What is a work permit?

A Canadian work permit is a document that allows you to work in Canada. Foreign nationals may not work in Canada unless authorized.

There are several types of Canadian work permits. However, to make it easier they can be divided into 2 broad categories.

Open

There is no occupation or employer specific restriction. Therefore, you can work for any employer. The most common example is the post graduate work permit (PGWP).

Closed

Due to restrictions, you may either have an employer specific work permit or an occupation specific. The most common example is a LMIA based work permit.