Getting a work visa in Canada is not difficult but you might get confused if you don’t get the right information and follow the right process that is why we at Travels gist is here to give you guidelines on how you can apply for Canadian work visa from Saudi Arabia. So just follow this article very well so you don’t miss out on any vital information.
HOW CAN YOU GET A CANADIAN WORK VISA?
There are two types of Canadian work visa available for foreign skilled worker wanting to immigrate to Canada and we will be looking at them. They are the open work visa and the employer-specific work visa.
- The Open Work Visa
This type of work permit allows you to work for any employer in Canada without restriction to a specific province. You won’t need a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) if you are opting for the open work permit. The LMIA is a document that is issued by the department of Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) to employers in Canada to enable them hire foreign skilled workers to fill up job positions in the country. It shows that no Canadian is available and willing to take that job position and so there is need for a foreign worker. This document restricts you to a specific employer in Canada but with the open work visa, you won’t need this.
You might be asking the question on how you can apply for the open work visa.
The open work permit is issued on certain occasions and based on some circumstances and even if it may seem difficult, it is actually possible. You can go through the International Mobility Program (IMP) as it allows an employer in Canada to hire a temporary worker without needing a LMIA. Many employers love going through this program as it is simple, quick and easy, all they need to do is go through a portal called the Employer Portal.
Let’s look at a program under the open work permit…
The Post Graduate Work Permit (PGWP)
This is for international students who have completed their study program in a designated learning institution either in or outside Canada. this permit depends on the length of your study program and you can obtain an open work visa to work for any employer during your years of studying that is why it is advisable that you pick a study program with a lengthy duration of about 1-3 years so as to get enough Canadian work experience to help you apply for a Canadian permanent residence after you complete your study program and your work visa expires.
Let’s look at some of the requirements you need to meet in order to be eligible for the program…
- You should not be younger than 18years
- You must have graduated from a public or private post-secondary school in any Canadian province (college, university or technical school)
- You must have completed a study program at a Designated Institution
- You must have studied in Canada as a full-time student for at least 8 months
- You must have a valid study permit when you are applying for the work permit
- You must send the application for your work permit within 90 days of your graduation
Also, there are some documents you will need when you are applying for this permit and they are:
- An official transcript from the institution you graduated from
- Medical exam results
- Police clearance certificate
If you are planning on applying for a work visa in Canada from Saudi Arabia and you want to go through this program, then don’t fret!! There are lots of affordable universities and colleges in Canada.
- The Employer-Specific Visa
This is pretty easy to get if you are a foreign skilled worker and many foreigners are likely to go for this work permit. It is also called the closed work permit. Here, you get to work for a specific employer in Canada and in a certain work position so you will need an LMIA to show that the employer needed to hire a foreign worker to fill up that job position. Basically, you will need a job offer from an employer in Canada.
Let’s looks at one way you can get an employer-specific work permit from Saudi Arabia. You can go through the Temporary Foreign Worker Program
Let’s briefly explain the program and show you how you can apply…
Temporary Foreign Worker Program
This program allows employers in the country to temporarily hire foreign skilled worker to fill up shortages in the workforce and invite people with skills, training and experience to contribute to the growth of the economy. Many Canadian employers go with this program as it allows them fill up job positions easily and faster with even skilled workers. The country wants to continue growing and developing in all sectors so having labour shortages is not what the country wants at this time as these foreigners will bring their work experience, expertise and skills to better the country and its economy. The program has streams through which you can actually apply for a work visa, let’s look at these streams:
- Caregivers
- Agricultural Stream
- Global Talent Stream
- The Care Givers
They are in-home caregivers that are hired by families in Canada through the Temporary Work Program for foreigners. They are employed to take care of children, older persons and also people with disabilities who have special medical needs. For you to be eligible, you must meet some of the requirements we will be listing below:
- You must be at least 21 years old
- You must be a full-time caregiver (minimum of 30hrs per week)
- You must meet the requirements of the Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC)
- You must be willing to live in the place you work or carry out your duties
If you meet the conditions and requirements set by the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) as a foreign caregiver, you can become a permanent residence of Canada.
Another stream is…
- The Agricultural Stream
The agricultural stream allows you as a foreign skilled agricultural worker to come into Canada to fill up job positions in the agricultural sector of the country. This sector is very important in every country and Canada is no exception. The agricultural sector is posed with the duty of providing food for the nation either for direct use or for export to get revenue. So this stream is a very important one that you can use to come into Canada from Saudi Arabia if you are a skilled agricultural worker. You get to work for 24 months as a foreign worker going through this stream. There are some benefits attached to this stream like
- Transportation cost is to be paid by the employer
- Housing
- Health insurance
- The Global Talent Stream
This stream is for employers who want to employ highly skilled workers from around the globe to help fill up shortages in labour. The government created this stream to boost the workforce of the country and contribute to the growth and development of Canada. The employers are able to hire talented foreigners to fill job positions and they love it because it takes as short as two weeks to process.
Let’s look at the two categories of the Global Talent Stream:
Category A
In this category, designated partners of the stream refer the employers in this category.
What makes you eligible to apply for this category?
For you to be eligible for Category A:
- You must be at least 18 years old
- You must have a Labour Market Impact Assessment
- You must have a job in Canada
- You must have a sound health
- You must have a clean criminal record and not be a threat to the Canada (security wise)
- You must have enough funds to finance your stay in Canada
- You will have to prove that you will leave the country at the expiration of your work permit
Category B
In this category, the employers are allowed to employ skilled foreign workers to fill up shortages in labour for occupations that are in-demand in the country under the Global Talent Stream List. Look at the table below to see if you have the skills that are needed for the occupations mentioned below. If you do have the skills, then you are one step away from getting your Canadian work visa from Saudi Arabia.
NOC CODE | OCCUPATIONS IN-DEMAND |
NOC 2173 | Software engineers and designers |
NOC 0213 | Computer and information systems managers |
NOC 2175 | Web designers and developers |
NOC 2283 | Information systems testing technicians |
How Much Does A Work Visa In Canada Cost?
Work Visa Fees | |
Permit/Visa | Fee in CAD |
Study permit (including extensions) | $150 |
Work permit (including extensions) | $155 |
Work permit (including extensions) – per group (3 or more performing artists) | $ 465 |
Open work permit holder | $ 100 |