open work permits (no named employer)

Open permits let you work for most employers in Canada, with standard exclusions (e.g., non-compliant employers list). Popular open-permit pathways include:

a) Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP)

Length: Up to 3 years (depends on program length and rules).
Language proficiency is required; many non-degree programs must appear on IRCC’s eligible field-of-study list (check by CIP code); certain flight training programs remain eligible.
Field-of-study list updates in 2025: IRCC refined the eligible CIP codes on June 25 and July 4, 2025 with anticipated update in early 2026.

b) Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP)

A bridging open work permit allows eligible permanent residence (PR) applicants keep working while their application is processing. Eligible PR streams include Express Entry (FSW/CEC/FST), PNP, Quebec Skilled Worker, Home Child-Care Provider/Home Support Worker, and Agri-Food Pilot (program-specific conditions apply). A BOWP requires an Acknowledgement of Receipt of submitting work permit application to confirm that you are approved-in-principle for certain pilots and that you’re in Canada with valid/maintained/restorable worker status.

c) Spousal/Common-law Open Work Permits

For spouses of international students and workers, the rules changed January 21, 2025

Spouse eligibility is limited to partners of students in master’s programs of 16+ months, doctoral, or select professional degrees designated by IRCC. Spouse eligibility depends on the principal worker’s TEER occupation (0–1 and specific 2–3) and having 16+ months left on their work authorization.
Dependent children are not eligible for open work permits under this family-member stream.

Note: Canada ended flagpoling for spousal OWPs and other inland applications in December 2024

Fees, biometrics & medical exams

Fees: Work permit $155; Open work permit holder fee $100 (when applicable). Restoration and other fees are listed on IRCC’s live fee page.
Biometrics: Often required (fee usually $85) unless previously given and still valid.
Medical exam: Required for certain jobs (e.g., healthcare, childcare) or longer stays/particular travel histories. Find an approved physician here.

How we can help

At Al Dar, we’ll assess your goals and position you in the right stream whether LMIA-required TFWP, an LMIA-exempt IMP option (e.g., ICT/CUSMA/Significant Benefit), an open permit (PGWP/BOWP/SOWP), or a PR pathway with a BOWP safety net—so you can work in Canada without setbacks.