Travel To Canada: Us Work Permit Holder's Guide

If you are a US work permit holder and want to travel to Canada, you will need to meet certain requirements. A work permit is not a travel document and does not give you the right to enter Canada. Along with your permit, you will need a valid passport and either a temporary resident visa or an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA). Even with an eTA or visa, entry back into Canada is not guaranteed, and you must show that you meet all requirements to a border services officer. Before arriving in Canada, you should prepare your documents, including your visitor visa (if applicable), travel documents, and proof of your work permit application approval. Upon arrival, your identity will be checked, and you will need to convince the officer that you meet Canada's entry requirements and will leave at the end of your approved stay.

Can a US work permit holder travel to Canada?

Eligibility requirements for a Canadian work permit

Foreign nationals who want to work in Canada on a temporary basis usually need a work permit. There are two main programs through which work permits are issued: the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) and the International Mobility Program (IMP).

The TFWP offers work permits for candidates whose employers obtain a positive Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). A positive LMIA confirms that there is a need for a foreign worker to fill the job and that no Canadian worker is available to do it.

IMP work permits do not require a positive LMIA, but the employer must submit an employment offer under their employer portal.

Canada issues two types of work permits: employer-specific work permits and open work permits.

Eligibility requirements for all applicants

There are specific requirements that must be met depending on where you are when you apply for your work permit. However, regardless of where you apply or which type of work permit you apply for, you must:

• Prove to an officer that you will leave Canada when your work permit expires
• Show that you have enough money to support yourself and your family members during your stay in Canada and to return home
• Obey the law and have no record of criminal activity (you may need to provide a police clearance certificate)
• Not be a danger to Canada's security
• Be in good health and have a medical exam, if needed
• Not plan to work for an employer listed as "ineligible" or who offers striptease, erotic dance, escort services, or erotic massages
• Give the officer any other documents they ask for to prove you can enter the country

Eligibility requirements if you apply from outside Canada

Anyone can apply for a work permit before entering Canada. However, there may be visa office requirements that you need to meet depending on the country or territory you're applying from.

Eligibility requirements if you apply from inside Canada

You can only apply for a work permit from inside Canada if:

• You have a valid study or work permit
• Your spouse, common-law partner, or parents have a valid study or work permit
• You're eligible for a post-graduation work permit and your study permit is still valid
• You have a temporary resident permit that is valid for six months or more
• You're waiting on a decision on an application for permanent residence from inside Canada
• You've claimed refugee protection or been recognized as a refugee or protected person by the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada
• You're allowed to work in Canada without a work permit but need one to work in a different job (this does not apply to business visitors)
• You're a trader, investor, intra-company transferee, or professional under the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA)

Eligibility requirements if you apply when you enter Canada at a port of entry

As of June 21, 2024, you can no longer apply for a post-graduation work permit at a port of entry (airport, land, or marine border) when entering Canada. You should apply for your work permit before travelling to Canada. However, you can apply for a work permit when you enter Canada if you're eligible. To apply at a port of entry, you must:

• Be from a visa-exempt country
• Be eligible for an electronic travel authorization or to travel without a visitor visa
• Meet other requirements depending on the type of work permit you're applying for

You cannot apply at a port of entry if:

• You are a citizen of one of the countries on the ineligible list
• You are an International Experience Canada applicant who is not a citizen or permanent resident of the United States
• You are applying under the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program
• You are applying for a post-graduation work permit

Required documents at the Canadian border

When you arrive at the Canadian border, you will need to have a few documents ready to present to the border services officer. Here is a list of the required documents:

• Your passport or other valid travel documents. Your passport must be valid for longer than the time you plan to be in Canada.
• Proof that your work permit application was approved. This can be shown through a port of entry letter of introduction, which you will receive if you provide an email address in your work permit application form.
• Supporting documents such as proof of work experience, education, and qualifications for the job you will be doing in Canada.
• If required, a copy of your employer's positive Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA).
• If your employer needed an LMIA and you will be working in Quebec, you will need a copy of your Attestation of Issuance of your Quebec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ).
• If you are LMIA-exempt and will be working for a specific employer, bring the offer of employment number your employer received when they submitted the offer through the Employer Portal.
• If you need a medical exam, ensure you have valid immigration medical exam results. These must be valid on the day you enter Canada.

It is important to note that providing false or incomplete information to the border services officer may result in denial of entry into Canada. The officer will make the final decision to issue your work permit and allow you to enter the country.

