Canada Work Visa Costs: Complete Guide to Fees and Requirements

Understand Canada work visa costs and requirements

Move to Canada for work involve understand the various costs associate with obtain a work visa. This comprehensive guide break down everything you need to know about Canada work visa fees, requirements, and application processes.

Types of Canada work permits and their costs

Canada offers several types of work permits, each with different fees and requirements:

Temporary foreign worker program (tTwp))

The Twp is design for employers who need to hire foreign workers to fill temporary labor shortages.

• 
  Application fee
  
  cad $$155per person
• 
  Work permit duration
  
  ordinarily align with the length of the job offer, typically up to 2 years
• 
  Additional costs
  
  employer compliance fee of cad $$230

International mobility program (imp )

The imp include work permits exempt from the labor market impact assessment ((mLima)rocess.

• 
  Application fee
  
  cad $$155per person
• 
  Employer compliance fee
  
  cad $$230( ( applicable )
  )
• 
  Processing time
  
  broadly fasting than tTwppermit

Open work permits

Open work permits allow you to work for any employer in Canada (with some exceptions )

• 
  Application fee
  
  cad $$155
• 
  Open work permit holder fee
  
  additional cad $$100
• 
  Total cost
  
  cad $$255

Post graduation work permit (pGWP))

Available to international students who have complete eligible programs at designate Canadian learning institutions.

• 
  Application fee
  
  cad $$155
• 
  Duration
  
  up to 3 years, depend on the length of your study program
• 
  Open work permit holder fee
  
  cad $$100

Working holiday visa (iIEC)

Part of the international experience Canada program for young adults from specific countries.

• 
  Participation fee
  
  cad $$153
• 
  Work permit fee
  
  cad $$155
• 
  Biometrics fee
  
  cad $$85( ( applicable )
  )
• 
  Total cost
  
  cad $$393( (clude biometrics )
  )

Additional costs associate with Canada work visa applications

Beyond the basic application fees, several other costs may apply:

Biometric fees

Most work permit applicants need to provide biometrics (fingerprints and photo )

• 
  Individual applicants
  
  cad $$85
• 
  Families apply unitedly
  
  maximum cad $$170

Medical examination

Depend on your country of origin and job type, you may need a medical exam.

• 
  Average cost
  
  cad $$200300 ( (ry by country and medical facility )
  )
• 
  Require for
  
  jobs in healthcare, childcare, and applicants from certain countries

Labor market impact assessment ((mLima)

If your employer need a lLimato hire you:

• 
  Fee pay by employer
  
  cad $$1000 per position for high wage positions
• 
  Fee for low wage positions
  
  cad $$1000
• 
  Lima exemptions
  
  available under certain international agreements and programs

Document translation and certification

Non English or non French documents must be translated.

• 
  Translation costs
  
  varies by document length and language
• 
  Certification costs
  
  additional fees for certify translations

Express entry fees (if applicable )

If your work permit is part of a pathway to permanent residence through express entry:

• 
  Right of permanent residence fee
  
  cad $$500
• 
  Processing fee
  
  cad $$1325 for principal applicant

Work visa requirements for Canada

Understand the requirements is exactly as important as know the costs:

Basic eligibility requirements

• Valid job offer from a Canadian employer (for most work permits )
• Proof you’ll leave Canada when your permit will expire
• Sufficient funds to support yourself and dependents
• Clean criminal record (police clearance certificates may bbe require)
• Good health (medical exam may bbe require)
• No intention to work for ineligible employers

Employer requirements

Canadian employers typically need to:

• Obtain a lLimafrom employment and social development cCanada((sESC
  )
• Provide a formal job offer letter
• Meet provincial / territorial employment standards
• Pay the prevail wage for the occupation

Documentation checklist

Most work permit applications require:

• Complete application forms
• Valid passport
• Proof of current immigration status
• Passport sized photos
• Job offer letter
• Copy of Lima (iif yourequ)e )
• Proof of educational qualifications
• Work experience documentation
• Marriage certificate (if spouse is aaccompani))
• Children’s birth certificates (if applicable )

How to save money on Canada work visa applications

Several strategies can help reduce the overall cost of obtain a Canadian work visa:

Apply for Lima exempt work permits

If eligible, Lima exempt permits through the international mobility program can save the Lima fee (cad $$1000 ))

Explore provincial nominee programs

Some provinces have streams that facilitate work permit with simplified processes and potentially lower costs.

