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Work Permit — Complete Document Checklist 2026
Full document list for LMIA-based, LMIA-exempt, open work permits, PGWP, and spousal open work permits for Canada.
Identity & Travel
- Valid passport (all pages — bio page, stamps, endorsements, blank pages)
- Previous / expired passports
- National ID card
- Birth certificate — long-form
- 2 passport-size photographs (IRCC specifications)
- Previous Canadian visas, work permits, or study permits (if any)
- Current immigration status document (if applying from inside Canada)
- Marriage certificate (if applicable)
- Divorce decree (if applicable)
- Common-law declaration (if applicable)
- Dependent children's birth certificates and passports
Job Offer & LMIA Documents
- Job offer letter from Canadian employer — detailed (job title, NOC code, duties, salary, benefits, work location, hours, start date)
- Employment contract signed by both parties
- LMIA (Labour Market Impact Assessment) — positive confirmation letter
- LMIA number / file number
- Employer's LMIA application copy (for your records)
- Employer compliance fee payment confirmation
- Employer's business number (BN) and CRA registration
- Employer's articles of incorporation / business registration
- Employer's business licence (municipal / provincial)
- Employer's financial statements (P&L, balance sheet — to prove legitimacy)
- Employer's workforce details (number of Canadians/PRs employed)
- Transition plan letter (LMIA requirement — how employer will hire Canadians long-term)
- Wage offer matching prevailing wage rate for NOC and work location
- Job advertisement proof (for LMIA — employer must show recruitment efforts)
- LMIA exemption code and justification (if LMIA-exempt: NAFTA/CUSMA, ICT, IEC, etc.)
- International Mobility Program (IMP) offer of employment number (if LMIA-exempt)
Education & Professional Qualifications
- All degree certificates and transcripts
- Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) — if required for the NOC
- Professional licence or designation (engineers, nurses, accountants, etc.)
- Trade certification / journeyperson certificate
- Apprenticeship completion records
- Specialized training certificates (safety, equipment, software, etc.)
- Professional membership proof (law society, medical college, engineering body)
- Licence to practice in Canada (if regulated occupation — may need provisional licence)
- Resume / CV — detailed, NOC-aligned
Work Experience Evidence
- Reference letters from ALL relevant employers (letterhead, duties, dates, hours, salary, supervisor contact)
- Employment contracts from previous positions
- Pay stubs / salary slips — representative from each employer
- Tax returns / Form 16 / T4 / W-2 — last 3 years
- Social insurance / provident fund contributions (proving employment)
- Promotion letters / performance reviews
- Business registration (if self-employed / entrepreneur)
- Client contracts and invoices (if freelancer)
- Intra-company transfer documentation (if ICT work permit)
Language Proficiency (if required)
- IELTS General Training / CELPIP score report
- Language test not always required for work permits — but recommended for LMIA applications in some NOCs
- Employer attestation of language ability (if language test not required)
Financial & Settlement
- Proof of funds for initial settlement (bank statements — 3 months)
- Evidence of accommodation in Canada (rental agreement, employer-provided housing letter)
- Travel booking / itinerary
Medical & Police
- Immigration Medical Examination (IME) from IRCC panel physician
- Medical results — upfront if possible
- Vaccination records
- Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) from all countries lived 6+ months since age 18
- RCMP check (if currently in Canada)
- Court records / rehabilitation documents (if any criminal history)
PGWP-Specific Documents (Post-Graduation Work Permit)
- Completion letter from DLI
- Official transcripts showing program completion
- Study permit (current or expired)
- Proof of full-time enrollment throughout program
- DLI confirmation that program was eligible for PGWP
Spousal / Common-Law Open Work Permit Documents
- Principal applicant's valid work permit or study permit
- Marriage certificate or common-law proof (12 months cohabitation evidence)
- Principal applicant's employer letter and NOC code confirmation
- Principal applicant's LMIA or job offer
- Joint relationship evidence (lease, bank, photos, communication)
Forms & Fees
- Application for Work Permit Made Outside Canada (IMM 1295) or inside Canada (IMM 5710)
- Family Information (IMM 5707)
- Schedule 1 — Application for TRV (IMM 5257 Schedule 1)
- Use of Representative (IMM 5476) — if using RCIC / lawyer
- Authority to Release Information (IMM 5475)
- Employer compliance declaration
- Processing fee + biometrics fee payment receipt
- Open work permit holder fee (if applicable)
- Biometrics instruction letter and completion confirmation
Pro Tips
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LMIA processing takes 2–5 months depending on the stream — employers should apply well in advance
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Ensure your NOC code duties match EXACTLY what's described in the job offer and reference letters — mismatches cause refusals
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Spousal open work permit is available if you hold a work permit in NOC TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 occupation
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PGWP must be applied for within 180 days of program completion — don't miss this deadline
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If your employer is flagged on the IRCC non-compliant employer list, your permit will be refused
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Open work permits don't require a job offer — but you still need all identity, medical, and police documents
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Keep digital scans of everything at 300+ DPI, organized by category in clearly labelled folders