Canada Work Visa

What is Canada Work Visa?

Most people refer to work Permit for Canada as Canada Work Visa. It is an 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 Visitor visa separately to travel and work in Canada.

The Embassy of Canada in their home country issues the work permit on arrival in Canada to the people with a letter of approval/authorisation. 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 who want to work in Canada as temporary workers, caregivers, agricultural workers, business professionals, intra-company transferees, traders, investors and international students. Foreigners can also obtain a work permit under International Experience Canada (IEC) or Live-in Caregiver Program (LCP).

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.

Types of Canada Work Visa

There are two types of Canada Work visas for Indians. Foreign nationals planning to work in Canada must apply for any of these work permits. Following are the variants of work permits available for Canada:

How to Apply for Canada Work Visa for Indians?

All those who want to get a Canada Work visa for Indians can apply online or through the paper application. Follow the steps given below to apply for a work permit for Canada:

Apply for Canada Work Visa for Indians Online:

• 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 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 Canada Work visa applicant needs to submit a few documents to complete their visa application process. 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. It should include degree, mark sheet as well as certificates
• 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 Applicants under the Live-In Caregiver Program:

• 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

Canada Work Visa Fee

All applicants for Canada work visas for Indians must pay 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:

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.

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, the applicant can track the status of their Canada visa application online. To check the status of Canada Work visa for Indians, the applicant 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