so many Nigerians are planning to work abroad especially in Canada every day because of enough job opportunities available there, Canada is one of top countries in the world that support immigration and career growth, every year people move into Canada with hope to work or studying and they always fulfil their purpose for real.
For Nigerians who want to secure a job in Canada, getting a work permit is simply the answer to it since the Canadian government only allows foreigners to work when they have it. So to make sure that you are not disappointed after you migrate to Canada you should apply for work permit without wasting time. For this article I am going to guide and put you through every step by step procedures involved, requirements, how to be eligible and sure ways to apply for work permit in Canada and get approval as a Nigeria citizen that just fly down there.
What is a Canada Work Permit?
Work permit is an Official paper or ID card from government of Canada that gives permission to Nigerians to work legally in Canada for some period of time. If someone get there and start working without work-permit he or she will face the law and can even be returned to Nigeria by police order or job boards.
Types of Work Permits in Canada
When someone move to getting a work permit, it is important to know the type to request for and what it means, here are available Canadian work permits:
- Employer-specific work permit — this is the type of work permit that is given to just one employer so that all his staffs will be working under that very work permit. Meaning you can’t go out of that job unless they permit you.
- Open work permit – with this you can work anywhere in Canada, you can resign from one job and get another one using this particular document.
- Post graduate work permit: is a type of work permit designed for those in school studying in Canada but still want to work let me say students work permit
- Seasonal or temporary foreign worker permits: used by new recruits especially farmers that just arrived Canada for planting and food processing job, this type of work permit is seasonal not lasting for long it valid for some months and expire.
Importance of Work Permit and Why it’s Necessary in Canada
- To work legally: If any Nigerian is caught doing any paid task in Canada he might be arrested so to avoid thar a working permission document is required.
- To live in Canada for life time: some people who travel to Canada by illegal means or secure a job through dark side can never enjoy this citizenship privilege, so if you followed the right steps into Canada and also get work permit it is very possible to apply for permanent residency either by Express Entry or Provincial Nominee Program PNP.
- For employment: Another important of work permit is to help international immigrants find a job within Canada without being restricted by authorities.
Eligibility Requirements for Nigerians
when an immigrant from Nigeria wish to get a work permit,there is some things that make them eligible to get it and if they have all those requirements it’s sure guarantee they will get approved:
- Green card or international passport
- A letter of job offer written by your employer that have specific kind of work permit.
- Attached LMIA which means Labour Market Impact Assessment to proof the employer is recognized in the recruiting sector of Canadian government.
- Medical report showing you are tested and diseased free
- Police station clearance to show you never commit offense or wanted
- Paper file of working experience and what made you qualified for the pass jobs
- An agreement that you will leave Canada immediately after your work permit expire.
Those are the stuffs needed when processing a work permit in Canada.
How to Get a Job Offer from a Canadian Employer
Now let’s say you have received an official ID card called “Work Permit” and you want to start searching for a job in Canada and get employment, this is the complete steps you should just follow to succeed in that mission:-
- Goto trusted and government of Canada job site — example :www.jobbank.gc.ca
- create an account on the site, choose “job applicant” if you are asked, and fill all form with your valid informations.
- verify and activate your account so that they can allow you to continue
- Proceed to search for the job of your desire, but be very careful, make sure you choose jobs with “LMIA” tagged or look for a jobs under section called “verified jobs” to avoid scam.
- Write a job Application letter: make sure you are writing in a way that match the style Canadians use to write their CV/cover letter when applying for a job, you can check samples from Google, but do not copy and paste, employers will detect it if you do so and you can’t defend it during interviews. Below is an example of Canada letter for a job request:-
- You can search for jobs titles like caregivers, hospitality, IT, engineering and constructions. Those industries always have job opportunities and the vacancies for foreigners.
How to Apply for Work Permit in Canada step by step
Step 1: Secure a Job first
- Make sure that the job is coming from an approved employer that have LMIA certificates.
Step 2: Pack all your documents
- including international passport, the job offer, school certificate, or degree and save them in one place that you can easily carry.
Step 3: Create Account on IRCC website
- Goto — www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship.html (you can copy this and put on your browser address bar and visit the website.
- Choose a Sign-In Method (You’ll see two options)
- GCKey: Create a new username and password. (Best for Nigerians)
- Sign-In Partner: Use Canadian online banking credentials (for residents in Canada).
- Select GCKey and click Sign Up.
- Create Your GCKey Login
- Accept the terms.
- Choose a username and password.
- Set security questions and answers for account recovery.
- After this, your GCKey login will be ready.
- Register Your IRCC Profile
- Once logged in with GCKey:
- Put your name, date of birth, nationality
- Choose “Apply to come to Canada.”
- The system will confirm your eligibility for a work permit.
- Fill Out the Work Permit Application
- Complete the online form (IMM 1295).
- Your in your Personal Reference Code if you have one.
- Upload all required details carefully.
- Upload Documents needed
- Passport
- Job offer paper or LMIA number
- Online picture
- Certificates or experience proof
- Medical report police clearance (if they ask for it)
- Pay charges for work permit Application
- You can use either debit or credit card Master or visa card anyone will power the transfer.
