Step One: Hire Locally

• Attempt to hire or train Canadians or permanent residents of Canada.
  
  
• Here are several resources on finding suitable employees within Canada:
  1. Find a local immigrated worker
  2. Job Banks

Step Two: Hire Abroad

• If unsuccessful, locate a suitable foreign national or make contact with recruiting agencies that operate internationally.
  
  
• Apply for a work permit via Citizenship and Immigration Canada. Go to:
  http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/work/index.html
  

Step Three: Providing Evidence

• Send the appropriate application form to Service Canada/Human Resources and Skill Development Canada, which can be found here.
  
  
• Provide evidence (for example: copies of ads) showing that they tried to hire or train Canadians but were unsuccessful.
  
  
• Demonstrate that wages and working conditions offered are consistent with what Canadians receive when doing this kind of work.
  
  
• Demonstrate that the job requirements are usual for the occupation.

Step Four: Contact Your Worker

If the application is approved by Service Canada/Human Resources and Skill Development Canada, employers must:

• Send foreign nationals a copy of Service Canada/Human Resources and Skill Development Canada’s approval letter (called a confirmation).
  
  
• In most instances, advise them to apply for work permit and any other needed documents at a Canadian Consulate, Embassy or High Commission.
  These documents are listed here: www.cic.gc.ca/english/applications/
  
  
• Certain exceptions are applicable regarding where work permit applications can be submitted, and the subsequent administrative process. To review these circumstances, go to:
  www.cic.gc.ca/english/work/worker-3.html
  

Step Five: Ensuring legal work standards

If Citizenship and Immigration Canada approves the foreign nationals’ work permit application, employers must:

• When foreign nationals arrive, view their work permits to ensure that the terms and conditions listed will allow them to begin work.
  
  
• Ensure foreign nationals obtain Social Insurance Numbers (SIN’s). If they already hold SIN’s, ensure that the SIN’s have been updated.
  
  
• Adhere to the terms and conditions under which foreign nationals were hired.

Step Six: Changing Work Conditions

• If an employer wishes to change the terms or conditions of their foreign nationals' employment or wishes to extend the foreign nationals’ stay, they must make contact with Service Canada/Human Resources and Skill Development Canada for instruction at least three months prior to the expiry of the work permit. See the webpage at:
  www.cic.gc.ca/english/applications/
  extend-worker.html
  
  
• Steps one, two and three are generally repeated when work conditions are changed.
  
  
• Foreign nationals may also extend their stay by applying through other work permits.
  

Step One: Job Offer, Passport

• Be offered employment in a job that requires more than a high school education.
  
  
• Have the skills, education and experience needed for the job.
  
  
• Have a copy of Service Canada/Human Resources and Skill Development Canada’s approval letter (that the Canadian employer sent).
  
  
• Have a current, valid passport. (US citizens require only a birth certificate)

Step Two: CIC Documents

• Send the appropriate application form to Citizenship and Immigration Canada and include a copy of Service Canada/Human Resources and Skill Development Canada’s approval letter. Application forms are found here.
  
  
• Provide any other documents required by Citizenship and Immigration Canada. (For example, such things as police certification, proof of education, licences, etc. may be required. The foreign national may be required to have a medical examination. For further information, consult the nearest Citizenship and Immigration Canada, Consulate, Embassy or High Commission for advice, which are found at this website.
  
  
• Foreign nationals may also need to apply for  temporary resident visa through Citizenship and Immigration Canada.  There may also be travel permits and exit visas required from their home county, which are found at this website.
  
  
• If bringing a family member or friend to Canada, contact the nearest Citizenship and Immigration Canada, Consulate, Embassy or High Commission for advice, which are found at this website.

Step Three: Contact Employer, Travel

Citizenship and Immigration Canada will assess the application(s) and advise the foreign national of the decision.

If the application has been approved, the employee must:

• Advise the Canadian employer that the work permit has been approved and arrange a start date to begin work.
  
  
• Make arrangements to travel to an area near the employer’s place of business.
  
  
• If bringing furniture, equipment or items of high value to Canada, contact Canada Customs and Revenue Agency for instructions.

Step Four: Documentation required upon arrival

On arriving at a Canadian airport or border crossing, the foreign national must:

• Provide the Canadian Immigration Officer with a passport and copy of approval letter from Citizenship and Immigration Canada.
  
  
• If foreign national is given final approval to enter Canada, the Canadian Immigration Officer will give the foreign national a work permit.

Step Five: Possess a current Social Insurance Number, and begin work

• If a foreign national does not have a Social Insurance Number, they need to take steps to apply for one. Information regarding the application process for Social Insurance Numbers can be found at this webpage:
  www.hrsdc.gc.ca/asp/gateway.asp?hr=en/
  cs/sin/0200/0200_010.shtml&hs=sxn
  
  
• Begin working for the Canadian employer.

Step Six: Changing conditions

• If a foreign national wishes to change the terms or conditions of employment (extend employment with the current employer, change employers, change occupations, or change the location of employment), before doing so, the Canadian employer (or new Canadian employer) must first obtain formal approval (confirmation) from Service Canada/Human Resources and Skill Development Canada.
  
  
• Once the Canadian employer has received formal approval from Service Canada/Human Resources and Skill Development Canada, the employer must give the foreign national a copy of the approval letter.
  
  
• The foreign national must send a copy of the approval letter, the appropriate application form and processing fee, as well as any other required documents to Citizenship and Immigration Canada.
  
  It is important that foreign national sends all these documents together before the expiry of their work permit.
  
  Citizenship and Immigration Canada provide a review of necessary steps on this webpage:
  www.cic.gc.ca/english/applications/
  extend-worker.html
  
  
• The new work permit must be received before the foreign national begins working under the changed terms and conditions.

Step Seven: Permanent residence

• If foreign national wishes, they may apply for permanent residency through Citizenship and Immigration Canada while working legally in Canada.
  
  Once permanent residence has been obtained, the foreign national is free to work without a work permit.
  
  
• Foreign nationals in Alberta can use the Provincial Nominee Program or Arranged Employment to manage their transition to permanent residency.