How to Change Employers on an Employer-Specific Work Permit in Canada

Do you need a new work permit to change employers?

Yes, if your current permit is employer-specific. The employer, occupation or work location conditions printed on that permit limit the work you are authorized to perform.

IRCC states that if you want to change jobs or employers in Canada, you must apply for a new work permit if you are eligible.

This is different from an open work permit. A person with a valid open work permit can generally change employers without applying for a new permit simply because the employer changes.

Use the official IRCC employer-change instructions before starting the process.

What does your new employer need to do first?

The employer's steps depend on whether the new job requires a Labour Market Impact Assessment.

If the new job requires an LMIA

The new employer must obtain the appropriate positive LMIA through the Temporary Foreign Worker Program before you can use it for an employer-specific work permit application.

IRCC says the employer must provide you with:

• a copy of the positive LMIA and the LMIA file number;
• an employment contract;
• a job offer letter;
• a Quebec Acceptance Certificate where required for paid employment in Quebec lasting more than 30 days.

The job offer letter normally describes pay, deductions, duties, hours and other conditions of employment.

If the new job is LMIA-exempt

For most LMIA-exempt employer-specific work permits, the employer must use the IRCC Employer Portal before you submit your work permit application.

The employer normally:

• creates and submits an offer of employment;
• pays the CAD 230 employer compliance fee, unless exempt;
• gives you the offer of employment number generated by the portal.

The offer number begins with the letter A followed by 7 digits. IRCC states that it can only be used once.

How much does it cost to change employers?

The worker's current federal processing fee for a work permit, including an extension or change of conditions, is CAD 155 unless an exemption applies.

If biometrics are required, the current individual biometrics fee is CAD 85.

For an LMIA-exempt job, the employer generally pays the separate CAD 230 employer compliance fee. This is an employer obligation rather than part of your CAD 155 work permit fee.

You can check the official IRCC fee list before submitting the application.

What documents do you need for the new permit?

IRCC's current in-Canada document guidance requires all work permit applicants to provide:

• IMM 5710, Application to Change Conditions, Extend my Stay or Remain in Canada as a Worker;
• a photocopy of the passport or travel document;
• one photo meeting IRCC's specifications;
• all documents listed in the personalized online document checklist.

Employer-specific applicants are also asked for employment evidence such as:

• a letter from the current employer;
• reference letters from past employers;
• proof of past work experience, such as pay stubs;
• a resume;
• proof of any licence or certification required for the occupation.

The exact checklist can vary according to the work permit program and your circumstances. Review the official in-Canada work permit document requirements.

How do you apply for the new work permit?

Most eligible in-Canada applicants apply through an IRCC secure account.

IRCC's current application process is to:

1. check whether special work permit instructions apply to your category;
2. sign in to or create an IRCC secure account;
3. answer the questionnaire and receive a personalized document checklist;
4. upload the required forms and evidence;
5. pay the applicable fees;
6. submit a complete application;
7. provide biometrics if required.

Paper applications are restricted to certain situations, including specified disability accommodations, the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program and certain applicants using particular refugee, stateless-person or non-national travel documents.

You can apply using IRCC's in-Canada work permit instructions.

Can you start the new job before IRCC approves the permit?

Possibly. IRCC has a special process that allows eligible workers changing jobs or employers to request authorization to start the new employment while their work permit application is being processed.

To qualify for this request, you must:

• have already applied for a new employer-specific work permit from inside Canada; and
• currently have an employer-specific work permit, or be an eligible worker who is authorized to work without a permit.

Business visitors and short-term workers under the Global Skills Strategy are not included in the work-permit-exempt category for this process.

How do you request authorization to start the new job early?

Submit the work permit application first. Then use the IRCC web form.

IRCC instructs applicants to select the Other category, continue to the form and use the employer-change request wording provided on the official instructions page.

Your request must include priority code PPCHANGEWORK2020. You also need to identify information such as:

• the expiry date of your current or previous authorization;
• your current or previous employer;
• the occupation and NOC code;
• the new employer;
• the new occupation and NOC code;
• confirmation that you submitted the new work permit application.

