How to Apply for a Canadian Employer-Specific Work Permit After Getting a Job Offer in 2026
Learn how to apply for a Canadian employer-specific work permit after receiving a job offer, including LMIA and LMIA-exempt routes, required documents, fees, biometrics, eligibility, online application steps and what happens after approval.
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After receiving a Canadian job offer, you normally need your employer to complete their part of the process before you apply for an employer-specific work permit. For an LMIA-required job, the employer must obtain a positive Labour Market Impact Assessment and provide you with the LMIA documents, employment contract and job offer letter. For an LMIA-exempt job, the employer generally submits the offer through the IRCC Employer Portal and gives you an offer of employment number. You then apply to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, usually online, pay the CAN$155 work permit processing fee and provide biometrics if required.
What you need
- A genuine job offer from an employer that is not listed as ineligible for non-compliance.
- A valid passport or travel document.
- Application for Work Permit Made Outside of Canada, form IMM 1295, when applying from outside Canada.
- One photo meeting IRCC specifications.
- A letter from your current employer, reference letter from past employers, proof of previous work experience and a resume for an employer-specific work permit application.
- Proof that you meet the requirements of the job, such as a professional licence or certification when the occupation is regulated.
- For an LMIA-required job, a copy of the positive LMIA and LMIA file number, employment contract and job offer letter provided by the employer.
- For an LMIA-exempt job, an employment contract and, in most cases, the offer of employment number generated after the employer submits the offer through the Employer Portal.
- Any additional documents shown in your personalized IRCC document checklist or required by the visa office responsible for the country or territory from which you apply.
- Certified translations if required documents are not in English or French.
- Proof of a medical examination if required for your situation.
- Proof that you have enough money to support yourself and accompanying family members in Canada and to return home.
- Biometrics if required by IRCC.
Eligibility
To qualify for an employer-specific work permit, you must have a job offer from an employer who is not on Canada's list of employers that are ineligible for failing to comply with program conditions and you must meet the general requirements for work permit applicants. When applying from outside Canada, you must show that you have enough money to support yourself and accompanying family members during your stay and to return home, provide the required documents, satisfy an officer that you will leave Canada before your authorized stay ends and be admissible to Canada. An application can be refused because of medical inadmissibility, criminality, security concerns, misrepresentation, insufficient funds, an ineligible employer or other grounds of inadmissibility. You must also meet the qualifications for the specific job and any additional requirements of the work permit program under which you apply.
How to do it
- Confirm that you need an employer-specific work permit. A Canadian job offer does not by itself authorize you to work. Confirm that the position requires a work permit and that an employer-specific permit is the correct type.
- Ask the employer whether the job requires an LMIA. Most employer-specific positions require the employer to determine whether a Labour Market Impact Assessment is needed or whether an LMIA exemption applies.
- Wait for the employer to complete their part. If an LMIA is required, the employer must obtain a positive LMIA and give you the required LMIA documents. If the job is LMIA-exempt, the employer generally submits an offer of employment through the IRCC Employer Portal and gives you the resulting offer of employment number.
- Collect your employment documents. Prepare your employment contract, job offer documentation, resume, employer and past-employer letters, proof of previous work experience and evidence that you meet any education, licensing or certification requirements for the position.
- Collect your identity and application documents. If applying from outside Canada, prepare IMM 1295, a copy of your valid passport or travel document, a compliant photo and any additional documents required by your personalized checklist or local visa office.
- Check whether you need a medical examination or additional documents. IRCC may require a medical examination depending on the work you will perform and your country of residence. Police certificates or other evidence may also be requested.
- Apply online. Applicants from outside Canada normally create or sign in to an IRCC secure account, answer the eligibility questions, upload the requested forms and supporting documents and submit the application electronically. Paper applications from outside Canada are limited to specific situations identified by IRCC.
- Pay the application fees. Pay the CAN$155 work permit processing fee and the biometrics fee if biometrics are required. Some applicants may qualify for a fee exemption.
