Can I get a Canadian work permit without a job offer?

There are misconceptions that people have when applying for a work visa to Canada, they tend to believe that without a job offer, getting a work permit will not be possible. Yes, in many cases that is true, but not in all cases.

You need a job offer because a company must be willing to commit and sponsor you. After that, their forms have to be filled out and an application has to be submitted to the government to get you a work permit. This is usually a two-step process where the company first has to get approved for the job offer to the foreign national, then step two is that the applicant has to apply for a work permit.

However, there are certain circumstances where a job offer, at least a formal job offer,  is not necessarily required. In Canada, there are circumstances where if you?re interested in investing in your own business and starting a new business you can actually get a work visa without having a job offer from a separate company.

If you wish to expand your business from your home country into Canada, we call that an inter-company transfer. That?s a circumstance where you could not necessarily get a formal job offer, or you don?t need a formal job offer from a company, but rather you are expanding and growing your business into Canada and on that basis apply for a visa. 

You could also immigrate to Canada as a part of the Express Entry system. Express Entry (EE) is an online immigration application system. It allows people to submit a profile and be considered as a skilled immigrant and this applies to workers who plan to settle in Canada permanently. In order to qualify for this status, you must be a skilled professional or trades-person with a certain amount of work experience. You don?t have to have a job offer in order to apply to be a part of the Express Entry system. 

However, if that?s the case, you do have to register with Employment and Social Development Canada?s job bank. Those who are eligible for one of the programs managed by Express Entry submit their application and the Canadian government issues invitation letters to successful candidates.

In addition, if you are a spouse of a work permit holder, spouse or common-law partners of some temporary foreign workers, students who graduated from a designated program of study in Canada, permanent residency applicants who have applied through the inland spousal sponsorship process, some young workers participating in programs offered through International Experience Canada (IEC), refugees or refugee claimants, protected persons and their family members are persons who could potentially apply for what we call an open work permit. This means that they don?t need a job offer from a company. 

An open work permit is a work permit that is not job-specific and as such, you will not need a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) from Employment and Social Development Canada or proof that an employer has submitted an offer of employment through the Employer Portal and paid the employer compliance fee when you apply for your work permit.

There are truly circumstances where you don?t need a job offer in order to get a work permit. But every case is different and in most cases, you?re going to have to really explore what your options are and do your homework and preferably consult with an immigration professional before you make such an application.

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