Foreign nationals selected through the Regular Skilled Worker Program and the Quebec Experience Program by Quebec and those currently living in Quebec might also get a chance for their work permit extension without the LMIA (Labour Market Impact Assessment) process.
If you work in Quebec and possess a Quebec Selection Certificate, you will also require a valid work permit while you wait for the final decision regarding your immigration application.
As far as the renewal of the work permit is concerned, the process ahead will depend upon whether you have submitted the permanent residency application or not.
Next, suppose you have already applied for permanent residency status. In that case, your work permit type will further depend upon the Acknowledgment receipt you receive from the IRCC or Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada.
Possessing an AOR (Acknowledgment of Receipt) will make you eligible for a Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP).
In a situation where you applied for a PR but haven’t yet received the AOR, or in another situation where you haven’t applied for permanent residency you could opt to apply for the Quebec Selection Certificate, which is LMIA exempt, through the Employer-Specific Work Permit.
An LMIA-exempt process implies that employers hiring foreign workers don’t need to undergo the complex process of LMIA, which is otherwise mandatory for the work permits of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program.
The International Mobility Programs are available for strengthening Canada’s widened economic, social and cultural aspects. The LMIA exempt work permit category falls under the International Mobility Programs (IMP). IMP doesn’t even require a Quebec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ).
Employer-Specific Work Permits, also known as Closed Work Permits, are in contrast to the Open Work Permits. Closed Work Permits don’t allow individuals to work anywhere and are restricted to one employer.
What is the eligibility requirement of the CSQ-based Closed Work Permit?
A foreign national should have a valid job offer in Quebec and must meet any one of the following requirements:
- Own a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP);
- Possess a Closed Work permit;
- Must hold a work permit in any of the categories- International or Internship Co-op, Working Holiday, and Young Professionals under of International Experience Canada (IEC) Program.
You need to have a Quebec Selection Certificate (CSQ) with a validity of 24 months to benefit from the LMIA-exempt work permit. In case of its expiry, you should have already applied for permanent residency before the date of expiry.
From August 2, 2018, onwards Quebec stopped renewing the CSQs because of their validity for the complete duration of the PR application even after the 24-month period expires. The only condition for applying for an LMIA-exempt work permit is that you should have already submitted the PR application.
An LMIA-exempt work permit is specifically for those people who already work in Quebec and can’t apply for it at the entry port. Therefore, it is crucial to hold a valid work permit or meet the restoration eligibility requirement.
Your Quebec Selection Certificate (CSQ) must come under the Quebec Skilled Worker. Make sure it is related to any one of the following nine categories:
- IP – Travailleurs
- IT – Travailleurs qualifiés
- IY – PEQ Étudiants
- IS – Travailleur – TI – Effets visuels
- IV – Intelligence artificielle – Volet travailleur étranger
- IZ – PEQ Travailleurs
- I6 – Travailleurs Art. 40
- IR- Préposé aux bénéficiaires – Volet diplômé du QC
- IU – Préposé aux bénéficiaires – Volet travailleur étranger
- IX – Travailleur – Transformation alimentaire
- IW – Intelligence artificielle – Volet diplômé du QC
- IQ – Travailleurs qualifiés
For your application to be accepted, your employer will need to pay a compliance fee and also demonstrate an employment letter to IRCC.
Conditions for ineligibility
There are specific conditions based on which foreign nations are considered ineligible for a Closed Work Permit (CSQ)-
- Suppose an applicant applies for a work permit at the entry port. In that case, he will not be considered eligible because he needs to remain physically present as a temporary resident in Canada.
- If an applicant applies for an Open-Work Permit. These also include spouses or Common-Law partners.
- Self-employed individuals and Entrepreneurs will not be eligible because they’ll be considered eligible for another work permit type for business purposes.
- Those applicants who have a different job occupation mentioned on their Quebec Selection Certificate (CSQ) than the one on their employment offer letter.
Interim Work Authorizations
A temporary public policy was introduced on August 24, 2020, by IRCC. Per the temporary public policy, visitor visa holders with valid job offers are eligible to apply for a Canadian work permit from within the country. Canadian visitors will be able to apply for the work permit by requesting an interim authorization to work, provided they possessed a valid work permit in the previous 12 months.
The foreign national must meet the following eligibility criteria:
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- Physical presence in Canada;
- Prior submission of Employer-Specific Work Permit through the application for changing conditions, Remain in Canada as a Worker or Extend My Stay (IMM 5710);
- Have resided in Canada with a valid status since the submission of the application;
- Make sure to apply before February 28, 2023.