- Give biometrics if required. After receiving a biometric instruction letter, book an appointment at an official collection location and bring the instruction letter and your valid passport. Biometrics must be provided in person.
- Wait for IRCC to process the application. IRCC checks whether the application is complete, verifies that the employer can hire you and determines whether you qualify. IRCC may request an interview, medical examination or additional information.
- Receive the decision. If an application submitted from outside Canada is approved, IRCC issues a port of entry letter of introduction. This letter confirms approval but is not the work permit itself.
- Travel with the required documents. Bring your passport, required visa if applicable, valid medical examination results if required, your approval evidence and supporting employment documents. Bring the positive LMIA documents if your job requires an LMIA or the offer of employment number if your job is LMIA-exempt.
- Obtain the work permit at the Canadian port of entry. A Canada Border Services Agency officer makes the final decision on entry and issuance of the work permit. Review the permit immediately and comply with the employer, occupation, location and other conditions printed on it.
Can you get a Canadian work permit after receiving a job offer?
Yes, a Canadian job offer can support an application for an employer-specific work permit, but the job offer alone is not a work permit. Your employer normally has immigration steps to complete before you can submit your application.
An employer-specific work permit allows you to work under the conditions written on the permit. These can identify your employer, work location, occupation and other conditions. You must comply with those conditions until the permit expires or is replaced.
What must your Canadian employer do before you apply?
The first question is whether the position requires a Labour Market Impact Assessment. IRCC states that most jobs requiring an employer-specific work permit need an LMIA, although exemptions exist under Canadian immigration rules.
If the job requires an LMIA
Your employer applies for the Labour Market Impact Assessment through Employment and Social Development Canada. A positive LMIA confirms that there is a need for a foreign worker for the position and that no Canadian worker or permanent resident is available to fill the job under the applicable assessment.
Before you submit your work permit application, your employer must provide the documents you need. IRCC currently lists a copy of the positive LMIA and LMIA file number, an employment contract and a job offer letter among the required employment documents for an LMIA-based application.
The job offer letter should explain the employment conditions, including pay and deductions, job duties and conditions such as working hours.
If the job is LMIA-exempt
Some employer-specific work permits are exempt from the LMIA requirement. In most LMIA-exempt cases, the employer must submit an offer of employment through the IRCC Employer Portal before you apply.
After the employer submits the offer, the Employer Portal generates an offer of employment number. IRCC states that this number starts with the letter A followed by 7 digits. Your employer gives you the number and you include it in your work permit application. The same offer number can only be used once.
Some LMIA-exempt employers, including certain foreign missions or international organizations, are exempt from the Employer Portal offer requirement, so not every LMIA-exempt application has an offer of employment number.
Who is eligible for an employer-specific Canadian work permit?
You need a job offer from an employer who is permitted to hire foreign workers and you must satisfy the general requirements for a Canadian work permit. If you apply from outside Canada, you must demonstrate that you have enough money to support yourself and accompanying family members during your stay and to return home, submit the required documents and satisfy the immigration officer that you will leave Canada before your authorized stay expires.
You must also be admissible to Canada. IRCC identifies medical inadmissibility, criminal activity, security concerns, misrepresentation and other grounds of inadmissibility as possible reasons for refusal.
Your employer must not be listed as ineligible for non-compliance. You must also be able to demonstrate that you have the skills, experience, education, licence or certification required for the job.
What documents do you need for a Canadian work permit after a job offer?
For an application made from outside Canada, all applicants must provide the applicable work permit application form, a copy of a valid passport or travel document and a photo that meets IRCC specifications. Online applicants receive a personalized document checklist that identifies the documents required for their situation.
For an employer-specific application, IRCC currently asks for employment evidence that can include a letter from your current employer, a reference letter from previous employers, proof of previous work experience such as pay records, a resume and proof that you meet the requirements of the job.
