Canada Work Visa 2026: Work Permit Types, Rules and Fees
What most people call a Canadian work visa is a work permit. There are only two types, and you do not get to choose between them: your situation decides. This guide explains both, what the employer has to do first, and what it costs, using Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) pages read on 13 October 2026.
Quick answer
Most foreign nationals need a work permit to work in Canada. The common type is the employer-specific work permit: you need a job offer, and for most jobs your employer must first get a labour market impact assessment (LMIA) showing a foreign worker is needed. The other type, the open work permit, needs no job offer but is only available in specific situations, such as graduates of Canadian schools, Working Holiday participants and spouses of some workers and students. The government fee is CAD 155 per person, plus CAD 100 for open work permit holders and CAD 85 for biometrics. You must also show you have enough money for your stay and that you will leave Canada when the permit expires.
The two types of Canadian work permit
| Employer-specific work permit | Open work permit | |
|---|---|---|
| Job offer | Required | Not required |
| Who you can work for | The employer, location and occupation named on the permit | Any employer in Canada, with a few exclusions |
| LMIA | Needed for most jobs, unless the job is LMIA-exempt | Not needed |
| Who gets it | Most applicants; IRCC calls it the most common type | Only people in specific situations |
| Where you apply | Outside Canada, inside Canada or at a port of entry, depending on your case | Most applicants must apply in Canada |
| Government fee | CAD 155 | CAD 155 plus the CAD 100 open work permit holder fee |
Source: IRCC, "Employer-specific work permits", "Open work permits" and the fee list dated 21 September 2026.
IRCC is explicit that you cannot choose which type you need. Each has its own eligibility rules, and the department's online questionnaire tells you which applies to you and whether special instructions cover your case.
Employer-specific work permit
An employer-specific work permit lets you work in Canada under the conditions written on the permit until its expiry date. Those conditions name the employer, the location and the occupation, and you must comply with all of them.
To apply you need two things, according to IRCC:
- a job offer from an employer who is not on the list of non-compliant employers;
- to meet the general requirements that apply to all work permit applicants.
The LMIA: what your employer does first
A labour market impact assessment is a document that proves there is a need to hire a foreign worker to fill the job. IRCC says most jobs need one. Before you apply for your permit, your employer has to:
- find out whether the job needs an LMIA or is LMIA-exempt;
- apply for the LMIA if it is needed;
- give you the documents you must include in your application, such as the LMIA letter and Annex A from the positive LMIA.
IRCC lists these as popular employer-specific permits with their own instructions: the International Experience Canada Young Professionals category, the Global Skills Strategy, and permits for agricultural workers.
Open work permit
An open work permit lets you work for almost any employer in Canada. The exceptions are employers on the non-compliant list and businesses that regularly offer striptease, erotic dance, escort services or erotic massages. Because the permit is not tied to a job, your employer does not need an LMIA, does not submit an offer of employment and does not pay the employer compliance fee.
You can apply only in specific situations. IRCC groups them like this:
- Students, graduates and youth: post-graduation work permit applicants, International Experience Canada Working Holiday applicants, and destitute students.
- Spouses and dependent children: family members of work permit holders and of permanent residence applicants, spouses and common-law partners of international students, and sponsored family members.
- Vulnerable people: refugees, asylum claimants and protected persons, victims of workplace abuse, and people in crisis.
- Others: permanent residence applicants, temporary resident permit holders, Indigenous Peoples and Quebec investors.
An open permit can still carry restrictions. You may need a medical exam to work in some jobs, and a permit issued under the provincial nominee class may limit you to one province.
Requirements when you apply from outside Canada
To apply for a work permit from outside Canada you must:
- show that you have enough money to take care of yourself and your family members during your stay and to return home;
- include all the required documents in your application;
- give any other documents IRCC asks for to prove you can enter the country;
- show that you will leave Canada before your work permit expires.
IRCC does not set one fixed amount of money. It depends on your family size, the community you plan to settle in and the work permit program, and the department points applicants to its low income cut-offs as a general reference.
