Visas for Skilled Workers

Visas for Skilled Workers Wishing to Relocate to Canada

In a Canadian context, a skilled worker is someone who has work experience, specialized training, knowledge, or abilities in a specific profession or trade.

Foreign skilled workers have several pathways to work and live in Canada:

• Come temporarily to work in Canada through a job offer from a Canadian employer.
• Immigrate through one of Canada's federal programs for skilled workers.
• Immigrate through one of the provincial programs for skilled workers.

Temporary Work Permit Through a Job Offer

Foreign skilled workers can be offered a job by a Canadian employer if the latter has difficulty filling the role with Canadians and permanent residents. The interested employer will obtain a Labour Market Impact Assessment from the Department of Employment and Social Development Canada and provide it to the temporary foreign worker to apply for a Canadian work visa. Some jobs are exempt from this requirement based on Canada’s interests, international agreements, policies, or other reasons. A work permit generally authorizes a foreign national to work for a specific Canadian employer, in a certain occupation and location.

Work experience gained in Canada can also make a foreign national eligible for immigration and increase the chances of becoming a permanent resident through one of the federal or provincial programs. Additionally, a Canadian employer can extend a permanent job offer to the temporary foreign worker to support their permanent residence visa application.

Permanent Resident Visa through Canada’s Federal or Provincial Programs for Skilled Workers

There are three federal programs for skilled workers, and each Canadian province has its own streams based on labour needs and economic developments in that particular province. While the selection criteria often boil down to the same considerations - education, work experience, age, and language ability - the qualifying score under the federal programs is typically higher. Both federal and provincial programs have more targeted criteria towards certain in-demand occupations and trades, making it easier to immigrate for those with experience in those in-demand occupations. A job offer from a Canadian employer, while not mandatory under some immigration streams, still adds points to the candidate’s profile. Additionally, French language ability can significantly increase chances, along with some other criteria.

Thus, immigration programs for skilled workers include:

• Federal Skilled Worker Program
• Federal Skilled Trades Program
• Canadian Experience Class Program
• Provincial pathways for skilled worker immigration to a specific province

Start Canadian Immigration

Call us at +1-416-915-0808 or email us at info@leromlaw.com for additional information you need to begin the process.