If the occupation is regulated, you may need the licence or certification required to perform the job. If the position does not require licensing or certification and the online checklist still creates a field for that evidence, IRCC instructs applicants to upload a blank sheet marked Not applicable.
Documents for an LMIA-required job
Your employer must provide a copy of the positive LMIA and LMIA file number, an employment contract and a job offer letter. Additional requirements apply to some jobs and locations. For example, IRCC currently identifies a Quebec Acceptance Certificate requirement for certain paid work in Quebec lasting more than 30 days.
Documents for an LMIA-exempt job
You normally need your employment contract and the offer of employment number generated by the Employer Portal. Check the rules for the specific LMIA exemption because some employers are exempt from the Employer Portal requirement.
How to apply for a Canadian work permit online
If you are applying from outside Canada, the normal process is online. Create or sign in to an IRCC secure account, answer the questionnaire, obtain your personalized document checklist, upload the requested forms and supporting evidence and pay the required fees before submitting the application.
IRCC limits paper applications from outside Canada to specific circumstances. These include applicants whose disability prevents an online application, applicants under the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program and certain people holding identity or travel documents for non-national residents, refugees or stateless persons.
How much does an employer-specific work permit cost?
The current IRCC work permit processing fee is CAN$155. The separate CAN$100 open work permit holder fee does not apply to an ordinary employer-specific work permit.
If biometrics are required, the individual biometrics fee is CAN$85. An eligible family applying together can pay a maximum combined biometrics fee of CAN$170. Some applicants are exempt from some or all work permit application fees.
Do you need biometrics for a Canadian work permit?
Biometrics are required for many work permit applicants, subject to IRCC's current biometrics rules and exemptions. If biometrics are required, pay the applicable fee and wait for IRCC to issue your biometric instruction letter.
You must give biometrics in person at an official collection location. Bring your biometric instruction letter and valid passport to the appointment. IRCC advises applicants to book the appointment as soon as the instruction letter is received to avoid processing delays.
Do you need a medical exam?
A medical examination may be required depending on the type of work you will perform and your country of residence. Your personalized document checklist may ask for proof of an upfront medical examination, or IRCC can instruct you to complete one while processing the application.
How long does a Canadian work permit take after a job offer?
There is no single standard processing time that applies to every employer-specific work permit. IRCC directs applicants to its processing-times service for a current estimate because processing varies according to the application location, program and circumstances.
Some work permit categories receive priority or have special processing instructions, but a job offer alone does not guarantee faster processing.
What happens after you apply?
IRCC first checks whether your application contains the necessary documents, including biometrics when required. An incomplete application may be refused without processing.
An immigration officer checks whether the employer is permitted to hire you and whether you meet the conditions for the work permit. IRCC may also request an interview, medical examination or additional documents and information.
What happens if your work permit is approved outside Canada?
If IRCC approves an application made from outside Canada, you receive a port of entry letter of introduction confirming that you are allowed to work in Canada. The approval letter is not the actual work permit.
You must bring the approval evidence when travelling to Canada. At the Canadian port of entry, a border services officer verifies your identity, documents and admissibility and makes the final decision whether to issue the work permit and allow you to enter Canada.
What should you bring when travelling to Canada?
IRCC instructs approved workers to travel with a valid passport, any required visitor visa, valid immigration medical examination results if a medical examination was required and proof that the work permit application was approved.
You should also carry evidence that you meet the requirements of the job. If the position required an LMIA, bring a copy of the employer's positive LMIA. If it was LMIA-exempt, bring the offer of employment number supplied by your employer.
Can you start working as soon as you receive a Canadian job offer?
No. A job offer does not itself authorize employment in Canada. Unless you fall within a specific exemption from the work permit requirement or already have authorization that permits the work, you must obtain the appropriate work authorization before legally working in Canada.
What conditions will be on an employer-specific work permit?
An employer-specific work permit can contain information about the employer, work location and occupation, along with additional numbered conditions and remarks. You must comply with all conditions printed on the permit.
