Canadian Immigration Blogs

Seeking Employment in Canada

Many foreign individuals would like to work to in Canada. Are you a North American citizen who’s been seeking employment in Canada? Do you believe you have the skills to help the international scope of the Canadian economy? Well fear not, we may have just found the answer! Despite the fact that Canada is known for their extremely strict visa policies, the North American Free Trade Agreement was set into place to help those who want to find employment in Canada, much easier. Although this does hand North American applicants leverage when being seen as possible NAFTA work permit candidates, every applicant must submit their applications only after thorough and careful analysis. It needs to be understood that even the most qualified and experienced workers have been denied of the Canadian work visa permit. So planning is of the utmost importance when it comes to this application. Please continue reading this blog for further assistance and information on this immigration matter.

What is NAFTA, and How Does it Impact my Ability to Work in Canada?

You’ve probably heard the term NAFTA before. If you don’t already know what NAFTA is, I’m here to help. “NAFTA” stands for North American Free Trade Agreement. This is an agreement between Mexico, Canada and the USA designed to allow citizens of these three countries easier access to the benefits of each other’s economies, through trade and work contributions. What this means is individuals who are citizens of these three countries have the privilege of being able to access work industries beyond their own borders easier than if they were not citizens of one of these three countries. Canadian, US and Mexican citizens can obtain a work permit for one of these three countries relatively easily. Though, it is a very important process to understand, to ensure you are not denied the opportunity to work in another county. Keep reading this blog for a detailed explanation of obtaining a NAFTA work permit, to come to work in Canada if you are from the USA or Mexico.

What is a NAFTA Work Permit?

As mentioned, NAFTA makes it easier for citizens of certain countries to find a work permit. But how does it actually do this? Because of NAFTA, individuals who apply for a work permit under NAFTA do not have to obtain a Labor Market Impact Assessment (LMIA), before they are able to come to Canada. A LMIA is used to ensure there is a need for a foreign worker to fill a position within Canada, because there is no Canadian available to fill the position. Essentially, this means that individuals under NAFTA are protected from the requirement that they cannot take a position from any Canadian. As the result of NAFTA, citizens of the US and Mexico are also privilege to the Canadian labor market. This is a huge benefit to citizens of these countries, as the process of applying for an LMIA can be lengthy and difficult, and seriously impact your chances of being permitted to work in Canada on a temporary basis. This process requires a foreign worker to have a Canadian employer arrange for their employment within Canada. Receiving a positive LMIA is a large part of this process, as they must obtain permission from the Canadian government to bring a foreign worker to Canada, before they can enter the country and begin to work. As mentioned, NAFTA removes this requirement and greatly speeds up the application process; some individuals can even apply for their work permit at the border, but this ultimately depends on your specific situation.

Steps in Obtaining a NAFTA Work Permit

Canada is a progressive country that highly values their economy and the individuals who contribute to it. There are many more individuals coming to Canada for work opportunities, especially skilled foreign nationals. As a result, Canada has implemented beneficial options for these individuals, whether to immigrate to Canada or simply just to work. In order to legally work in Canada, one must apply for a work permit prior to doing so. Furthermore, if you are an American or a Mexican national, you will need a NAFTA work permit. Therefore, in this article, I will address what a NAFTA Work Permit is, who is eligible to apply, and how to apply for a NAFTA Work Permit in Canada.

What is a NAFTA Work Permit

Before explaining what a NAFTA work permit is, I must first explain what the abbreviation NAFTA means. NAFTA is the North American Free Trade Agreement. It was established and created in order to be the world’s largest free trade. It is essentially an agreement between three countries – Canada, the United States, and Mexico. It came into effect on January 1 of 1994 and was signed by Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, Mexican President Carlos Salinas and U.S. President George H.W. Bush.