Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) is the department of the Canadian government responsible for dealing with issues regarding citizenship and immigration. The CIC is responsible for permanent and temporary residence visas, citizenship applications and refugee protection.
Citizenship and Immigration
Canadian citizenship
On the CIC website there are a number of useful procedures that are helpful to those looking to live and work legally in Canada. Firstly, you can determine your eligibility to become a Canadian citizen and apply for citizenship.
Permanent residency in Canada
You can also get a permanent resident card; a plastic card that is official proof of your legal right to permanently reside in Canada. There are several ways to obtain a permanent resident visa and you should consult our types of immigration to Canada page to learn more about this.
Temporary work permit in Canada
Another way to gain legal entry to work in Canada is with a temporary work permit. If you have any queries about the information below then consult our work permit for Canada section with a more detailed explanation the content below.
In order to solicit this type of work permit, you must comply with a series of requirements:
- A job offer from a Canada-based company.
- Proof that you are certified or accredited to work in that occupation.
- A positive Labour Market Opinion granted to the potential employer by the Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC).
- You may need a visa alongside the temporary work permit depending on your nationality. (see below for more info)
- A work permit issued at the border by the Canada Border Services Agency and stamped into your passport.
Visas are required for certain countries and territories. Depending on the country that you are a citizen of, you may be required a visa as well as a temporary work permit. Citizens of UN countries, for example, do not require a visa with their temporary work permit. Whereas, if you’re from Argentina or Brazil then you do. Consult the full list of countries that require Canadian visas to find out if you need to apply for one.
To apply for a temporary Canadian work permit you should visit the application section of the CIC website.
Job search in Canada
If you would like to work in Canada but are yet to find a job, then consult our section on the Canadian resume to get started on a good job application for the Canadian employment market.
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