Working without a work permit in Canada
Most foreign nationals wishing to work in Canada need a work permit, which is a legal document that allows a foreign national to work and receive compensation from a Canadian employer. However, in special and unique circumstances, a foreign national may be able to work in Canada without a work permit.
Types of Canadian jobs that do not require a work permit
The following jobs may not require foreign nationals to work in Canada. It should be noted that simply including these items in this list does not mean that the person is eligible for a work permit exemption. To be eligible for a work permit exemption, a person’s job must be on this list, and they must provide additional exemption criteria for their specific job in accordance with the International Dynamics Program web page.
- Athlete or coach
- Aviation accident investigator
- Business visitor
- Civil Aviation Inspector
- Clergy
- Organizer of the convention
- Crew member
- Emergency service provider
- Examiner and evaluator
- Witness or expert agent
- Foreign representative family member
- Officer or representative of a foreign government
- Health care student
- Judge, arbitrator or similar authority
- Military personnel
- News reporter or film and media crew
- Producer or employees working on advertising
- Performing artist
- General Speaker
- Very skilled and short-lived workforce
- Short-term researcher
- A student who works outside of university
- A student who works at a university
If a foreign national is employed in one of the situations or scenarios listed above, he or she may be eligible for a work permit waiver.
Athlete or coach
If you are a foreign national and a member of a foreign sports team competing in Canada, you may be exempt from having a work permit. This item includes athletes, coaches and other members of foreign teams. If you are part of a Canadian team, you need a work permit.
Aviation accident expert
If you are known as an agent or consultant to investigate aviation or other reputable accidents, you may be exempt from having a work permit to conduct such research in Canada. To be eligible for this exemption, investigations must be conducted in accordance with the Transportation and Safety Accident Investigation Act.
Business visitor
Business visitors are foreign nationals who travel to Canada for business but do not enter the Canadian job market. If the definition of a business visitor applies to you, you may be exempt from having to work in Canada.
Note: There is a significant difference between a business visitor and a trader, make sure you use this definition to qualify for the exemption.
Civil Aviation Inspector
You may be eligible for a work permit exemption if you have been hired to check the flight operations and cabin security of international flights through Canada.
Clergy
If you are a foreign national who is an ordained servant, a layman, or a member of a religious order, you may be eligible for a work permit exemption for religious purposes in Canada. Your duties in Canada may include: Doctrine, worship leader, or spiritual counsel.
Organizer of the convention
If you organize or implement international conventions or international meetings, you may be eligible for a work permit waiver. Please note that this exemption only applies to organizers, persons who provide practical-experimental services (audio and video services, for example), in such conventions must have the appropriate work permit.
Crew member
If you are a foreign national who is a truck driver, bus driver, transporter or airline worker, you may be eligible for a work permit exemption. To be eligible for the exemption, your employment must meet two conditions:
- You must work on vehicles belonging to companies outside of Canada that are used to transport cargo or international passengers. And
- Your job should be related to the operation of vehicles or service to passengers.
Emergency service provider
If you are a foreign national working in Canada to provide emergency services, you may be eligible for a work permit exemption. Your service must be to maintain life or property in Canada. These emergencies include natural disasters, such as fires or floods, as well as industrial accidents that threaten the environment.
Examiner and evaluator
If you are a foreign national who is a professor or university expert, you may be eligible for a work permit exemption for certain types of activities in Canada. These activities include evaluating or monitoring academic projects, research projects, and dissertations. You may be working for a Canadian educational institution or a Canadian research group.
Witness or expert researcher
If you work in Canada to obtain evidence before a regulatory body, court or tribunal, you may be eligible for a work permit exemption.
Foreign representative family member
If you are a spouse or child or a foreign agent, you may be eligible for a work permit exemption in Canada. To be eligible, you must meet the following conditions:
- You must be accredited by Global Materials Canada (GAC) including a GAC counter in your passport.
- You must have a letter of protest issued by the GAC. This letter is usually issued only if there is a reciprocal employment agreement between Canada and another country.
