How long does it take to process a work permit application?
How do I follow up? I have sent documents to your office but have not received an
acknowledgment.
How can I expedite the processing of my application?
If I submit my application in person can it be expedited?
My passport expires in one year. My contract in Canada is for two years. Can I still use my passport?
According to the document checklist, I have to submit a police certificate.
How can I apply for one?
Does my wife/husband need her own permit or can s/he be included on my work permit application?
How can I prove that my partner and I are in a common-law relationship?
Can I include my children on my work permit? Do I need to apply for a study permit for them separately?
I need to travel urgently but my passport is in your office with my work permit application. How can I get my passport back?
I am between 18 and 35 years of age. Can I work in Canada without a job offer?
Can you fax my medical forms to me?
Can you extend my permit?
How long does it take to process a work permit application?
For the
average processing time for a fully-completed application with correct fees
and all required supporting documents, click
here. This does not include mailing time. This average time is an
indication; it is not a promise. Some applications may be processed more
quickly, others take much longer. We understand that most temporary workers
have jobs waiting in Canada, and to be fair to all applicants, applications
are processed in the order in which they are received.
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How do I follow up? I have sent documents to your office but have not received an acknowledgment.
We do NOT
acknowledge receipt of an application or supplementary documents. If you
send your application/documents by registered mail/courier, then your postal
service should be able to confirm delivery. You may also contact the bank
that issued your bank draft to verify that it has been cashed by our
office. It may be several days after we receive your bank draft before it
is cashed.
Enquiries on
the status of your application will NOT be answered until the
average processing time has passed since the application was received.
Sending an enquiry will slow down the processing of your application. If the
average processing time has passed and you still have not heard from us, you
may send an enquiry through the
Contact Us page.
If we
require any additional information from you, we will contact you.
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How can I expedite the processing of my
application?
Applications are processed in the order in which they are received. To
prevent delays, make sure your application form is complete and that all of
the supporting documents and the correct fees are included with your
application.
To decrease
mailing times, you can submit a self-addressed Royal Mail Special Delivery
envelope with your application. Make sure you record the tracking number
before you send us your application.
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If I submit my application in person can it be expedited?
No.
Work permit applications can be dropped off at the High Commission in our
designated Drop Box. However, these applications are treated in the same
way as applications that are mailed in. Processing times are the same.
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My passport expires in one year. My contract in Canada is for two years. Can I still use my passport?
We cannot
issue a work permit beyond the validity of your passport. If you do not
obtain a new passport before submitting your application, we will issue the
work permit according to your current passport. The work permit will be
valid until one month before the expiry date of your current passport. You
will then have to pay to have this permit extended in Canada after you
obtain a new passport. If you require a temporary resident visa to enter
Canada, you will also have to apply outside of Canada for a new visa before
you can re-enter Canada.
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According to the document checklist, I have to submit a police certificate. How can I apply for one?
Information
about how to obtain UK police can be found at
http://www.acpo.police.uk/certificates.asp
Information
about how to obtain police certificates from different countries can be
found
here.
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Does my wife/husband need her own permit or can s/he be included on my work
permit application?
Your
spouse or common-law partner may be included on your work permit application
as a dependent. If your spouse/partner wants to work while in Canada, s/he
may be eligible for an open work permit. For details see
Work Permit for Accompanying Spouse.
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How
can I prove that my partner and I are in a common-law relationship?
A common-law partner is a person of the opposite or same sex who is
currently cohabiting and has cohabited with you for a period of at least one
year.
As proof of your relationship you may submit documents such as:
- joint bank account statements
- proof of co-ownership of property or other assets
- a lease in both your names
- phone, gas or electrical bills in both your names
- official documents indicating the same address for both of you (e.g.
driver’s license, insurance policy, etc.)
You can also attach a notarised common-law declaration form (available on
the
Forms page).
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Can I include my children on my work permit? Do I need to apply for a study permit
for them separately?
If you have accompanying child(ren) aged 6-18
years who will be attending primary or secondary school in
Canada, they
must obtain a study permit before entering Canada. They are not
required to complete a separate application form, but the processing fee for
their study permits must be included in your application. However, if you
are destined to the province of
Quebec,
you must apply for the study permits after arrival in Canada.
Study permits are not required for children attending
kindergarten or nursery school.
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I need to travel urgently but my passport is
in your office with my work permit application. How can I get my passport
back?
We can
return your passport by mail to you if you send a request through the
Contact Us page. If it is an emergency, you may come in person to the
High Commission between 8:30 and 9am. We will return your passport to you
that afternoon. If you borrow your passport, it will take longer to
process your application. We will stop all processing until your passport
has been returned to our office. It will then be placed back into the
processing queue.
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I am between 18 and 35 years of age. Can I work in Canada without a job offer?
If you are a British citizen and aged 18-30, or an Irish citizen and aged
18-35, you may be eligible to participate in a
Working
Holiday Program/International
Youth Mobility
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Can you fax my medical forms to me?
No, medical forms cannot be faxed to you. Only original forms stamped by the
High Commission will be accepted by our Designated Medical Practitioners. We
cannot issue medical instructions and forms until we have received
your complete work permit application.
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Can you extend my permit?
No. If you are presently inside Canada, you must submit your application
for an extension to the appropriate Case Processing Centre in Canada, at
least 30 days prior to the expiry of your permit. For more information, see
the CIC page on
Extending your stay.
If you have left Canada and your permit has expired, you must apply for a
new permit at a visa office outside Canada. You must prove that you still
meet the necessary requirements.
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Visitors Frequently Asked
Questions
Returning Residents Frequently
Asked Questions
Students Frequently Asked
Questions
Miscellaneous Frequently Asked
Questions
