Canada Work Permit and Visa Eligibility Requirements
There are many pathways to immigrate to Canada and secure Canadian permanent residence, but the Waterbrooke Team is committed to keeping things simple.
Work in Canada: General Overview
A work permit is a legal document permitting a foreign national to engage in employment while inside of Canada. Each year, Canada issues about half a million work permits to temporary foreign workers around the world.
Canada is a prime destination for many foreign nationals who are seeking employment opportunities. Working in Canada is also an excellent first step for those seeking to immigrate to the country permanently.
As a permanent resident, a person receives a significant number of benefits:
- Access to Canadian healthcare and social services.
- The right to live, work, and study anywhere within Canada.
- Protection under Canadian law and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms
- The ability to leave and enter Canada’s borders using their Canadian permanent resident card, or permanent resident travel documents (PRTD).
- The ability to apply for Canadian citizenship after requirements are met.
There are many immigration pathways which will enable a person to become a Canadian permanent resident. Economic immigration, business immigration, sponsorship, and refugee/humanitarian programs offer different options for becoming a permanent resident in Canada.
Residency Requirements
In order to maintain permanent resident status in Canada, a person must meet a residency obligation. The residency obligation refers to a person’s physical presence inside of Canada for a set amount of time. Canada’s residency obligation for permanent residents requires a person to be physically present inside of Canada for at least 730 days within a five-year period, or to fall under one of several exceptions.
Canadian Citizenship
Foreign nationals wishing to become Canadian citizens must meet several requirements, including having valid permanent resident status in Canada. In addition, permanent residents wishing to become citizens have different residency obligations than those required for permanent resident status renewal. Consult Canadim’s web resource to learn more about becoming a Canadian citizen.