If you applied on paper and do not yet know the application number, IRCC tells applicants to provide the postal or courier tracking number so the application can be located.

How long does the temporary work authorization take?

After the web form is submitted, IRCC says it should respond in about 10 to 15 days.

IRCC notes that it will take longer for a paper work permit application.

The email tells you whether you are authorized to work for the new employer while the permit application is being processed. The authorization email itself is not a work permit.

Can you start working as soon as you submit the web form?

No. Submitting the request does not itself authorize the new job.

You must wait until:

• IRCC emails you confirming authorization to work for the new employer while the application is processed; or
• IRCC approves the new employer-specific work permit.

Working for an employer who is not authorized by your current permit before receiving the special authorization may mean working outside the conditions of your immigration status.

What happens if your current permit expires while the new application is pending?

If you applied for the new work permit before your existing permit expired and remain in Canada, you may have maintained status while IRCC processes the application.

However, maintained status by itself generally allows you to continue working only under the conditions of your existing employer-specific permit. That means the same employer, job and work location.

If you changed the employer or job in your application, you cannot start the new employment solely because you have maintained status. You need the special IRCC employer-change authorization or approval of the new permit.

The IRCC maintained-status guidance explains this distinction.

What if you already lost or left your old job?

If you lose the job connected to your employer-specific permit and want to continue working in Canada, IRCC says you must get a new job offer and apply for a new employer-specific work permit while remaining in Canada.

Until the new permit is approved or IRCC grants the interim employer-change authorization, you must not simply begin working for another employer.

If you cannot obtain another job offer, you must respect the date by which your immigration status requires you to leave Canada.

When should you submit the new work permit application?

IRCC recommends applying to extend or change work permit conditions at least 30 calendar days before your current work permit expires where possible.

Applying before expiry is also important for maintained status. If you wait until after your status expires, different restoration rules and fees may apply, and the employer-change authorization process may not protect you in the same way.

Do open work permit holders need to apply when changing employers?

Usually no. IRCC states that a person with a valid open work permit can change employers at any time while that permit remains valid.

This procedure is for people whose permit is employer-specific or whose circumstances otherwise require a new employer-specific permit.

What if your permit is under International Experience Canada?

International Experience Canada participants must first check whether their particular IEC category and circumstances allow an employer change.

IRCC has separate instructions for IEC employer changes. Do not assume that the general employer-change process automatically overrides the restrictions attached to an IEC participation.

Review the current IEC employer-change rules if your permit was issued through IEC.

Does the new employer need an LMIA?

That depends on the work permit category.

Under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, the new employer normally needs a positive LMIA before you apply. Under the International Mobility Program, the employment may qualify for an LMIA exemption, but the employer generally has to submit an offer in the Employer Portal and pay the employer compliance fee unless an exemption applies.

Do not submit an employer-specific permit application assuming that every job is LMIA-exempt. The employer should identify the correct federal hiring pathway first.

What happens after the new permit is approved?

If IRCC approves an in-Canada work permit application, it sends a notice to your online account explaining that the application was approved.

IRCC states that you can start working once you receive the approval note. You do not need to wait for the physical work permit to arrive in the mail.

The new permit will show the employment conditions that apply, including the employer, occupation or work location where relevant.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Starting work for the new employer immediately after receiving a job offer.
• Assuming that submitting a new work permit application automatically authorizes the new employment.
• Submitting the IRCC web form before submitting the new employer-specific work permit application.
• Leaving out priority code PPCHANGEWORK2020 from the interim authorization request.
• Starting the new job before IRCC sends the authorization email.
• Assuming maintained status automatically permits work for the new employer.
• Using an LMIA-exempt offer number before the new employer has properly submitted the offer through the Employer Portal.
• Using an offer of employment number from an earlier work permit application when IRCC requires a new number for a new application.
• Applying without the required positive LMIA where the new position is not LMIA-exempt.
• Ignoring occupational licence, certification or Quebec requirements that apply to the new job.
• Waiting until the existing work permit expires before applying when an earlier application is possible.