Work permit: Who can apply

There are specific requirements you need to meet depending on where you are when you apply for your work permit.

But regardless of where you apply or which type of work permit you apply for, you must

• prove to an officer that you will leave Canada when your work permit expires;
• show that you have enough money to take care of yourself and your family members during your stay in Canada and to return home;
• obey the law and have no record of criminal activity (we may ask you to give us a police clearance certificate);
• not be a danger to Canada’s security;
• be in good health and have a medical exam, if needed;
• not plan to work for an employer listed with the status “ineligible” on the list of employers who failed to comply with the conditions;
• not plan to work for an employer who, on a regular basis, offers striptease, erotic dance, escort services or erotic massages; and
• give the officer any other documents they ask for to prove you can enter the country.

Eligibility requirements if you apply from outside Canada

Anyone can apply before they enter Canada. However, there may be visa office requirements that you need to meet depending on what country or territory you’re applying from. Make sure you follow the instructions for how to apply.

Eligibility requirements if you apply from inside Canada

You can only apply for a work permit from inside Canada if

• you have a valid study or work permit;
• your spouse, common-law partner or parents have a valid study or work permit;
• you’re eligible for a post-graduation work permit and your study permit is still valid;
• you have a temporary resident permit that is valid for six months or more;
• you’re waiting on a decision on an application for permanent residence from inside Canada;
• you made a claim for refugee protection;
• you’ve been recognized as a convention refugee or protected person by the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada;
• you’re allowed to work in Canada without a work permit but you need a work permit to work in a different job (this does not apply to business visitors); or
• you’re a trader, investor, intra-company transferee or professional under the Canada – United States – Mexico Agreement (CUSMA).

Eligibility requirements if you apply when you enter Canada at a port of entry

New rules about where to apply for a PGWP

As of June 21,2024, you can no longer apply for a PGWP at a port of entry (airport, land or marine border) when entering Canada.

You should apply for your work permit before you travel to Canada.

However, you can apply for a work permit when you enter Canada if you’re eligible.

To apply at a port of entry (POE), you must meet all of the following:

• be from a visa-exempt country
• be eligible for an electronic travel authorization or to travel without a visitor visa
• meet other requirements depending on the type of work permit you’re applying for (see below)

You cannot apply at a POE if you

• need a visitor visa
• are a citizen of one of the countries on this list
• are an International Experience Canada applicant who is not a citizen or permanent resident of the United States
• are applying under the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program
• are applying for a post-graduation work permit

Employer-specific work permit applicants

Your employer must have completed all of the required steps for your employer-specific work permit.

Open work permit applicants

Who can apply for an open work permit?

You may be eligible for an open work permit if you:

• are an international student who graduated from a designated learning institution and are eligible for the Post-Graduation Work Permit Program
• are a student who’s no longer able to meet the costs of your studies (destitute student)
• applied for permanent residence in Canada
• are a dependent family member of someone who applied for permanent residence
• are the spouse or common-law partner of a skilled worker or international student
• are the spouse or common-law partner of an applicant of the Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program
• are a refugee, refugee claimant, protected person or their family member
• are under an unenforceable removal order
• are a temporary resident permit holder
• are a young worker participating in special programs

You may also need to take a medical exam before you come to Canada. Find out if you need one.

Biometrics

Most applicants aren’t eligible to give their biometrics at a POE.

To give your biometrics at a POE, you must meet 2 requirements:

• start and finish your application at the same POE
• be eligible to apply for a work permit at a POE

Eligible applicants can give their biometrics at these POE locations.

Ports of entry

Alberta

• Calgary International Airport
• Carway
• Coutts
• Edmonton International Airport

British Columbia

• Abbotsford
• Aldergrove
• Boundary Bay
• Douglas
• Kelowna Airport
• Kingsgate
• Osoyoos
• Pacific Highway
• Roosville
• Vancouver International Airport
• Victoria Ferry/Belleville
• Victoria International Airport

Manitoba

• Boissevain
• Emerson
• Sprague
• Winnipeg Airport

New Brunswick

• Edmunston
• Moncton Airport
• St. Stephen 3rd Bridge

Newfoundland and Labrador

• Ferry Point
• St. John's International Airport

Nova Scotia

• Halifax International Airport
• Yarmouth

Ontario

• Ambassador Bridge
• Blue Water Bridge
• CBSA Toronto City Centre Airport (TCCA)
• Cornwall
• Fort Frances
• Hamilton Airport
• Lansdowne
• London Airport
• Ottawa International Airport
• Peace Bridge
• Pearson International Airport (Terminal 1)
• Pearson International Airport (Terminal 3)
• Pigeon River
• Prescott
• Queenston
• Rainbow Bridge
• Rainy River
• Sault Ste. Marie
• Windsor Tunnel
• Woodstock

Quebec

• Armstrong
• Pierre Elliott Trudeau Airport
• Quebec City International Airport
• St-Armand
• St-Bernard-De-Lacolle
• Stanstead

Saskatchewan

• Fortune
• North Portal
• Regina Airport
• Saskatoon Airport

Yukon

• Whitehorse Airport (Erik Nielsen Whitehorse)