Work permit Canada:
find the route that fits your profile
LMIA employer route, Francophone Mobility without LMIA, PGWP after graduation, spousal open permits, intra-company transfers. Several doors lead to working in Canada · the right one depends on your situation.
Free 2 minutes No commitment
A Canadian work permit is the most direct way to live in Canada, earn Canadian income and build the local experience that permanent residence programs reward. The catch: there is no single “work visa”. Canada runs a dozen distinct routes, each with its own conditions, and applicants regularly spend months on the wrong one. This guide maps the main routes for 2026 and shows which profiles each one actually serves.
The 6 main work permit routes in 2026
Every route below leads to legal work in Canada, but they differ on three axes: whether an employer must sponsor you, whether an LMIA is required, and whether the permit is open or tied to one job. Matching your profile to the right axis is most of the strategy.
Francophone Mobility (C16)
No LMIA · FastAn employer-specific permit outside Quebec with no labour market impact assessment. If you speak French and hold a job offer outside Quebec, this is usually the fastest employer route.
Employer route with LMIA
Via employerYour Canadian employer obtains a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) showing no Canadian worker was available. The permit is tied to that employer and position.
PGWP · Post-Graduation Work Permit
After studiesGraduate from an eligible program at a designated Canadian institution and receive an open work permit of up to 3 years. The classic bridge from student to permanent resident.
Open permit · Spouse and special cases
Case by caseSome spouses of students and skilled workers, plus other specific categories, can obtain an open work permit not tied to any employer. Eligibility rules tightened in recent years, so this is reviewed profile by profile.
Intra-company transfer (ICT)
MultinationalsMultinational companies can transfer executives, managers and specialized-knowledge employees to their Canadian branch without an LMIA.
IEC · Working Holiday
Ages 18-35Citizens of partner countries aged 18 to 35 can get an open work permit of 12 to 24 months through International Experience Canada. Work anywhere, for any employer.
Open or employer-specific: why it matters
An open permit (PGWP, IEC, some spousal permits) lets you work for almost any employer and change jobs freely: maximum flexibility while you build Canadian experience. An employer-specific permit (LMIA-based, C16, ICT) ties you to the job that sponsored you, but it is often the only realistic entry when you are recruited from abroad. Many successful files chain the two: enter on an employer-specific permit, then switch to a more flexible status as your PR file matures.
Open permit
- · Work for almost any employer, anywhere in Canada
- · Change jobs without a new application
- · Sources: PGWP, IEC, certain spousal permits
- · Best for: flexibility and fast experience-building
Employer-specific permit
- · Tied to one employer and one position
- · Sources: LMIA route, Francophone Mobility, ICT
- · Often the only entry when recruited from abroad
- · Quebec jobs usually also need a CAQ
The most common mistake
Chasing an LMIA when your profile qualifies for an exempt route. If you speak French, are under 36 with an IEC-country passport, work for a multinational, or your spouse studies in Canada, you may skip the LMIA entirely and save months. We check every exemption before recommending a route.
Which route fits your profile?
Free eligibility check · response within 24 hours.
Bringing your family
A work permit is rarely a solo project. Depending on your occupation level and permit type, your spouse may qualify for an open work permit, and your children can attend Canadian public schools. The family rules tightened in 2024 and 2025 and now depend on your occupation and program, so family strategy has to be planned before you file, not after.
Your spouse
Spousal open work permits are now tied to the principal applicant's occupation level. Skilled occupations keep the strongest access, and the Quebec PSTQ measure explicitly includes an open permit for spouses. We verify your family's options before you commit to a route.
Your children
Minor children can accompany you and attend Canadian public elementary and secondary schools. Family applications are filed together, so one weak file can sink the group: coherence across the whole family plan is part of the work.
From work permit to permanent residence
Skilled Canadian work experience is the strongest currency in the PR system. One year makes you a Canadian Experience Class candidate in Express Entry, with dedicated francophone draws if you speak French. In Quebec, 24 months of skilled work opens the PEQ with French oral level 7, and the PSTQ selects skilled workers through regular draws.
The permit you choose today decides which of these doors opens in one to three years. That is why we plan the exit before the entry.
Express Entry guide PEQ guide PSTQ guideWhy work with SOS Hub Canada
CICC-regulated consultant
Your file is handled under the supervision of a consultant regulated by the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants, from our office at 3737 Crémazie Est #402, Montreal.
Route strategy first
We compare every route your profile allows, LMIA-exempt options included, before a single form is filled. The wrong route costs months; the right one is the whole game.
PR strategy from day one
Every permit we recommend is chosen with your permanent residence exit in mind: CEC, PEQ or PSTQ depending on your province and profile.
Service in 4 languages
English, French, Arabic and Spanish. You and your employer get answers in the language you are most comfortable with.
Clear pricing, flexible payment
Work permit packages start at $697 CAD and run up to $3,997 for full family support, payable in 2, 3 or 4 instalments at no extra cost. You know the total before we start, and every package includes the eligibility review, route strategy and application submission for its scope.
Work permit: frequently asked questions
What is the difference between an open and a closed work permit?+
What is an LMIA and do I always need one?+
What is Francophone Mobility and who qualifies?+
Can I work in Quebec with these permits?+
Can my spouse and children come with me?+
Does a work permit lead to permanent residence?+
Prefer reading in French? See the full guide: Permis de travail Canada (guide FR)
1,000+ families supported
Ready to work in Canada?
Book a consultation with our Montreal team: route comparison for your profile, employer coordination if needed, and a clear plan from permit to permanent residence. One session is enough to know exactly where you stand.