Canada Work Visa for Indians

Canada is known for its quality of life, economic influence, and sustainability. It has been ranked as the world's 9th largest economy in 2025, attracting a lot of foreigners to the Canadian job market. If you, too, want to work in Canada, you must first get a Canada work visa or work permit. Know everything from the application process to supporting documents and visa fees in this guide for Canadian work visas for Indians.

Individuals
Sr. Citizens
Students

Plans for an individual of 30 years age travelling to USA for 15 days

What is Canada Work Visa?

Most people refer to the Canadian work permit as Canada work visa. It is the official permit allowing a foreign citizen to work in Canada for a specific period. Unlike common assumptions, a Canada work permit is not a type of Canada visa. Therefore, applicants seeking a work permit must also obtain a Canada work visa (usually the Temporary Resident Visa or TRV) separately to travel and work in Canada.

The Embassy of Canada in their home country issues the work permit on arrival in Canada to people with a letter of approval/authorisation. This is also called the Letter of Introduction ot Port of Entry letter. The permit is valid for a single trip or multiple trips, depending on the nature and duration of the job in Canada.

The work permit is valid for foreign nationals and is issued to foreigners who wish to work in Canada as follows:

Temporary workers
Caregivers (Live-in Caregiver Program or LCP)
Agricultural workers
Business professionals, intra-company transferees, traders, and investors
International students qualifying for post-graduation work permits in Canada
Foreigners working under the International Experience Canada (IEC)

People travelling to Canada for work are advised to obtain travel insurance before beginning their trip. A travel insurance Canada plan will protect you from any unfortunate incidents during your stay in Canada.

Canada Work Visa Fee

All applicants for Canada work visas for Indians must pay the applicable work permit fees when applying. The Canadian Embassy/ Consulates will only consider the application if the applicant pays the fee. The work permit fees consist of the application fee and the biometric fee.

Refer to the table given below to find out the work permit fees applicable to different types of applicants:

Types of Applicants	Canadian Work Permit Fees (In CAD)
Types of Applicants	Application Fees	Biometric Fee (Fingerprint & photo)
Individual applicant	155	85 (per person)170 (per family with at least 2 members)
Group applicant (at least 3 applicants)	465	255
Open Work Permit	100	85
Restore your status as a worker	394.75	85

An applicant can pay the work permit fee online as well as at the Visa Application Centre. The applicant should have a working debit or credit card to pay the fees online. On the other hand, offline permit fees can be paid in the local currency at the VAC.

Types of Canada Work Visa

There are two types of Canadian work visas for Indians. Foreign nationals planning to work in Canada must apply for one of these work permits. The following are the variants of work permits available for Canada:

Employer-Specific Work Permit

This work permit allows its holder to work only for the employer mentioned in the permit. The permit holder must abide by the conditions stated on his work permit to work legally in Canada. Some information on the Employer-Specific Work Permit includes the name of the specific employer with whom he can work and the location, and duration of work.
Open Work Permit

This type of work permit allows its holder to work for any employer in Canada except those listed as ineligible. This permit can be issued to vulnerable workers who have been victims of abuse under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program of Canada.

Visa Guide

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How to Apply for Canada Work Visa for Indians?

All those who want to get a Canada work visa for Indians can apply online by following the steps given below:

Step-by-Step Canada Work Visa Application for Indians:

Go to the official website of the Government of Canada
Open the menu and click on 'Immigration and Citizenship'
Select the 'Work' option to open the page
Go to the 'Get a work permit' option
Choose the relevant type of worker
Click on the option 'Apply for a work permit'
Select the 'How to apply tab'
Scroll down and select the place from where you are applying for a Canada work visa for Indians
Click on 'Get the application to work in Canada'
Select the online application in the drop-down menu and your home country
Create an account or sign in to your existing account
Fill up the application form and submit it
Upload the supporting documents
Pay your visa fees online
Fix an appointment at the Canada Visa Application Centre (VAC)
Get your picture clicked and give your biometric details at the VAC
Go for a visa interview if you are called for it
Successful applicants will get the Approval/ Authorization letter from the Canadian Embassy or Consulate

