Ontario - Apply for an Open Work Permit

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Procedure

Apply Online
Apply from within Canada

1. To apply for a work permit, the applicant will need an Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) account. Here is the link to the login page: Link
2. If the applicant has an account, log in using the login credentials.
3. If the applicant does not have an account, follow these steps:
   • On the login page, click on “Register”.
   • Choose whether the applicant wants to log in using GCKey, i.e., simply creating a username and password or if the applicant wants to create an account using the credentials given by the institution they work for.
   • If the applicant is registering using a sign-in partner, they will have to enter information about their place of work and bank details.
   • Agree to the terms and conditions.
   • The account will be created.
   • If the applicant is applying using GCKey, then agree to the terms and conditions.
   • Enter username and click on “Continue”.
   • Create a password and click on “Next”.
   • Enter security questions and answers and click on “Submit”, the account has been created.
   • Now, log in to the account.
4. Once logged in, scroll to the bottom and click on “Apply to come to Canada”.
5. The applicant will have to enter their personal reference code to access the work permit application.
6. Enter all the relevant details in the application form.
7. In the “Details of intended work” section of the application form, select “Open Work Permit”, and leave questions 2 to 8 blank.
8. Before uploading documents, the applicant will need to answer some questions.
9. Once the applicant answers all questions, they will have to upload digital copies of all documents as mentioned under the “Required Documents” section of this page.
10. Submit the application and the documents, the applicant will need to make fee payment using a credit or debit card, find fee-related information under the “Fees” section of this page.
11. The applicant can track the status of their application on their IRCC account.
12. The applicant shall receive their work permit online or through mail within a few weeks to a month from the submission of the application.

Apply by Mail
Apply from within Canada

1. To apply for a work permit, the applicant will need to fill out an application form, use the following link for the application package: Link.
2. Fill in the application form on the computer, click on the “Validate” button to ensure that all details are entered correctly.
3. In the “Details of intended work” section of the application form, select “Open Work Permit”, and leave questions 2 to 8 blank.
4. The applicant will have to print the completed application form on non-glossy paper.
5. The application will have a barcode; attach this on top of the completed application form.
6. Once the applicant answers all questions, they will have to attach copies of all documents mentioned under the “Required Documents” section of this page.
7. The applicant will have to make a fee payment, find fee-related information under the “Fees” section of this page.
8. Submit the application form to the address mentioned in the application form.
9. The applicant shall receive their work permit online or through mail within a few weeks to a month from the submission of the application.

Apply In-Person:
If the applicant is applying from outside Canada

1. Here is the contact link if the applicant has any queries: Link
2. The applicant will need to fill out an application form, use the following link for the application package: Link
3. The applicant will need to select the country they are applying from to get the correct application package.
4. Fill in the application form on the computer, click on the “Validate” button to ensure that all details are entered correctly.
5. In the “Details of intended work” section of the application form, select “Open Work Permit”, and leave questions 2 to 6 blank.
6. Once the applicant answers all questions, they will have to attach copies of all documents mentioned under the “Required Documents” section of this page.
7. The applicant will have to print the completed application form on non-glossy paper.
8. The application will have a barcode; attach this on top of the completed application form.
9. The applicant will have to make a fee payment, find fee-related information under the “Fees” section of this page.
10. To find where to submit the application form, select the country where the applicant wants to submit the application form to obtain the address.
11. The applicant shall receive their work permit online or through mail within a few weeks to a month from the submission of the application

Apply Online
If the applicant is applying from outside Canada

1. To apply for a work permit, the applicant will need an IRCC account. Here is the link to the login page: Link
2. If the applicant has an account, log in using the login credentials.
3. If the applicant does not have an account, follow these steps:
   • On the login page, click on “Register”.
   • Choose whether the applicant wants to log in using GCKey, i.e., simply creating a username and password or if the applicant wants to create an account using the credentials given by the institution they work for.
   • If the applicant is registering using a sign-in partner, they will have to enter information about their place of work and bank details.
   • Agree to the terms and conditions.
   • The account will be created.
   • If the applicant is applying using GCKey, agree to the terms and conditions.
   • Enter username and click on “Continue”.
   • Create a password and click on “Next”.
   • Enter security questions and answers and click on “Submit”, the account has been created.
   • Now, log in to the account.
4. Once logged in, scroll to the bottom and click on “Apply to come to Canada”.
5. The applicant will need to enter their personal reference code and answer a few questions.
6. Enter the country the applicant is applying from.
7. The applicant will need to fill in an application form.
8. Enter all the relevant details in the application form.
9. In the “Details of intended work” section of the application form, select “Open Work Permit”, and leave questions 2 to 6 blank.
10. Before uploading documents, the applicant will need to answer some questions.
11. Once the applicant answers all questions, they will have to upload digital copies of all documents as mentioned under the “Required Documents” section of this page.
12. Submit the application and the documents, the applicant will need to make fee payment using a credit or debit card, find fee-related information under the “Fees” section of this page.
13. Submit the application form by clicking on the “Submit” button.
14. The applicant can track the status of their application on their IRCC account.
15. The applicant shall receive their work permit online or through mail within a few weeks to a month from the submission of the application.

