Canada Work Permit Help: Open Work Permits, PGWP & LMIA
Licensed RCIC, regulated by CICC · 6,000+ immigration cases · Based in Vancouver
Experience How Our Vancouver-Based Immigration Consultancy Can Assist You with Work Permit Process.
Work Permit Options for Working in Canada
Working in Canada starts with the right work permit, and the right one depends entirely on your situation. Choose the wrong category, or submit with a weak job offer or LMIA, and you risk weeks of delay or a refusal that's hard to undo. Ansari Immigration is a Vancouver-based, CICC-regulated consultancy led by Amir Ansari, RCIC. We help foreign workers, graduates, and the families of skilled workers and students get the correct work permit the first time.
Temporary Work Permits:
A closed work permit, also called an employer-specific work permit, ties you to one employer, one job, and one location named on the permit. You cannot switch employers without applying for a new permit first. Most closed permits require your employer to first obtain a positive Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA), which shows no Canadian worker was available for the role. Some are LMIA-exempt, for example under the International Mobility Program, free trade agreements such as CUSMA, or intra-company transfers. In practice, this is where most refusals begin: the job offer, the LMIA, the NOC or TEER code, the wage, and the listed duties all have to line up exactly, and a single mismatch can sink the application. We review every piece before you submit, not after a refusal. You can read more about what an LMIA means for your work permit.
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Open Work Permits:
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An open work permit lets you work for almost any employer in Canada, with no single job offer or LMIA required. Common categories include post-graduation work permit holders, spouses or common-law partners of certain skilled workers and students, applicants already on a pathway to permanent residence, and participants in International Experience Canada. Eligibility for spousal open work permits narrowed sharply as of January 2025: in most cases the principal worker must now be in a higher-skilled occupation (generally TEER 0 or 1, or a select TEER 2 or 3 role) and hold enough remaining work authorization, and dependent children are no longer covered under that stream. The rules also differ for workers on a PR pathway and under specific provincial measures. Because the criteria are detailed and change often, don't assume last year's rules apply; we confirm your exact eligibility against the current measures. Learn more about who qualifies for an open work permit and the current spousal open work permit rules.
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Post-Graduation Work Permits:
If you graduated from an eligible Canadian designated learning institution, a PGWP lets you work for any employer and build the Canadian experience that can lead to permanent residence. To qualify, your program generally must have been at least 8 months long, you must have studied full time each semester, you must apply within 180 days of confirmation that you completed your program, and your study permit must have been valid at some point in that window. A PGWP is a one-time permit; if you have already held one, you cannot get a second. Two recent changes catch people off guard: for applications submitted on or after November 1, 2024, most graduates must now prove a minimum language level (generally CLB 7 for university graduates and CLB 5 for college graduates), and many college and non-university programs now carry a field-of-study requirement tied to occupations in shortage. A common, costly mistake we see: letting your study permit expire while waiting for final marks, which can force a restoration application instead of a clean PGWP. Learn more in our PGWP 2026 guide.
How Ansari Immigration helps
You don't legally need a consultant to apply for a work permit. But a licensed RCIC is the difference between a clean approval and a refusal you didn't see coming. Working with us, you get a licensed RCIC on your file, regulated by the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (CICC) and authorized to represent you with IRCC.
We pick the right category for your situation before you spend money on the wrong application, review your job offer and LMIA against IRCC requirements, and give you clear, upfront pricing for your specific case, quoted at your consultation. All of it is handled from our Vancouver office, backed by experience across 6,000+ immigration cases.
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Correct category from the start. We identify the exact work permit you qualify for, whether that's an employer-specific permit, an open work permit, or a PGWP, so you don't waste time or money on the wrong application.
LMIA and job offer, checked line by line. A closed work permit lives or dies on the details, so before anything is submitted we confirm the LMIA is valid and still active, that the NOC and TEER code genuinely match the duties you will actually perform, and that the wage meets the prevailing wage for that occupation in your region. We also check that the job offer reads as genuine and that every figure on the offer matches what goes onto your application forms. Even a small inconsistency, a wage slightly under the median or duties that don't fit the code, is exactly what an officer flags, and it is what turns into a refusal or a request for more documents. Getting this right before you apply is far cheaper than fixing it after.
Eligibility confirmed against current rules. Work permit rules change often, especially for spouses and graduates, so we verify your situation against the latest IRCC measures, not last year's.
Accurate, complete application. We prepare and review every form and document so nothing triggers a request for more information or an avoidable delay.
No surprises. You get a licensed Vancouver RCIC on your file, clear pricing for your specific case, and one point of contact from start to approval.
Work Permit FAQs
Where do I find the document number on my work permit?
The document number is the alphanumeric code near the top of your permit, usually starting with a letter followed by digits. It is not the same as your application or UCI number. You can read our full guide on the work permit document number.
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What's the difference between an open and a closed work permit?
A closed, or employer-specific, permit ties you to one employer, job, and location. An open permit lets you work for almost any employer in Canada. Closed permits usually need an LMIA; open permits don't.
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Can my spouse work in Canada while I'm on a work permit?
Sometimes, but the rules tightened as of January 2025. Eligibility now depends on your occupation or study program and your remaining status, so it is worth checking your specific case rather than relying on older guidance. See our guide on the current spousal open work permit rules.
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Do I need a job offer to get a Canadian work permit?
Usually yes for a closed permit, often with an LMIA, but open work permits don't require a job offer. We confirm which path fits you.
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How long does a work permit take to process?
Processing times change month to month and vary by permit type and where you apply from. See our guide on current work permit processing times for the latest figures.
Can I apply for permanent residence after working in Canada?
Often yes. Canadian work experience can qualify you for Express Entry through the Canadian Experience Class.
Do I really need an immigration consultant for a work permit?
Not legally. But a licensed RCIC catches the job offer, LMIA, category, and timing issues that cause refusals, before you submit, when it still matters.
