Canadian Work Visa Fees
Canada offers various work visa options for skilled professionals, temporary workers, and international graduates looking to gain employment in Canada. The standard Canada Work Visa fee for a work permit is CAD 155, approximately INR 9,500, while an open work permit costs CAD 255, around INR 15,500.
To apply, candidates must pay a processing fee, which varies depending on the type of work permit. Additional charges may apply for biometrics and other processing services. Understanding these fees is essential for planning your Canada work visa application effectively.
What is a Canadian Work Visa?
A Canada Work Visa, also known as a work permit, is a legal document that gives foreign nationals the ability to work lawfully in Canada for a specified amount of time. This permit is important for most foreign workers unless they claim an exemption.
Work permits may be issued depending on the nature of the job, employer, and qualification of the applicant. Some work permits require the issuance of an LMIA - Labour Market Impact Assessment—that proves there is no Canadian available to fill the position, while others do not require one and are considered open work permits.
Types of Canadian Work Permits
Canada offers different work permits based on the applicant’s job, employer, and eligibility. The two main categories are:
Employer-Specific Work Permit
This is a work permit issued to a foreign worker that ordinarily allows him or her to do specified work only for a particular employer with various accepted terms and conditions. All of these must be honored according to the details stipulated in the specific visa. For Example:
The name of the employer they can work for
The duration of employment
The location (if applicable)
This type of permit often requires a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA), which proves that no Canadian worker is available for the job.
Open Work Permit
An open work permit allows a person to work for any employer in Canada, subject to a handful of exceptions as per regulations. An LMIA or certified job offer is required to obtain this type of permit. Usually, this permit is granted to:
Spouses of skilled workers and international students
Refugees and protected persons
Recent graduates under the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP)
Both types of work permits have their specific eligibility and application-handling procedures, so applicants need to select the type of work permit that aligns with their work situation.
Canada Work Visa Fees
In some cases, the applicant must bear expenses for biometric payment fees and employer compliance fees, in addition to fees payable to the government. Payment for the Canadian work visa differs depending on whether you are applying for an open work permit or an employer-specific work permit.
These are fees charged by Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) during the application stage. By necessity, they are charged in Canadian Dollars (CAD), so it would be wise for Indian applicants to take fluctuations in the exchange rate into account when calculating costs for the visa.
Canada Work Visa Fees in Indian Rupees
The Canada work visa fees in Indian Rupees range from approximately ₹9,300 to ₹15,300 INR (based on an exchange rate of 1 CAD = ₹60, with fees between $155 to $255).
There are expenses for the application for a Canadian work permit, which are chargeable in Canadian Dollars (CAD). For applicants from India, it would be good to know these fees in INR if proper financing needs to be planned. Below are the standard work permit fees, along with their approximate equivalent in INR, assuming an exchange rate of 1 CAD = ₹60.
