You’re an entrepreneur or self-employed
If you’re a commitment certificate holder under the Start-up Visa Program, follow the instructions for applicants to apply for a work permit for start-up visa business class permanent resident visa applicants.
You may be eligible for an employer-specific work permit if you
- meet the general eligibility requirements(opens in a new tab) for a work permit
- are entering Canada for a temporary period
- have a support letter from the province of destination as an entrepreneur
- intend to create or operate a business in Canada that would create or maintain one of the following:
- significant social, cultural or economic benefits
- jobs for Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada
Before you submit your work permit application, you must do all of the following:
- submit an offer of employment to IRCC
- pay a $230 employer compliance fee
- get an offer of employment number
Note: When you complete your work permit application, select “Exemption from Labour Market Impact Assessment” as the type of work permit in the “Details of intended work in Canada” section.
Faster processing
If your job is classified under Training, Education, Experience and Responsibilities (TEER) category 0 or 1 of the National Occupational Classification (NOC) system, you’re eligible for 2-week application processing.