Canadian Work Permits
Work in Canada.And turn that job into permanent residence.
A work permit lets you work legally in Canada and build the Canadian experience that leads to PR. Verge Immigration are licensed RCIC consultants who handle every permit type — employer-specific and LMIA-exempt, open work permits, and previously-refused or complex cases — inside or outside Canada.
- LMIA & LMIA-exempt employer-specific permits
- Open permits — PGWP, spousal, Bridging (BOWP)
- Specialists in refused & complex work-permit cases
Rated 4.9 from 468 verified Google reviews
Permit types we handle
Employer-specific (closed)
LMIA & LMIA-exempt
Open work permit
No job offer required
Post-Graduation (PGWP)
Up to 3 years
Spousal & Bridging (BOWP)
Keep working legally
4.9★
Average Google rating
468
Verified client reviews
1,000s
Clients helped to Canada
Canada-wide
Serving clients nationwide & worldwide
Licensed & Recognized
Regulated, recognized, and rated #1 in Winnipeg
Types of work permits
Which work permit fits your situation?
Canada offers several work-permit programs for different goals and circumstances. Understanding which one you qualify for is the key to a smooth application — and a clear path toward permanent residence.
Employer-specific (closed) work permit
Tied to a specific employer, job, location and duration. Usually requires an LMIA or proof the role is LMIA-exempt. Ideal when you have a confirmed Canadian job offer.
Open work permit
Work for almost any eligible employer in Canada — no job offer or LMIA required in many cases. Available under specific programs and personal circumstances.
Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP)
For international graduates of an eligible DLI program — up to 3 years. A crucial step toward permanent residence. We also handle PGWP refusals and re-applications.
Spousal open work permit
For spouses or common-law partners of certain eligible workers. The principal applicant must meet specific criteria; eligibility narrowed under the January 2025 changes.
Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP)
Keeps you working legally while your permanent residence application is processed, if your current permit is about to expire and you've received your AOR.
Vulnerable worker open permit
For workers on an employer-specific permit who are experiencing abuse or are at risk, allowing them to leave the employer and find new work safely.
A refusal isn't the end of the road
Our consultants have unique expertise in refused and complex cases. We understand exactly why applications get rejected, and how to build a stronger one that gets approved. You'll get our consultant's direct number to text in case of emergencies.
We regularly resolve
- Refused work permits & LMIA cases
- Study permit & extension refusals
- Post-Graduate Work Permit (PGWP) refusals
- Visitor & super visa refusals
- Complex Provincial Nominee Program cases
Work permits secured
Work-permit approvals we've delivered
Each file below is a work-permit case our licensed RCIC team took on — including refusals we reversed and complex, out-of-status situations. Select a file to see the situation, our strategy, and the outcome. Past results, never a guarantee of a future one.
Refused C-18 work permit → reversed on reconsideration
- The situation
- The client had a strong application for a C-18 LMIA-exempt work permit, but IRCC issued a refusal on September 27, 2024 with no clear justification — key evidence, including the applicant's qualifications and employment offer, appeared to have been overlooked.
- Our strategy
- Rather than reapply, our RCIC team reviewed the refusal reasoning, addressed the gaps in IRCC's assessment, re-submitted clear evidence proving eligibility, and filed a persuasive reconsideration request built on the applicant's qualifications and legal eligibility under the C-18 category.
- The outcome
- On November 21, 2024 IRCC issued an approval letter confirming the work permit — the unfair refusal reversed in under two months without a costly judicial review.
~2 months
Turnaround
C-18 LMIA-exempt
Category
Reconsideration
Strategy
Wrong permit, out of status → 2-year work permit
- The situation
- The client's previous work permit was refused because they had applied for the wrong type, and they had gone out of status in Canada — having also worked without authorization, with eligibility for only one type of permit.
- Our strategy
- Our RCIC prepared a comprehensive application that addressed every legal issue head-on and clearly showed how the officer had the discretion to approve despite the compliance shortcomings.
