SIMINCA - Work in Canada - Work in Canada

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Entering as a worker in Canada
Working temporarily as a Foreign Worker
Workers needed in several trades and professions
Professions in demand
Temprary foreign work: a stepping stone for immigration

If you are a Temporary Foreign Worker in Canada
or
have returned to your country after working in Canada
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Entering as a worker in Canada

Canada needs skilled workers who:

are professionally mobile due to their training and experience;
may integrate successfuly into and contribute to Canada's economy
are able to fill in job. qui commence par s for which Canada does not have enough manpower.

There are two avenues to come work in Canada :

Apply for pernanent resident visa (immigration) under one of the Skilled workers programs (Canada, Quebec) or one of the Provincial nominee programs; or
Come as a Temporary Foreign Worker as decribed in the next section.

This page only discusses temporary work in Canada. For information about a permanent resident application please consult our Skilled Workers page.

Working temporarily as a foreign worker

Canadian businesses unable to fill vacant positions may recruit foreign workers on a temporary basis under certain circumstances. In order to be able to come as a Temporary Foreign Worker, you must have a written job offer from a Canadian business and apply for a Work Permit. But before you may apply, the business must demontrate that:

They have been unable to find a worker already in Canada able to fill the vacancy, in spite of their search efforts;
Hiring the foreign worker will benefit Canada ;
Work conditions they offered you are in line with Canadian labour market standards and practices.

Except in rare instances, a Work Permit is required for foreign workers to work in Canada.

Almost 113 000 temporary foreign workers were admitted into Canada in 2006.

Workers needed in several trades and professions

In several areas Canada lacks enough manpower. This is why the Government has set up the temporary foreign workers program.

The Government also regularly updates and publishes list of occupations in demand or under pressure. These lists vary from region to region according to their respective labour market conditions.

Professions in demand

You may consult these lists by clicking on the following Government of Canada weblinks.

You may also want to look at the following pages from our website to learn more about important economic sectors: Canada's economy and Quebec's economy.

Temporary foreign work: a stepping stone for immigration

There are advantages to working in Canada as a foreign worker if you have plans to eventually immigrate. This will help you:

get acquainted with the Canadian labour market and way of life in more generally;
accumulate precious job experience; and
immigrate at a later date.

Under certain circumstances, after a year in Canada as a temporary foreign worker, you may be allowed to apply for immigration as a Skilled worker without having to leave the country.

Generally, even after your contract has ended and you have returned to your country of permanent residence, this experience will increase your chances of being accepted as a permanent resident, should you eventually wish to apply.