LMIA-Backed Work Permits, Open Work Permits & Intra-Company Transfers
Working in Canada offers foreign professionals, skilled tradespeople, and recent graduates an exceptional opportunity to build Canadian experience and establish foundations for permanent settlement. Canadian work authorizations are broadly divided into two categories: employer-specific (closed) work permits, which require a Labor Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) or an LMIA-exempt code, and open work permits, which permit employment with almost any compliant Canadian employer.
Navigating the International Mobility Program (IMP) and the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) requires precise legal alignment. Key open work permit pathways include the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) for eligible international graduates, Spousal Open Work Permits (SOWP) for partners of skilled workers and specific student categories, and reciprocal working holiday programs. For Canadian employers seeking international talent or multi-national corporations transferring key personnel, Intra-Company Transferees (ICT) and trade treaty exemptions provide critical alternatives.
Knesta Global Immigration Solution Inc. provides full-spectrum work permit services. We assist Canadian businesses in meeting strict Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) conditions and guide foreign nationals in securing compliant work authorization while maintaining valid temporary resident status in Canada.
LMIA-Backed Work Permits
Open Work Permit Solutions
Maintained Status & Extensions
Key Benefits of Authorized Work Permit Counsel
Complex IRCC regulations dictate eligibility, spousal rights, and work authorization validity:
Frequently Asked Questions About Canadian Work Permits
Insights into eligibility, processing times, and work permit transitions.
Spouses of skilled temporary foreign workers (NOC TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3) are generally eligible to apply for a Spousal Open Work Permit (SOWP), subject to IRCC's policy conditions regarding principal applicant job validity and minimum employment duration.
A PGWP is an open work permit granted to international students who graduate from an eligible program at a Canadian Designated Learning Institution (DLI). Its duration ranges from 8 months up to 3 years depending on the length and level of study.
If you apply to extend your work permit before your current authorization expires, you maintain legal status and the authorization to continue working under the same conditions until IRCC makes a formal determination on your extension application.
Processing times vary significantly based on whether the application is filed inside Canada or from outside, the specific visa office handling the file, and whether a biometric or medical exam is required. IRCC publishes updated estimates weekly.