Work in Canada
Employer-supported work permits for Canada. We help you understand the LMIA process and which kinds of job can realistically qualify, and connect you with employers where roles are available.
Most people who work in Canada on a temporary permit start with a job offer from a Canadian employer. In most cases the employer first needs a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA), a document showing there is a need to hire a foreign worker, and the work permit then names that employer, job and location. Canada also limits lower-wage LMIAs in areas with high unemployment, so the kind of job matters a great deal.
Who this route suits
- Skilled professionals with an employer ready to support a work permit
- Construction workers and tradespeople, because construction is exempt from the regional rule on lower-wage jobs
- Health care and residential care workers, also exempt from that rule
- Applicants who are realistic about wage level and experience, because lower-wage roles face stricter limits
How an employer-specific work permit works
- Check your profile and the type of job. We look at your occupation, wage level and experience, and at whether the job is likely to need an LMIA.
- Prepare your CV and documents for the Canadian job market.
- Connect with an employer that offers you a job.
- Your employer checks the LMIA requirement and applies if one is needed. If it is approved, you receive the LMIA letter and Annex A.
- Apply for the work permit with your documents. You can apply from outside Canada.
Usual timeline
LMIA and work permit processing times are set by the Government of Canada and change often, so we cannot give a fixed time. The job search is the biggest variable.
Documents you will usually need
- Passport and photographs
- CV, qualification certificates and experience letters
- Job offer from the Canadian employer
- LMIA letter and Annex A, or proof that the job is LMIA-exempt
- Police certificates and a medical exam, where IRCC asks for them
- Language test results, where relevant to your job
Our free Document Checklist builds a list for your exact situation.
What Nexus Abroad does for you
- An honest check of which permit and route suit you
- CV and cover letter guidance (full support through our job-support package)
- Employer connection where roles are available
- Guidance on where and how to apply
- Help with the permit, visa and documents
- Pre-departure briefing, and family or dependent visas where eligible
Honest note: Canada’s work rules change often. The government may refuse to process lower-wage LMIA applications in cities where unemployment is 6% or higher, and the list is updated every three months. Construction, primary agriculture, food manufacturing, hospitals and nursing and residential care are exempt from that rule. A work permit only lets you work for the employer, job and location on the permit. We check the current IRCC and Employment and Social Development Canada information for your case, tell you honestly if your type of job is unlikely to qualify, and never promise a job or a permit. We cannot promise a job offer or visa. Employers and immigration authorities make those decisions.
Questions about Canada
Do I need a job offer?
For an employer-specific work permit, yes. The permit is tied to one employer, job and location, so you need an employer who is willing to support it.
What is an LMIA?
A Labour Market Impact Assessment shows there is a need to hire a foreign worker for the job. Most jobs need one, and your employer applies for it. Some jobs are LMIA-exempt, and your employer checks this first.
Can I get a restaurant or hotel job?
Those are usually lower-wage jobs, and Canada may refuse to process lower-wage LMIA applications in cities with high unemployment. The list changes every three months, so we check the current one and tell you honestly if a role is unlikely to qualify.
Official sources
Official pages checked on 24 October 2026.
Also see: Studying in Canada.
Last reviewed October 2026. Rules, fees and processing times change, so we confirm the current position for your case.
Your first consultation is free.
Sit down with us in Narayanganj or talk online. We will look at your profile honestly and explain your real options, with no pressure and no promises we cannot keep.