3 Simple steps to change Canada Visitor Visa to Work Permit

by Sneha Chawla Best Immigration Consultants

Immigrants moving to Canada on a Visitor Visa, have one common question that they generally ask – “Is it possible to convert a Canada Visitor Visa to Work Permit?”

Yes, it is possible. Any visitor can apply for a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) and subsequently acquire a Work Permit – allowing them to change their status in Canada from visitor to worker.

How to convert a Canada Visitor Visa to Work Permit?

The process to change your Canada Visitor Visa to Work Permit can be followed in 3 easy steps.

STEP 1: Submit an application for a job in Canada

To be able to apply for a Work Permit from within Canada, first, you must make sure that you have a valid job offer from a Canadian employer. Just remember that you need to craft your Resume/CV to that of the Canadian standards. You can follow these tips to quickly land a job in Canada:

Identify jobs across in-demand occupations in Canada generating jobs across popular sectors including Manufacturing, Mining, Healthcare, and Tourism.
Search for jobs on Canada job portals such as Adzuna, CareerOne, and CareerJet.
Create a LinkedIn profile and follow Australian employers and organizations.
If you’ve already moved to Canada, explore job opportunities in newspaper classifieds and magazines.
Get in touch with recruitment agencies.
Send cold applications to Canadian employers and organizations with a resume and cover letter.

STEP 2: Make sure you are eligible for a Work Permit

Once you’ve managed to grab a job, you can now consider changing your Visitor Visa to Work Permit. Once you’ve confirmed your eligibility, you can apply both online and via mail.

Candidates wanting to apply for a Canada Work Permit must meet the following mandated requirements:

A valid passport or travel document
The application fee
The letter of introduction from Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)
Have a letter approved by the Labor Market Impact Assessment (LMIA)
Comply with the Immigration and Refugees Protection Act and Regulations
Be admissible to Canada
Proof of financial support and
A job offer letter in Canada

You would also be required to meet other prerequisites such as proving that you will leave Canada – once your work permit expires. Depending on your country of residence, you might also be asked to submit Police Background Check and Medical Clearance Certificates.

Take Note: A work permit does not make you eligible to apply for Canada PR from India. The eligibility, process, and prerequisites to apply for Canadian permanent residency are different.

STEP 3: Submit an application for Work Permit

You may now proceed to apply for a Work Permit. Your submitted application must include:

A valid email address and contact number
Your current address in Canada
Your passport or travel document number
The names of countries you have previously visited

You will be required to pay the processing fee and work permit holder fee at this point. The Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will now determine your eligibility for a Work Permit.

Some of the key costs involved when applying for a Work Permit include:

Work permit (Including extensions) per person - $155
Work permit (Including extensions) per group (3 or more performing artists) - $465
Open work permit holder - $100

Processing Times

Visitor Visa

The Canada Visitor Visa processing time depends on the country from which you are applying. The time can typically vary from a couple of days to a few weeks. If you apply from within Canada – the processing time is just 12-15 days.

Work Permit

Canada’s work permit processing time is comparatively larger. The processing time of a Canadian work permit majorly depends on the completion of your application, the nature of the in-demand jobs in Canada, and the office you applied to. IRCC can take anywhere between 1 and 27 weeks to process a work permit application.

Benefits of Working in Canada

The Canadian government offers a plethora of benefits to immigrants wanting to work in high-demand jobs in Canada. Some of the benefits include better employment opportunities, higher salaries, stronger networking, and such.

If you know where to start, the process to convert a Canada Visitor Visa to Work Permit is easy. The processing time for Work Permit, however, is greater than the Canada Visitor Visa processing time.

Once you’ve gained enough Canadian work experience, you may even be eligible to apply for Canada PR from India.