- The outcome
- The officer decided in the applicant's favour and granted a two-year closed work permit, letting them resume their work in Canada.
2-year closed WP
Outcome
Officer discretion
Basis
Restored
Status
T-13 LMIA-exempt permit → whole family stays authorized
- The situation
- A family held only one-year work permits under the PGWP category with a Manitoba PNP approval in hand — a tricky, time-sensitive situation where a lapse would have put their status and pending PR at risk.
- Our strategy
- Our RCIC coordinated the PNP-based PR application with timely status extensions, filing a T-13 LMIA-exempt work permit extension for the principal applicant, a new work permit for the spouse, and a study permit for their child.
- The outcome
- On September 17, 2025 the principal applicant's work permit was extended to 2027, the spouse received a new work permit, and the child was issued a study permit — the whole family authorized without interruption while their PR continues.
T-13 LMIA-exempt
Category
2027
Valid to
Whole family
Covered
Success Stories
Work permits we've secured
Rated 4.9 from 468 verified Google reviews
"I applied for my work permit myself but forgot to attach my CELPIP results, which led to a refusal and being out of status. Mr. Singh guided me through restoring my status and reapplying correctly — approved in about 15 days."
Keshav A.
Refused work permit · approved in 15 days
"Our C-18 LMIA-exempt work permit was refused with no clear justification. Verge built a precise reconsideration request citing our qualifications and offer — and IRCC reversed the decision."
C-18 client
Refused work permit · approved on reconsideration
"The process for study permits, work permits and PR can be stressful and confusing to do alone. Being almost done with my PR journey is all thanks to Jatinder and his team."
Chenille C.
Study permit → work permit → PR journey
Frequently Asked Questions
Work permit questions, answered
Common questions about Canadian work permits, LMIA vs LMIA-exempt, and refused cases.
- Do I need a job offer to get a Canadian work permit?
- Not always. Employer-specific (closed) permits require a job offer and usually an LMIA or LMIA-exempt basis. Open work permits — such as the PGWP, spousal open work permit and Bridging Open Work Permit — don't require a job offer in many cases. We assess which category fits your situation.
- What is the difference between an LMIA and LMIA-exempt work permit?
- An LMIA (Labour Market Impact Assessment) is a document an employer obtains to show hiring a foreign worker won't negatively affect the Canadian labour market. LMIA-exempt permits fall under the International Mobility Program — for example intra-company transfers, trade agreements (like CUSMA), or significant-benefit categories — and don't require that assessment.
- Can a work permit lead to permanent residence?
- Yes — it's one of the strongest pathways. Canadian work experience on a valid permit can qualify you for the Canadian Experience Class under Express Entry, Provincial Nominee Programs, and employer-driven PR streams. We plan your permit with the PR endgame in mind.
- My work permit application was refused. Can you help?
- Yes — refused and complex cases are our specialty. We review the refusal letter, identify exactly what went wrong, and rebuild a stronger application or prepare a reconsideration request, often securing approvals without costly judicial reviews.
- Are you a licensed (RCIC) immigration consultant?
- Yes. Verge Immigration Services is led by a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC) in good standing with the CICC and authorized to represent you with IRCC. We serve clients from our Winnipeg, Halifax and Moncton offices and around the world.
Explore more
Related services & pathways
Study Permits
Study in Canada and open the door to a PGWP and permanent residence.
Learn morePermanent Residence
Turn Canadian work experience into PR through Express Entry or a PNP.
Learn morePGWP Refused or Complex Cases
Refused or shortened Post-Graduation Work Permit? We rebuild and reapply.
Learn moreIRCC Reconsideration Requests
Work permit refused on a clear officer error? A reconsideration request can reopen the file without a new application.
Learn moreImmigration Consultant in Halifax
Work permits and LMIA support across Nova Scotia and Atlantic Canada.
Learn moreLet's talk about your case
Book a consultation and get a straight answer on your options, your odds, and a fixed fee — before any work begins.