Jobs in Canada for foreigners
How the work permit system works, what your employer has to do first, and how to spot a real job offer.
Last checked: November 2026. Immigration rules change often. This page is a general guide, not legal or immigration advice. Confirm every detail on the Government of Canada site before you apply or pay for anything: Canada.ca: employer-specific work permits
Yes, but you usually need a work permit first. Most people from abroad get an employer-specific work permit: you need a job offer, and for most jobs your Canadian employer must first get a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA), a document that proves a foreign worker is needed. An open work permit needs no job offer, but it is only available in certain situations.
Who has hired from abroad? Search the official list of employers in Canada with a positive LMIA
The two types of work permit
| Employer-specific permit | Open work permit | |
|---|---|---|
| Job offer | Required. | Not required. |
| Who you can work for | The employer, location and occupation written on the permit. | Most compliant employers in Canada. |
| LMIA | Most jobs need one. The employer finds out and applies. | Not needed. |
| Who can get it | Anyone who meets the general work permit requirements and has an offer from an employer that is not on the list of non-compliant employers. | Only people in certain situations. |
What happens, step by step
- You get a job offer. Until you hold a work permit you cannot legally work in Canada, and you cannot write on an application that you are legally allowed to work there.
- The employer checks if the job needs an LMIA. If it does, the employer applies for it. A positive LMIA confirms that no Canadians or permanent residents are available for the job.
- The employer sends you the documents. Either the LMIA decision letter and its Annex A, or, for an LMIA-exempt job, an offer of employment number from the Employer Portal.
- You apply for the work permit. You apply online with those documents. You may need a medical exam and, in most cases, biometrics.
- You receive the permit. If you apply from abroad you get a letter of introduction, and the permit itself is issued at the border when you arrive.
Protect yourself
- The LMIA application is the employer's job. Be careful with anyone who asks you to pay for an LMIA or a job offer.
- Canada's Job Bank warns that legitimate Canadian job ads do not ask for banking or personal information.
- Never put your Social Insurance Number, bank details or date of birth in a CV or an email to a recruiter.
Get your resume ready
Canadian employers expect a resume with no photo and no personal details. See the Canadian resume format guide.
Questions people ask
Can I work in Canada without a job offer?
Only with an open work permit, which is available in certain situations. Most people need a job offer and an employer-specific work permit.
What is an LMIA?
A Labour Market Impact Assessment is a document a Canadian employer may need before hiring a foreign worker. A positive LMIA shows there is a need for a foreign worker and that no Canadians or permanent residents are available to do the job.
Who applies for the LMIA, me or the employer?
The employer. They find out whether the job needs an LMIA, apply for it, and then give you the decision letter to include in your work permit application.
Can I say I am allowed to work in Canada on my application?
Not unless you already hold a valid work permit or do not need one. The Government of Canada states that without a permit you cannot write on a job application that you are legally allowed to work in Canada.
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