How to Apply for a Canada Work Permit in 2026: Step by Step

Getting a Canadian work permit is mostly paperwork, but it's paperwork where small gaps cost months. People who plan the order of their steps usually have a much calmer experience than those who start with the online form and work backwards.

This guide walks through the application itself as it works in September 2026: which permit you need, what your employer does first, how the online portal works, which documents and fees to prepare, and what happens after approval. If you already have a permit and want to extend it, read our work permit renewal roadmap instead.

First, work out which permit you need

Canada has two broad types of work permit, and you don't get to pick. Your situation decides which one applies to you.

• Employer-specific (closed) work permit. This lets you work for one employer, in one job, usually at one location. The details are printed on the permit, and you must follow them.
• Open work permit. This lets you work for almost any employer in Canada. You don't need a job offer, but you can only get one in specific situations.

IRCC (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada) says most people applying from outside Canada can't get an open work permit. The open routes are mainly for groups such as International Experience Canada working holiday participants, some family members of workers and students, post-graduation work permit applicants, and people already in Canada in certain situations.

What your employer must do before you apply

For an employer-specific permit, your employer has homework to finish first. You can't complete your application without the reference numbers they receive.

Jobs that need an LMIA

A Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) is a check by Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) that confirms the employer needs a foreign worker for the job. IRCC says most jobs need one. The employer applies and pays, and the rules say the processing fee can't be recovered from you.

Once the LMIA is positive, the employer gives you a copy of the decision letter and its Annex A. You upload these with your work permit application.

Jobs that are LMIA-exempt

Some jobs don't need an LMIA, for example under certain trade agreements or intra-company transfers. In that case the employer submits an offer of employment through IRCC's Employer Portal and pays a CAD 230 employer compliance fee. They then give you an offer of employment number, which you enter in your application.

If you're still looking for a job, our guide to finding Canadian employers that hire foreign workers explains how to use the government's own lists.

Check the general requirements

Every work permit applicant, whatever the category, has to meet the same basic tests. According to IRCC, when you apply from outside Canada you must:

• show you have enough money to support yourself and any family members during your stay, and to return home
• include all the required documents
• provide any other documents IRCC asks for to prove you can enter Canada
• show that you'll leave Canada when your permit expires

Applications can be refused if you're medically inadmissible, have a criminal record, pose a security risk, or misrepresent anything. They're also refused if the employer is on IRCC's list of ineligible, non-compliant employers.

Step by step: applying online from outside Canada

Here's the order that works for most applicants. Your own checklist in the portal is the final word.

1. Confirm your category. Use IRCC's questionnaire and check whether your program has special instructions, such as the Global Skills Strategy, caregivers or International Experience Canada.
2. Collect your employer's documents. You need the LMIA decision letter and Annex A, or the offer of employment number for an LMIA-exempt job, plus your written job offer.
3. Sign in or create an IRCC secure account. IRCC says paper applications are only allowed in limited cases, such as a disability that prevents online filing or applications under the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program.
4. Answer the eligibility questions. Your answers generate a personalised document checklist.
5. Fill in the forms and upload documents. The core form is the Application for Work Permit Made Outside of Canada (IMM 1295). Scan everything clearly.
6. Pay the fees online. You need a valid credit or debit card. You pay for yourself and anyone included in your application.
7. Submit a complete application. IRCC warns that incomplete applications can be refused without being processed.
8. Give your biometrics. If you need them, you'll get a biometric instruction letter. IRCC says you have 30 days from the date on the letter to give your fingerprints and photo.
9. Respond to any requests. IRCC may ask for an interview, a medical exam or more documents.

The documents you'll usually need

IRCC's own list for applicants outside Canada starts with three items that everyone needs: the IMM 1295 form, a copy of a valid passport and one photo meeting the visa photo specifications. Most applicants also need more, depending on the job and the country they apply from.

If your job is regulated in Canada, such as nursing or engineering, keep your licensing paperwork organised as well. A work permit doesn't replace a provincial licence.

Fees and money to budget for

At the time of writing (September 2026), the IRCC fee list shows these government fees. Always check the fee list on the day you pay.

The government fees are only part of the cost. Plan for:

• Language tests, credential checks and translations, if your job or visa office needs them.
• Medical exams and police certificates, which you pay for directly.
• Flights and your first months in Canada. Budget for rent, a deposit, winter clothing and daily costs before your first paycheque.
• Health cover. Provincial health insurance rules vary. IRCC says you and your family should have provincial or territorial coverage, or enough money for medical care, so private insurance for the waiting period is worth pricing.

Banking and sending money home

Once you arrive, get a Social Insurance Number (SIN) so you can be paid, and open a Canadian bank account. When you send money to family, compare the total cost of each transfer, including the exchange rate margin, not just the advertised fee.

After you submit: approval and arrival

IRCC checks that your application is complete, confirms your employer isn't on the non-compliant list and assesses whether you qualify. Check the official processing times tool for your country. Times vary widely, so don't book non-refundable travel until you're approved.

If you're approved, IRCC sends a port of entry letter of introduction. IRCC is clear that this letter isn't your work permit. When you land, you show it to a Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) officer along with:

• your passport and visitor visa, if you need one
• valid immigration medical results, if you needed an exam
• proof you meet the job requirements
• a copy of the LMIA, or the offer of employment number for LMIA-exempt jobs

The officer makes the final decision and prints your work permit. Read it before you leave the counter, because mistakes are easier to fix there.

If you're refused, IRCC's decision letter explains why. Our guide to making your Canadian work permit application easier covers the common refusal reasons and how to avoid them.

Scams to watch for

Work permits attract fraud because people want them badly. IRCC says no one can guarantee you a job or a visa to Canada. Be wary of anyone who:

• charges you for a job offer or an "LMIA"
• promises approval or faster processing for a fee
• asks you to pay into a personal bank account or through a private money transfer app
• contacts you from a free email address or social media account claiming to be IRCC
• offers a salary that seems far too high for the job

ESDC's rules also say employers and recruiters can't charge you recruitment fees or pass on the LMIA fee. If you use a paid representative, check they're a licensed consultant or lawyer before you share any documents.

Your work permit checklist

• Use IRCC's questionnaire to confirm which permit you need.
• For an employer-specific permit, make sure your employer has a positive LMIA or has submitted an offer of employment.
• Check your passport won't expire before the end date you want.
• Gather your job offer, qualifications, reference letters and proof of funds.
• Check your local visa office's extra requirements.
• Create your IRCC secure account and follow your personalised checklist.
• Pay the current fees shown on the IRCC fee list.
• Give biometrics within 30 days of your instruction letter.
• Wait for approval before booking non-refundable travel.
• Never pay anyone for a job offer or a "guaranteed" permit.

A work permit application rewards patience and accuracy more than speed. Get your employer's steps finished, build a complete file, and apply once. That gives you the best chance of a clean decision.