What a Canadian work permit costs
| Fee | Amount (CAD) |
|---|---|
| Work permit, including extensions, per person | 155 |
| Open work permit holder fee | 100 |
| Biometrics, per individual | 85 |
| Biometrics, family of 2 or more applying together | 170 |
| International Experience Canada fee | 184.75 |
| Restoring your status as a worker and getting a new work permit | 401.25 |
| Employer compliance fee, paid by the employer | 230 |
Some applicants are exempt from the work permit fee; IRCC publishes the list of exemptions. The fee list was last modified on 21 September 2026.
How to apply from outside Canada
- Check if you can apply and which type of permit your situation calls for.
- Get the employer's documents: the job offer and, for most jobs, the LMIA letter and Annex A.
- Gather your forms and documents, including any your local visa office requires.
- Submit your application through your online IRCC account, upload documents and pay the fees.
- Give your biometrics.
- Wait for a decision. IRCC's processing times tool gives, for a work permit applied for from outside Canada: India 11 weeks, Nigeria 10 weeks, Pakistan 8 weeks, the Philippines 7 weeks, the United States 6 weeks and the United Kingdom 4 weeks. Figures change, so check the tool for your own country before you apply.
- Arrive in Canada with the documents you need at the border, where the work permit is issued.
- Get a social insurance number after you arrive.
Until you hold a permit, IRCC says you cannot legally work in Canada or state on a job application that you are legally allowed to work there.
Bringing your family
Your spouse, common-law partner and dependent children may be able to visit, study or work in Canada with you. Each family member is assessed separately: they may need a visitor visa or an electronic travel authorization, a study permit to study, or they may be eligible for an open work permit of their own.
Working towards permanent residence
A work permit is temporary. IRCC lists pathways to permanent residence for people who already hold one. The government fee for economic immigration, including Express Entry, is CAD 1,590 for the main applicant, which includes the CAD 600 right of permanent residence fee, and CAD 270 for each dependent child. See our guides to the Express Entry points system and category-based draws.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Canadian work permit cost in 2026?
The work permit fee is CAD 155 per person. Open work permit holders pay an extra CAD 100, and biometrics cost CAD 85 per person or CAD 170 for a family of two or more applying together.
Can I get a Canadian work permit without a job offer?
Only with an open work permit, which is limited to specific situations: for example post-graduation work permit applicants, International Experience Canada Working Holiday participants, and spouses of some workers and international students. Most people need a job offer and an employer-specific permit.
What is an LMIA?
A labour market impact assessment is a document that proves there is a need to hire a foreign worker to fill a job. Most jobs need one. The employer applies for it and gives you the LMIA letter and Annex A to include in your work permit application.
Can I choose between an open and an employer-specific work permit?
No. IRCC states that you cannot choose which type of work permit you need. Each type has its own eligibility requirements, and your situation determines which one applies.
Can I change employers on a Canadian work permit?
On an employer-specific permit you can only work for the employer, in the location and occupation, named on the permit. To change, you apply to change the conditions of your permit. An open work permit lets you work for almost any employer.
How much money do I need to show for a Canadian work permit?
There is no single figure. You must show enough money to support yourself and your family during your stay and to return home. The amount depends on your family size, where you will live and the permit program; IRCC refers applicants to its low income cut-offs as a guide.
Can my spouse work in Canada if I have a work permit?
Possibly. Family members of work permit holders are one of the groups that can apply for an open work permit, if they meet the eligibility rules for that category.
Sources (official only)
- IRCC — Work in Canada temporarily
- IRCC — Employer-specific work permits
- IRCC — Open work permits
- IRCC — Work permit: applying from outside Canada
- IRCC — Applying from outside Canada: check if you can apply
- IRCC — Citizenship and immigration application fees: fee list
- IRCC — Check processing times
All figures verified against the official pages above on 13 October 2026. Fees and rules change, so check the IRCC site before you apply. Information, not legal advice.