Canada issues work permits across more than thirty distinct categories. The right one depends on the job, the employer, your status, and the underlying immigration goal.
Most candidates land in one of three buckets. The eligibility bullets below screen out most ambiguity in the first conversation.
Tied to one named employer, role, and location. Most often supported by a positive LMIA from ESDC.
Work for almost any employer, in almost any role. Issued only in defined situations — eligibility is narrow.
Parallel work-permit system that does not require an LMIA. Often the fastest route — sometimes weeks.
The Post-Graduation Work Permit is the on-ramp from international student to Canadian PR. It deserves a section of its own.
Available to graduates of eligible designated learning institutions, the PGWP grants up to three years of unrestricted work authorization. Critically, work experience under a PGWP counts toward the Canadian Experience Class — making it the primary on-ramp to PR for international students.
A Canadian work permit grants the holder the right to work for a defined period under defined conditions. Some permits tie the holder to a specific employer; others are open. Some require an LMIA; others are LMIA-exempt. Choosing the right category at the outset saves months and avoids costly switches later.
A closed work permit authorizes employment with one named Canadian employer in one named role at one named location. The most common path to a closed permit is an LMIA-supported offer: the employer secures a positive LMIA, and the candidate applies for a permit on the strength of that LMIA. Closed permits are also issued under several LMIA-exempt categories within the International Mobility Program.
Closed permits are typically issued for the length of the LMIA-approved employment, up to a maximum that varies by category and stream — generally one to three years.
An open work permit allows the holder to work for almost any Canadian employer in almost any role. Open permits are not freely available — they are issued only in defined situations:
Open permits are powerful but eligibility is narrow. Most foreign nationals do not qualify for one and instead need a closed (employer-specific) permit through the LMIA route.
The IMP is a parallel work-permit system that does not require an LMIA. Categories include:
LMIA-exempt cases can be very fast — sometimes processed in weeks — but each category has narrow eligibility criteria. We assess fit conservatively.
The PGWP is the single most valuable open work permit in Canada. Available to graduates of eligible designated learning institutions, it grants up to three years of unrestricted work authorization. Critically, work experience under a PGWP counts toward the Canadian Experience Class — making the PGWP the primary on-ramp for international students to Canadian PR.
PGWP eligibility tightened in 2024 and 2025: program eligibility, language testing requirements, and field-of-study restrictions now apply for many applicants. Candidates approaching graduation should confirm eligibility well before applying.
This is the dominant Northhaven workflow. A Canadian employer secures a positive LMIA. The foreign worker then applies for a closed work permit with the LMIA as the underlying basis. The work permit is issued for the duration of the LMIA-approved employment, with conditions matching the LMIA.
The two filings — LMIA at ESDC, work permit at IRCC — are sequential, but in our 4–6 week target lanes we begin work permit document assembly in parallel with the LMIA process so there is no idle time once the LMIA is positive.
IEC is a youth mobility program available to citizens of partner countries — generally aged 18 to 30 or 35 depending on the country. Three sub-streams: Working Holiday (open permit), Young Professionals (closed, with a job offer), and International Co-op (closed, for students). IEC is competitive — pools open and close each year — but it is one of the few routes to an open work permit for candidates without a Canadian connection.
Most work permits can be renewed, provided the underlying basis remains valid. Closed permits require a fresh LMIA in most cases, unless an exemption applies. Open permits renew under their original eligibility category. We recommend filing renewals at least four months before expiry; with 30 days of remaining status, candidates may continue working under "implied status" while the renewal is processed.
The Eligibility Quiz identifies which work permit category fits a given situation. For more complex cases — intra-company transfers, free trade agreement professionals, or in-Canada renewals — contact us directly.
Common questions about timelines, document handling, and the LMIA-to-permit handoff.
A 3-minute quiz screens your situation against every category — closed, open, and IMP-exempt — and returns the strongest one.