Apply for Canada Work Visa for Indians Offline:

Go to the official website of Government of Canada
Open the menu and select 'Immigration and Citizenship'
Select 'My application' option to open the page
Click on 'Find forms and guides'
Scroll down and select 'Application for work permit made outside Canada' in the drop-down menu
Go to 'Get the form' option to download the application form
Fill up the downloaded application form
Arrange all the documents required to apply for a Canada work visa for Indians
Schedule an appointment at the relevant Visa Application Centre (VAC) for Canada
Submit your application form and supporting documents at the VAC
Give your biometric details and get your picture clicked
Pay the visa fees
Attend your visa interview if you are summoned for it
Applicants who clear the interview will get their Authorization/ Approval letters from the Canadian Embassy/ Consulate

Documents Required for Canada Work Visa for Indians

Every Canadian work visa applicant needs to submit a few documents to complete their visa application process. The following is the list of documents that the applicant must submit at the time of applying for a Canada Work Visa for Indians:

Original passport with validity for the entire duration of the job
All expired or cancelled passports of the applicants
Proof of the applicant's educational qualification.
Proof of existing work experience, which may include:
Copy of appointment and relieving letters from current and previous employers
Copy of salary slips and Form 16 issued by the employer
Letter of reference stating the nature and duration of the applicant's job
Bank statements
Contact details including, phone numbers and addresses of the employers
Proof of applicant's personal funds, including:
1. Income tax returns for the last two years
2. Bank statements for the previous three months
3. Proof of income from other sources such as property documents, investments, etc.
4. Application form for Temporary Resident Visa (if required)
5. Family Information Form (if dependent family members are also travelling to Canada)
6. Copy of marriage certificate and child's birth certificate (if the spouse or dependent children are also travelling to Canada)
7. Job offer by the employer (if required)

Additional Documents for Live-In Caregiver Program Applicants

Proof of taking a caregiver training course
Evidence of at least one year of experience as a caregiver
Contract of Live-in Caregiver Program
Proof of proficiency in English or French language
Evidence of the financial ability of the applicant's employer to hire a live-in caregiver, including:
Recent Notice of Assessment (NOA) of the employer and his spouse in Canada
Family composition of the employer

How to Track the Status of Canada Work Visa for Indians?

It usually takes about five weeks to process an application for a Canadian work permit for Indians. During this period, you can track the status of their Canada visa application online. To check Canada work visa status for Indians, you can follow the steps given below:

Visit the official website of the Government of Canada
Go to the menu and select 'Immigration and Citizenship'
Click on 'My application' to open the page
Go to 'Check your application status'
Choose 'Work permit' in the drop-down menu
Create an account or sign in to your existing online account
If you had applied through paper applications, link your visa application to the online account
You can check the status of your application for a work permit

Canada Work Visa: FAQs

Q. What are the Canada work visa fees in Indian rupees?

Ans: Canadian work visa costs approximately INR 9869 for an individual (Canadian work permit).
Q. Who can help me with my Canada work visa application?

Ans: In case of any confusion, you can contact the authorised agents. The Government of Canada has authorised VFS Global to provide administrative support to Indian visa applicants, including Canada work visa applicants.
Q. What are the Canada work visa requirements for Indians?

Ans: Indians need a valid Indian passport, a confirmed job offer from a Canadian employer and an LMIA (Labour Market Impact Assessment along with proof of sufficient qualifications, work experience and other clearances.
Q. What are the different Canada visa types for Indians?

Ans: The different types of Canadian visas include visitor visas, work permits, study permits, and permanent residency options.
Q. Are there any Canada embassy fees for work visa application process?

Ans: Yes, you will have to provide the biometric fee depending on your Canada visa type.
Q. How to get work permit in Canada for a visitor?

Ans: You will first need to get a job offer from a Canadian employer willing to hire you. Once you get an offer, you must check if you need LMIA or not and create an account on Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) website.
Q. Is there additional biometric fees for Canada work permit?

Ans: Yes, Indians need to pay an additional biometric fees along with Canada work visa costs.

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