Check for fee exemptions

Certain applicants may qualify for fee exemptions:

• Refugee claimants
• Dependents of government assist refugees
• Victims of human trafficking

Apply online

Online applications typically have faster processing times and reduce courier costs for document submission.

Processing times and expedited options

Work permit processing times vary importantly base on:

Source: blog.wego.com

• Country of application
• Type of work permit
• Completeness of application
• Volume of applications being process

Standard processing times

As of 2023, typical processing times range from:

• 
  Online applications from outside Canada
  
  4 16 weeks
• 
  Paper applications
  
  broadly longer than online applications
• 
  Applications from within Canada
  
  4 12 weeks

Global talent stream

For eligible high skilled workers:

• 
  Lima processing
  
  as quick as 2 weeks
• 
  Work permit processing
  
  priority processing
• 
  Additional employer fee
  
  cad $$1000

Special considerations for different nationalities

Work permit requirements and processing times vary by country of citizenship:

Visa exempt nationalities

Citizens of countries like the US, UK, Australia, and most EU nations:

• Can apply for work permits at ports of entry in some cases
• Need an electronic travel authorization (eta ) d $ 7
  $7
• Oftentimes experience faster processing times

Visa required nationalities

Citizens of countries require visas to enter Canada:

• Must obtain work permits before travel to Canada
• May face longsighted process times
• May require additional documentation

NAFTA / CSMA professionals

Citizens of the US and Mexico under the Canada United States Mexico agreement:

• Simplify work permit process for eligible professions
• No Lima require
• Cad $155 work permit fee notwithstanding apply

Family considerations and additional costs

When bring family members to Canada:

Source: workak.com

Spouse / common law partner work permit

• 
  Open work permit fee
  
  cad $$255( (clude $ 1$100en work permit holder fee )
  )
• 
  Requirements
  
  principal applicant must have a valid work permit for a skilled position

Study permits for children

• 
  Application fee
  
  cad $$150per child
• 
  Minor children of work permit holders
  
  may attend primary and secondary school without a study permit

Health insurance

Private health insurance is recommended until provincial health coverage begin:

• 
  Average cost
  
  cad $$75150 per month per person
• 
  Waiting periods
  
  most provinces have a 33-monthwaiting period for health coverage

Renew a work permit

If you need to extend your stay in Canada:

Renewal fees

• 
  Standard renewal fee
  
  cad $$155
• 
  Open work permit holder fee
  
  additional cad $$100( ( applicable )
  )
• 
  Biometrics
  
  not normally require for renewals if provide within the last 10 years

Renewal timing

Best practices for renewals:

• Apply at least 30 days before current permit expire
• Can apply up to 90 days before expiration
• Imply status allow to continue work if you apply before current permit expire

Refunds and application withdrawals

Understand the refund policy is important:

• 
  Processing fees
  
  loosely nnon-refundableonce application processing has bbegun
• 
  Refund eligibility
  
  possible if application is wwithdrawnbefore processing start
• 
  Biometric fee
  
  nnon-refundableonce biometric instruction letter is issue

Recent changes and COVID-19 impacts

The Canadian immigration landscape continue to evolve:

• Temporary policy adjustments due to pandemic conditions
• Increase digitization of application processes
• Fluctuate processing times base on global conditions
• Potential fee increases (check the iIRCCwebsite for the nigh current fees )

Conclusion: budgeting for your Canada work visa

When plan your move to Canada for work, budget for:

• 
  Basic work permit fee
  
  cad $$155
• 
  Additional fees
  
  biometrics ((ad $ $85,)pen work permit holder fee ( ca($ 100$100pplicable )
  )
• 
  Support costs
  
  medical exams, document translation, courier fees
• 
  Family costs
  
  additional permits for spouse and children
• 
  Settlement funds
  
  money to support yourself upon arrival

Understand the complete cost picture will help you’ll prepare financially for your Canadian work experience. Forever check the official immigration, refugees and citizenship Canada (iIRCC)website for the about upup-to-dateee information and requirements before submit your application.