Officer or representative of a foreign government
If you meet any of the following three conditions, you can enjoy a work permit exemption:
- You are a foreign government employee working under an exchange agreement that allows officials to work in the governments of your home country and Canada.
- You are a foreign diplomat or official representative of another country.
- You are a foreign diplomat or official representative of the United Nations.
Employees of other governments must receive an official letter if they wish to work in Canada for more than three months.
Health care student
If you are a foreign national studying health care in Canada and want to work as part of a training program, you may be eligible for a work permit exemption. To be eligible for this exemption, you must meet the following four conditions:
- You must attend a clinical internship.
- The main purpose of your employment is for educational purposes.
- You must have written approval from the provincial regulator that oversees your profession (note that not all provinces require this).
- Your training should last less than 4 months.
If you do not meet all of these conditions, you will need a work permit
Judge, arbitrator or similar authority
If you are a foreign national traveling to Canada to judge or officiate at an international Amato competition, you may be eligible for a work permit exemption. The following events are eligible for this exemption:
- Music and dance festivals.
- Animal Show
- Agricultural competitions.
Military personnel
If you are a member of the Armed Forces of another country, you may be eligible for a work permit waiver in Canada. To be eligible for this exemption, you must have a transfer order that you enter Canada under the Visiting Forces Act.
News reporter or film and media crew
If you are a foreign national working in Canada as a news reporter or in a film and media group, you can be exempt from a work permit. To be eligible, you must meet one of the following requirements:
- You must be a news reporter or a member of the news reporting staff.
- You must be a member of a film or media crew who will not enter the Canadian job market.
- You must be a journalist working for a non-Canadian print, radio, television or web-based publication.
- You must be a resident reporter.
- You must be a manager or an office member who attends an event for less than 6 months.
Producer or employees working on advertising
You may be eligible for a work permit exemption if you come to Canada to work for a foreign-funded commercial for television, magazines or other media. To be eligible, you must have one of the following roles:
- film producer
- Actor
- Director
- Technician
- Other basic personnel
This exemption only applies to short-term employment, which usually does not last more than 2 weeks.
Performer Artist
Some prominent foreign artists are allowed to work in Canada without a work permit. To be eligible for this exemption, foreign nationals must meet several requirements:
- You are a foreign artist or the main support staff of this artist.
- You will be performing in Canada for a limited time.
- You will not be hired by the group that contracted with you because you continue to work in Canada.
- You will not be involved in creating a broadcast for TV, radio or movies.
General Speaker
If you are a foreign national giving a party lecture, a business lecture or a seminar, you can be exempt from a work permit. Only speakers at events lasting less than 5 days are eligible for this exemption.
Very skilled and short-lived workforce
Highly skilled workers for short periods may be eligible to work in Canada provided there is a specific period between each exemption. Under the terms of the short-term work permit exemption, foreign nationals working in the NOC may be exempt from the need for a short-term work permit in Canada. Under the conditions of exemption from short-term work permit, the labor force must:
- Work for 15 consecutive calendar days or less and six months from the first working day using the previous exemption. Or
- To work for 30 calendar days or less and 12 months from the first working day using the previous exemption.
Because the short-term work permit exemption is designed to facilitate the work of foreign nationals residing outside of Canada, people residing in Canada are not eligible to apply for this exemption.
Short-term researcher
Some foreign nationals who travel to Canada for short-term research may be eligible for a work permit waiver. This exemption applies only if the researcher meets the following conditions:
- Must research at a reputable government agency or affiliated research institute.
- Must work for 120 consecutive days or less.
- Must not have used this exemption in the last 12 months.
A student who works outside of university
International full-time students do not need a work permit to work off-campus while studying. International full-time students are eligible to work up to 20 hours per week during their studies and to work full-time on regularly scheduled university holidays and vacations.
A student who works inside the university
If you are a full-time international student in Canada, you do not need a work permit to work at the university where you are studying. International full-time students are eligible to work up to 20 hours per week during their studies and to work full-time on regularly scheduled university holidays and vacations.