How Can I Work in Canada?
One of the questions we receive the most often is, “how can I work in Canada?” For those looking to work in Canada, New Zealand and Australia, the basic requirements to obtain a Work Permit are set out below:
In order to work in Canada the basic requirements for obtaining a work permit are as follows:
- You need to obtain a job offer from a Canadian employer;
- In most cases the employer needs to obtain a Labour Market Impact Assessment (this is the approval number that allows a Canadian employer to employ a foreign national). There are certain cases where a Labour Market Impact Assessment may not be required;
- The Canadian Government needs to approve the Labour Market Impact Assessment;
- If the Labour Market Impact Assessment has been approved, you can then apply for a work permit through your local Canadian Embassy or High Commission;
- Your local Canadian Embassy or High Commission will evaluate your application and either approve or reject your application;
- If your application is approved, you will then be issued with a work permit to work in Canada.
A Labour Market Impact Assessment is where the Canadian employer needs to prove to the Canadian Government that they could not find a Canadian Citizen or Canadian Permanent Resident to fill the available position. The basic requirements are that they will need to advertise the positions in Canada for a minimum of four weeks, interview all eligible candidates that apply, and only if they can show there were no suitable candidates. Then apply for the Labour Market Impact Assessment. Even if the employer does apply for the Labour Market Impact Assessment, it can still be refused. The Canadian Government does not believe they could not find a suitable Canadian Citizen or Canadian Permanent Resident to fill the available position. Or they did not comply with the requirements.
Mr. Andrew Kerr, Director of of Network Migration based in South Africa, was asked to comment on the processes for New Zealand and Australia. He is registered with both the Migration Agents Registration Authority of Australia and the New Zealand Immigration Advisers Authority.
For New Zealand he stated that “very few people will qualify for a skills based points tested visa without having an offer of employment so we usually do the work visa application first once we have the job offer and then the residency applications are completed on shore whilst the client is working in New Zealand.”
For New Zealand the basic requirements for obtaining a work permit are as follows:
- You will require a job offer from an employer in New Zealand;
- For those who cannot obtain a job offer from South Africa, they can apply for a visit visa to enter New Zealand and look for work;
- Once a job offer has been obtained you can apply for your permit from within South Africa;
- Processing times can then take between 7 – 25 working days.
For Australia the basic requirements for obtaining a work permit are as follows:
- You need to obtain a job offer from an Australian employer;
- The employer then needs to apply for a Sponsorship Approval Number (this is the approval number that essentially allows an Australian employer to employ a foreign worker to work for their company in Australia). The employer needs to therefore complete the relevant forms and motivation for the employment offer. Note, this only applies if the employer doesn’t already have an existing valid Sponsorship Approval Number;
- Once the Department of Immigration and Citizenship has issued the employer a Sponsorship Approval Number, the employer then applies for a Nomination Number for the particular position he/she wants the foreign employee to fill. The employer completes the relevant forms. Once these two steps are completed, then the main application for the applicant can be lodged. You would require the signed offer of employment, the employment contract and job description for the employee.
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