Work Permit Documents: The Essentials

by Timothy Morson | Nov 10, 2021 | Documents, Work Permit

Getting the documentation right is critical to the successful outcome of a work permit application. Here’s a list of the more critical documents.

Work permit applications are often refused or seriously delayed because employers and temporary foreign worker applicants fail simply to understand the substantive importance of the documents supporting the application. Every little detail in the supporting documents is subject to close scrutiny by government decision-makers. The work permit process is not a pro-forma, empty exercise. So getting the documents right is important. Whatever you do, don’t submit a Labour Market Impact Assessment application or a Work Permit application without reviewing the supporting documentation with a fine-tooth comb.

Here’s a list of the most common documents requested by Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC or Service Canada), Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC or Immigration Canada) and the Ministère de l’Immigration, de la francisation et de l’intégration du Québec (MIFI or Immigration Quebec). LMIA decisions in Quebec are made jointly by Service Canada and Immigration Quebec.

Employer Documents
Company registration or incorporation
Website, up-to-date
Job Contract
Job Description
Job Posting
CRA Corporate Income Tax T2 Form, Annex 100 (most recent version)
CRA Corporate Income Tax T2 Form, Annex 125 (most recent version)
CRA Corporate Payroll T4 Summary of Remuneration Paid Form (most recent version)
Collective Agreement, if applicable
Third-Party Testimonial Letters explaining circumstances of the employer that may be material to the application process
Articles and Blog Posts describing the employer’s growth or challenges
Other documents can always be requested by the authorities.

Foreign Worker Documents
(All documents in a language other than English or French must be accompanied by an official certified translation)
Passport, main page (colour copy)
Passport, pages bearing entry and exit stamps and visas for foreign countries
Curriculum Vitae (CV)
Diplomas, for technical high school and post-secondary education
Transcripts, for technical high school and post-secondary education
Proof of English- or French-languange competency (IELTS or TEFAC/TEFAQ)
Employment references
Employment contracts
Job Descriptions
Professional Certifications
Updated Social Media Profiles, such as LinkedIn or Facebook
Birth Certificate
Marriage Certificate
Birth Certificates for children
Passport, main page for spouse and children
Divorce or Separation Certificates
Custody Documents
Immigration Photos, Digital Format