Working in Canada: How to Move to Canada and Apply for Permanent Residency Within 2 Years

There has been a lack of skilled labor since the pandemic hit in 2020, and in response to this shortage, IRCC  ( Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada) decided to push out more immigration programs to help curb this shortage. There has been much more flexibility in how foreigners can work and live in Canada and eventually apply for permanent residency.

A lot of foreign nationals have taken advantage of these immigration programs because working in Canada means a better quality of life and decent salaries. There are various job opportunities in different industries and wages depend on your occupation and work experience. As of April 2022, the minimum wage ranges from $11.00 to $16.00, depending on the province you are settled in, which means an average minimum wage-earning person working full time will earn about $1,760 to $2,560 a month.  There are the steps to be taken in order to work in Canada: 

Apply For Jobs And Get a Job Offer From a Canadian Employer

The first step will be to get a job offer from a Canadian employer. In order to do this, you have to apply for jobs in which you have the qualifications and the skills. 

A good way to start is formatting your resume into a Canadian-style resume, this helps you compete with other local applicants for the job. Here are some tips to note to help you get the right format for your resume:

1. Leave out your date of birth, photo, gender, and age
2. Stick to 1-2 pages for the resume length 
3. Use the same words employers use in the job postings for technical skills and knowledge 
4.  The resume should chronologically be arranged in this format:
   1. Resume header with your name, job title, and contact information 
   2. Resume summary
   3. Work experience
   4. Education 
   5. Skills 

There are websites that can aid in job searching. Some of these websites are

1. Canada Job Bank 
2. Indeed 
3. Workopolis
4. Monster 
5. LinkedIn
6. Glassdoor 
7. Green Light Canada 

However, it is not very easy to find an employer who is willing to go through the process of applying for an LMIA and its processing time. As well as being an immigration consultancy company, Green Light Canada is also an employment agency that helps with connecting potential foreign workers with Canadian employers who are ready to employ them. 

Employer Should Apply For LMIA

An LMIA (Labour Market Impact Assessment) is a document that impacts whether a Canadian employer has the power to hire a foreign worker or not. It is usually issued by ESDC (Employment and Social Development Canada) – which can issue a positive or a negative LMIA. A positive LMIA means there is truly no Canadian citizen or permanent resident that can fill the job position, making it possible for the Canadian employer to hire a foreigner while a negative LMIA means that a Canadian citizen or permanent resident has to fill the job position. 

There are a few steps to be taken before getting a positive LMIA document. The first step will be to advertise the job opening for a month. If there are no suitable Canadian candidates for the position, then the application for the LMIA can proceed. LMIA processing can take up to three months or more, depending on different factors.  A positive LMIA has to be received before proceeding to apply for a work permit. 

Apply For Work Permit 

A work permit is a legal document that states that a foreign national is allowed to work in Canada. There are two types of work permits: open work permit and employer-specific work permit. 

As a foreign worker, what you will need to apply for is an employer-specific work permit. An employer-specific work permit limits a foreigner to work for one employer and in one job position in Canada. 

To apply for the employer-specific work permit, you will need the LMIA approval reference number and your job offer letter. 

Some of the conditions that need to be met include:

1. You have sufficient funds to take care of yourself and your family while in Canada
2. You have no criminal record
3. You have no serious medical issues 

A work permit can be issued for a period of time ranging from a few days to a few years, typically employer-specific work permits are valid for one to two years. 

Once you have your employer-specific work permit, your spouse/common law partner is eligible to apply for an open work permit-  a work permit that allows an individual to work for any employer in Canada. This is a great opportunity to bring your family to Canada. 

Apply for Permanent Residency 

Depending on the province you’re settled in and your occupation, after working for 8 months to 1 year, you may be eligible for permanent residency under some immigration programs 

One of the most popular immigration programs for temporary residents to permanent residents pathway is the Canadian Experience Class.

Canadian Experience Class (CEC) is for skilled workers who have Canadian work experience and want to become permanent residents. 

The requirements for this program include

1. The ability to meet the required language level
2. Have worked full-time in Canada for at least a year in the last 3 years. 

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All of these steps can be achieved in 2 years, depending on the country you reside in. We, at Green Light Canada, can help you through this process. Fill out our assessment form and let’s help you find the best way for you to migrate to Canada – https://greenlightcanada.com/assessment-forms/

Author’s Bio 

Mariam Balogun works for Green Light Canada, an immigration consultancy firm in Canada. An extrovert who loves digital marketing and reading. You can reach me at info@greenlightcanada.com