- Work permit charges: CAD $155
- Fingerprint payment: CAD $85
- Submit and Track Your Application
- Make sure all your details are correct
- Press on “Submit“
- Chevck your email you are going to receive a confirmation mail that comes with your application number
- Always login the website to check your application status how it’s going.
How to Apply for a Work Permit Without A Job
is it possible to get a work permit in Canada without a job? — there’s a possibility although you need to first have a job first before requesting for work permit but there are 3 options or routes to bypass the challenge and get to work in Canada without main work permit, here is it:
- Spousal Open Work Permit: this kind of work permit is possible for someone whose wife or husband is already in Canada whether to study or work, the partner from Nigeria can apply to travel to meet his/her spouse in Canada and work using partner’s permit.
- Post-Graduate Work Permit (PGWP), this is another indirect work permit someone can use to find a job in Canada and do, it’s a type of permit that allows foreigners who went to study in Canada to apply for job and work in Canada for food 3 years after they graduated from Canada school.
- International Experience Canada (IEC): this is a program that let young foreigners of age 18 to 34 travel to Canada to see how the country is and also apply for work during their stay in Canada which is normally up to 2 years…it’s just so disappointing that this particular opportunity is not available for Nigerians.
How Much Does Work Permit Application Cost for Nigerians in 2025?
this is the collection of all spendings you will do when applying for Canada work permit as a Nigerian:-
- Permit Application form: CAD 155 (that is equivalent to ₦150K or above depending on current rate on the site.
- Fingerprint Biometrics cost about CAD 85 = that is ₦80K or more.
- Medical test will cost ₦50,000 to ₦100,000
- Police clearance cost (could be free but hold money go there).
- Proof of funds: the least you need to have in account that is required is CAD 2,500+ which is converted to #2.7million naira depending on duration.
How Long Does It Takes To Get Work Permit from Nigeria?
- the Maximum time frame you can wait to get work permit from Nigeria is around 2 to 4 months
What Causes Delay in approved
- if you submit half information, sorry you will wait and get tired.
- so many people are also applying for the same thing so sometimes you need to be patience about it
- After submitting your application, pls always open your email and check if there’s updates to fill up.
What To Do When You Arrive at Canada
When you have applied and get work permit approved and board flight to Canada, you need to do all of this:-
- At Canada Airport: immigration official will walk up to you to ask your purpose for coming to Canada and request to see your international Passport and letter of introduction.
- Collect Your Work Permit: the actual work permit in a physical card will be given to you, make sure your details on it are correct.
- Get Social Insurance Number (SIN): to be able to collect your salary you need it government of Canada used this to also calculate how much tax to charge you at the end of month, just apply for it before leaving airport it doesn’t take time to be done.
- Enter Bank and Create Canada Bank Account: so that when you work employers can send your salary there, because Nigeria banks can not function there, the bank available in Canada are RBC, TD, Scotiabank, and CIBC.
- Locate where to stay: if you did not make provision for house or can not afford hotel to sleep in the night, Canada have a place for homeless people and it’s called Airbnb or hostels.
- Start to learn Canada culture how they do things by going to Government of Canada’s Labour Program website to read it.
How to Move from a Work Permit to Permanent Residency in Canada
- Express Entry also known as Canadian Experience Class (CEC): is when a Nigerian have lived and work in Canada for at least 12 months then can apply for permanent residency.
- Provincial Nominee Program (PNP): just like Lagos state in Nigeria, Canada have province and if foreigner have work in that place for sometimes they can now move to sign for citizenship that means to live permanently in Canada.
- Having a very good in demand skill can also help pathway to Permanent Residency.
In everything you do, getting work experience in Canada is the most common way to apply for permanent residency.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can I apply without a job offer? — Yes, through open work permit like spouse or post graduate work permit
How much bank balance is required? Have at least CAD $2500 which is about ₦1,700,000 in naira to take care of yourself when you land in Canada.
Can I travel with my family? — yes, let your husband/wife apply for open work permit and children should do study permit
Can I extend my work permit? — for sure, it’s just like data bundle that enable Internet to run on your phone, you can renew it or extend it before 30 days expiration date.
What if my work permit is refused? — anything that could cause disqualification for permit is either your details are incorrect or failure to do proof of funds, or you did not pay work permit Application fee, something is always missing, check and refill it and apply again.
Conclusion
Registering and getting your work permit before leaving Nigeria to Canada is a smart decision every Nigerians should consider, by having a verified job offer with LMIA, getting your documents ready like international passport, applying through the real trusted platform to paying the permit application fee are those things that guarantees the chances of a successful Canada work permit application from Nigeria.
I will advise anyone to avoid short cut or unknown agencies promising to give work permit, always use the official government site to apply for it or visit any approved immigration office in Nigeria that should be in Lagos or Abuja.
Understand that the numbers of application immigration receive daily is many and for that might take time to process them, so be patience and do not give up too fast, after submitting your application always check your email for feedback, if you don’t want stress turn ON notifications from the Work Permit website or email to get updated about the situation.
Finally when your application is approved you will receive a positive message and it is time to move to Canada and start new life.