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Required Documents

• A copy of the LMIA provided by ESDC (if applicable), and
• A copy of job offer letter from prospective employer;
• The Offer of Employment number (The Offer of Employment number starts with an “A” and is followed by 7 numbers).
• Evidence that the applicant meets the requirements of the job.
• A copy of the Certificat d’acceptation du Québec (CAQ) issued by the Ministère de l'Immigration, de la Francisation et de l'Intégration (MIFI) (if the applicant is going to work in Quebec).
• Application package: Link
• Find the full list of documents here: Link

Office Locations & Contacts

Address: 55 Bay St. North
Ground Floor (Market St. entrance)
Hamilton ON L8R 3P7

Address: Kitchener
29 Duke Street East, 1st Floor
Kitchener ON N2H 1A2

Address: London
417 Exeter Road
London ON N6E 2Z3

Address: Niagara Falls
4318 Portage Road,
Niagara Falls ON L2E 6A4

Address:
235 Queen Street
Level C3 - Suite 005
Ottawa ON K1A 0H5

Mailing address:
365 Laurier Ave. W
Office 3122
Ottawa ON K1A 1L1

Address: Mississauga
3085 Glen Erin Drive
Mississauga ON L5L 1J3

Address: Toronto (Scarborough)
325 Milner Avenue, Suite 200
Scarborough ON M1B 5N1

Address: Toronto (Etobicoke)
5343 Dundas Street West Suite 105
Toronto ON M9B 6K5

Address: Windsor
1250 Walker Road
Windsor ON N8Y 4T4
The applicant can find the nearest office here: Link
Office Link

Eligibility

• The applicant is an international student who graduated from a designated learning institution and is eligible for the Post-Graduation Work Permit Program.
• The applicant is a student who’s no longer able to meet the costs of their studies.
• The applicant has an employer-specific work permit and is being abused or at risk of being abused in relation to their job in Canada.
• The applicant has applied for permanent residence in Canada.
• The applicant is a dependent family member of someone who has applied for permanent residence.
• The applicant is the spouse or common-law partner of a skilled worker or international student.
• The applicant is the spouse or common-law partner of an applicant of the Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program.
• The applicant is a refugee, refugee claimant, protected person or family member.
• The applicant is under an unenforceable removal order.
• The applicant is a temporary resident permit holder.
• The applicant is a young worker participating in special programs.

Fees

• The applicant will need to pay a fee of 100$ for an open work permit.
• The applicant will have to pay a fee of 155$ for each work permit application.
• The applicant may need to pay service charges.
• The applicant can find full fee-related information here: Link

Validity

• An open work permit is usually valid for 1-2 years.

Documents to Use

• Application package Link

Sample Documents

Please attach sample completed documents that would help other people.

Processing Time

• It takes a few weeks to a month to process the application.

Related Videos

Videos explaining the procedure or to fill the applications.
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Instructions

• Before the applicant submits their work permit, their employer must submit an offer of employment to immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, pay a $230 employer compliance fee, and provide the applicant with an offer of employment number.
• If the applicant is outside Canada, an approval letter will be sent to the application; this letter must be brought with the applicant and must present at the port of entry.
• The applicant coming from outside Canada will only get their work permit the day they arrive in Canada, at the port of entry.

Required Information

• Unique client identifier number
• Language
• Name
• Alias
• Sex
• DOB
• City or town of birth
• Country of citizenship
• Name of the country the applicant lives in
• Immigration status in that country
• Marital status
• Date of marriage
• Family name
• Passport number
• Country of issue
• Passport issue date
• Passport expiry date
• Does the applicant have a national identity document?
• ID number
• Date of issue
• Date of expiry
• Mailing address
• Telephone number
• Date of entry to Canada
• Purpose of the original visit
• Type of permit the applicant needs
• Location of employment in Canada
• Details of employment
• LMIA number
• Current occupation

Need for the Document

• An open work permit allows an individual to work for an employer.
• The open work permit also allows the individual to work for multiple employers.

Information which might help

• Information guide Link

Other uses of the Document/Certificate

Please explain what are other uses of obtaining this document/certificate.
e.g. Birth Certificate can be used as proof of identity.

External Links

Place some external links which might help.

Others

More information which might help people.