Work permit for Canada can only be obtained if you have an offer of employment before applying duly approved from Service Canada (HRSDC). Canada seeks to attract temporary skilled workers to fill positions that Canadian employers are having difficulty to fill by a Permanent Resident or Canadian Citizen.

Work permit is issued on a temporary basis only and on the condition that you work for the specific employer sponsoring you. You can apply to change your Canada immigration status once in Canada, however, upon termination of employment, you will not be able to stay and work in Canada on your work visa.

To apply for a work permit from outside Canada, you must submit the following documents:

	Job offer from a Canadian employer duly approved from Service Canada (HRSDC).
	Completed application, that shows that you meet the requirements of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations.
	Written confirmation from Human Resources and Social Development Canada (HRSDC) that the employer can hire a foreign worker to fill the job. This confirmation is called a positive labour market opinion (LMO).

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

	you have a valid study or work permit, or your spouse or parents have a study or work permit
	you have a work permit for one job but want to apply for a work permit for a different job
	you have a temporary resident permit that is valid for six months or more or
	you are in Canada because you have already applied for permanent residence from inside Canada. You will have to pass certain stages in the main application process before you can be eligible for a work permit.

Some employers may also be able to sponsor your application under the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), depending on where they are situated and the nature of the position. This visa is also a permanent resident visa, but does restrict you to work in the province that sponsored your application until you become a permanent resident.