What if IRCC refuses the work permit application?
IRCC may refuse an application if you do not meet the eligibility requirements, cannot satisfy the officer that you will leave at the end of your authorized stay, are inadmissible, submit an incomplete application, have insufficient funds, provide a job offer that is not genuine or fail to provide enough evidence that you have the skills or education required for the job.
IRCC states that you can generally apply again unless the decision letter says that you cannot. A new application should address the reason for the previous refusal and include relevant information that was missing from the first application.
Frequently asked questions
Is a Canadian job offer enough to get a work permit?
No. A job offer can support an employer-specific work permit application, but the employer normally must first complete the LMIA process or the applicable LMIA-exempt employer process. You must then apply to IRCC and receive the required work authorization.
Does every Canadian job offer require an LMIA?
No. IRCC states that most jobs requiring an employer-specific work permit need an LMIA, but some positions qualify for an LMIA exemption. Your employer must determine which route applies before you submit your work permit application.
What does my employer give me after a positive LMIA?
For an LMIA-required work permit application, IRCC lists a copy of the positive LMIA and LMIA file number, an employment contract and a job offer letter among the documents the employer must provide.
What do I need if my Canadian job is LMIA-exempt?
You normally need an employment contract and an offer of employment number from your employer. The employer generally obtains this number after submitting the offer through the IRCC Employer Portal. Some LMIA-exempt employers are exempt from this requirement.
How much is a Canadian employer-specific work permit in 2026?
The IRCC work permit processing fee is CAN$155. If you need to provide biometrics, the individual biometrics fee is CAN$85. Fee exemptions can apply in certain situations.
Can I apply for a Canadian work permit online after receiving a job offer?
Yes. Applicants applying from outside Canada normally apply online through an IRCC secure account. Paper applications from outside Canada are limited to specific situations identified by IRCC.
What documents prove that I qualify for the Canadian job?
IRCC can require a resume, letters from current and previous employers, proof of previous work experience and evidence that you meet the job requirements, such as a professional licence or certification for a regulated occupation.
Do I need biometrics for a Canadian work permit?
You may need biometrics depending on IRCC's current biometrics requirements. If required, IRCC sends you a biometric instruction letter and you must provide your fingerprints and photo in person at an official collection location.
How much does work permit biometrics cost?
The current individual biometrics fee is CAN$85. The maximum fee for an eligible family providing biometrics together is CAN$170.
Do I need a medical exam for a Canadian work permit?
It depends on your situation. IRCC may require a medical examination based on factors including the type of work you will perform and your country of residence.
How long does a Canadian work permit take after a job offer?
There is no single processing period for all work permits. IRCC publishes current estimates through its processing-times service, and the time varies according to the application location, program and case circumstances.
Can I work in Canada while my first work permit application is being processed?
A job offer and a pending first work permit application do not by themselves authorize you to work in Canada. You need legal authorization to work unless a specific exemption applies to your situation.
What happens if my work permit application is approved outside Canada?
IRCC issues a port of entry letter of introduction. It is not the work permit. You present your approval evidence and other required documents when entering Canada, and a border services officer makes the final decision to issue the work permit.
Should I bring my LMIA when I travel to Canada?
If your employer-specific work permit was based on an LMIA, IRCC recommends bringing a copy of the employer's positive LMIA as supporting evidence when you arrive in Canada.
What should I bring if my work permit is LMIA-exempt?
If your LMIA-exempt application used an Employer Portal offer, bring the offer of employment number supplied by your employer along with your other required travel and employment documents.
Can I start working immediately after getting a Canadian job offer?
No. A Canadian job offer alone does not give you the legal right to work. You generally need the appropriate work permit or another valid authorization before starting employment.
Can IRCC refuse a work permit even if I have a positive LMIA?
Yes. A positive LMIA supports the employer-specific application but does not guarantee approval. IRCC still assesses your eligibility, admissibility, qualifications for the job, available funds, completeness of the application and other applicable requirements.