Inadmissibility to Canada

Canada has strict rules to protect the safety and security of its citizens and the integrity of its immigration system. As a result, certain people may be deemed inadmissible to Canada. If a person is inadmissible to Canada and lives outside the country, they may not visit, study, work or immigrate to Canada. If an inadmissible person is inside Canada, they must leave immediately.

Who is affected by inadmissibility rules?

Inadmissibility rules affect foreign nationals. Some rules also apply to Canada's permanent residents (those who have immigrated but are not yet citizens). Inadmissibility rules do not affect Canadian citizens, who have the right to enter and remain in Canada under the Constitution Act, 1982.

Circumstances for inadmissibility

There are several reasons why a person may be deemed inadmissible to Canada. These include:

• Criminal activity, including driving offences involving alcohol or drugs, such as DUI (driving under the influence)
• Human or international rights violations
• Crimes against humanity and war crimes
• Committing a crime with a maximum term of imprisonment of at least ten years or an actual term of more than six months
• Being a danger to public health or safety, or causing excessive demand on the healthcare system
• Misrepresentation or withholding of material facts
• Non-compliance with the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act
• Inability to support oneself financially in Canada

Resolving inadmissibility

If you are deemed inadmissible to Canada, there are several options to resolve this issue:

• Attend a hearing at the Immigration Division of the Immigration Refugee Board of Canada (IRB)
• Appeal the decision of the immigration officer or the ID at the Immigration Appeal Division of the IRB
• File for a Judicial Review with the Federal Court of Canada
• Request Rehabilitation from the IRCC to remove inadmissibility
• Request a Temporary Resident Permit (TRP) to be able to enter or stay in Canada despite inadmissibility
• Apply for a Declaration of Relief under subsection 42.1(1) of the IRPA for inadmissibility to Canada under specific security, human rights violations, or organized criminality sections of the IRPA
• Request permanent residency in Canada under Humanitarian and Compassionate Considerations
• In the case of inadmissibility due to misrepresentation, wait for five years

Temporary resident visas

Canadian citizens and Canadian permanent residents have the right to enter Canada freely. Other visitors to Canada, including tourists, students, and workers, may need a TRV from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to enter Canada.

You do not need a TRV to visit Canada if you are from a visa-exempt country. In this case, a visa-exempt person flying to Canada would need to apply for and obtain an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) before boarding their flight. If traveling to Canada over land, a visa-exempt person does not need either a TRV or an eTA.

Citizens from all other countries must apply for a TRV before entering Canada, unless otherwise exempt.

The TRV is a document issued by a Canadian Immigration Visa Office outside Canada, showing that the holder has satisfied the requirements for admission to Canada as a visitor. TRVs may be for single entry or multiple entries. As a general rule, tourists are admitted for a period of six months. Temporary foreign workers and international students are admitted for varying periods of time, as determined on a case-by-case basis. Extensions may be applied for from within Canada.

It is important to note that possession of a valid TRV does not necessarily mean that the Officer at the Canadian Port of Entry will admit the visitor into Canada. At the Port of Entry, all visitors must demonstrate that the purpose of their visit to Canada is of a temporary nature. Officers at the Port of Entry will deny admission to all persons who, in their opinion, do not intend to leave Canada at the expiry of their visitor status.

Electronic Travel Authorizations (eTA)

To enter Canada, some foreign nationals need to apply for an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA). This costs CAN$7 and can be done online. To apply, you must have a valid passport, a credit or debit card, and an email address. You will also need to answer a few questions in the online application.

An eTA is required for visa-exempt foreign nationals travelling to Canada by air. This does not apply to U.S. citizens or travellers with a valid visa.

If you are an International Experience Canada participant, there are special instructions for you. You will need to show proof of your work permit application approval when you arrive in Canada. This can be done by showing a border services officer your port of entry letter of introduction. You will also need to show supporting documents, such as proof of your qualifications for the job, and a copy of your employer's positive labour market impact assessment (LMIA), if required.

If you enter Canada at certain Canadian airports, your fingerprints will be checked automatically at a primary inspection kiosk. If you enter at smaller airports and land ports of entry, your fingerprints may be checked if you are referred for a secondary inspection.

It is important to note that the rules for entry to Canada may change, and it is the responsibility of the traveller to ensure they are compliant with the latest requirements.

Frequently asked questions