In most cases, you will need a written job offer or contract of employment from your employer in Canada before you apply for a work permit.
Your employer may need to get a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) to hire you. This is a document from the Government of Canada that gives your employer permission to hire a foreign worker.
You will also need to provide evidence that you meet the requirements of the job offer.
If you are applying for an open work permit, you do not need to provide a written job offer with your application.
Open work permits can only be issued to:
accompanying spouses and common-law partners in certain cases,
accompanying dependent children in certain cases.
participants in International Experience Canada (working holiday).
Some jobs do not require a work permit. If you are a citizen of a country that requires a temporary resident visa to enter Canada, you will need to apply for a visa if you do not need a work permit.
