Immigration Blog about US & Canadian Immigration matters.

Working in Canada

Are you a citizen of the United States or Mexico who’s been wanting to come to Canada for temporary work? Are you an American or Mexican national with a job offer from a Canadian company but not certain about the sort of documentation required to legally work in Canada? Or are you just not sure if you meet the necessary requirements to enter Canada legally as a worker? If so, continue reading this blog for further assistance and information on this immigration matter.

NAFTA Work Permit

Foreign nationals generally require work permits to legally work in Canada. Furthermore, any Canadian company that wants to hire a foreign worker will need a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) approved by the Employment and Social Development Canada. If approved, the foreign worker can then given the job offer and use it to apply for a work permit. However, in some cases, an LMIA may not be required.

What is NAFTA?

North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) is a Free Trade Agreement between Canada, U.S. and Mexico entered into with the intention to liberalize trade between the countries. NAFTA deals with temporary entry to selected business persons who are citizens of Canada, U.S. or Mexico and who are involved in trade or business or investment activities. NAFTA eliminates the need for a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) for business persons and Work Permit for professionals and Intra-company transferees.

What does NAFTA not do?

• NAFTA does not assist with permanent admission