How to apply for an open work permit
Status: Open for applications, starting January 1, 2024
You must apply online for this open work permit. You can’t apply at a Canadian port of entry and you can’t apply on paper unless you’re eligible.
Step 1: Get your document checklist
You must answer some questions to create a personalized document checklist.
Answer the following questions in the tool exactly as shown:
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| What would you like to do in Canada? | Work |
| How long are you planning to stay in Canada? | Temporarily – more than 6 months |
| I have a job offer and my employer gave me an offer of employment number or LMIA number (or proof that your employer applied for an LMIA) | No |
| Will you be coming to Canada under an active public policy or special measure announced by IRCC? | Yes |
| What is your province of destination? If visiting multiple provinces, select the one in which you will be spending most of your time. | Quebec |
Answer the remaining questions according to your personal situation.
Your results should say Open work permit (Outside Canada).
Click continue and answer the question exactly as shown.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| What type of work permit do you want to apply for? | A work permit under an active public policy or special measure announced by IRCC. |
Answer all the remaining questions according to your personal situation. If you need help, click on the question mark icon for more information.
Once you finish, you can review your answers and change them if needed.
When you’re ready, click Continue to get your personal document checklist. This page gives you step-by-step instructions on how to submit your application online. It will also list the
- required application forms
- supporting documents
- fees
Step 2: Complete your application online
Read the instruction guide before you complete your application.
How to fill out the IMM 1295 form
- Application For Work Permit Made Outside of Canada [IMM 1295] (opens in a new tab)
Under Details of intended work in Canada, fill in the information as follows:
- Question 1: What type of work permit are you applying for?
- Answer: Choose “Open Work Permit”.
- Question 4: My occupation in Canada will be
- Answer: Write “T10 Quebec Investors” in the Job Title box.
- Question 5: Under “Duration of expected employment”, we need to know how long you’d like your permit to be valid.
- Answer start date: Enter the date you’d like to start working.
- Answer end date: You can ask for an end date that’s up to 3 years from the date we issued your open work permit. You can’t ask for a date beyond the expiry date of your passport.
Step 3: Upload the correct documents
To complete your application, you must upload your
- completed application package
- Quebec Notice of Intent to Select in the Proof that you Meet the Requirements of the Job Being Offered section of the application
- supporting documents
- Since you’re applying for an open work permit, you must upload a blank document for the following supporting documents:
- employment reference letter
- letter from current employer
- employment records
- employment contract
- Since you’re applying for an open work permit, you must upload a blank document for the following supporting documents:
There’s only 1 Client Information field. You may need to combine more than 1 document into 1 file and upload them together.
Find out how to upload multiple documents into 1 field.
Find out what to do and what happens after you apply for your work permit.
Prepare to arrive in Canada
There are also a few things you should know before you arrive in Canada to work.