Work without a Work Permit in Canada 2023: Available Job Opportunities Today

One thing most people don’t know about Canada is this: You need to have a Work permit before you can get employed anywhere in Canada. However, there are over 20+ amazing and good job opportunities where you can easily get employed without having a Work Permit.

Most foreign nationals who are hustling to come to Canada and start working should take note of this. To work in Canada, you’re required to have a work permit. Applying for or getting a job without having a work permit is dangerous, and worst of it all, you are putting yourself up for the Canadian authorities to deport you, and forever ban you from re-entering the country.

What is Work Permit?

A Work Permit is a legal document authorizing a foreign national/immigrant the freedom to engage in employment and receive compensation from their Canadian employer. But wait, there are unique ways that a foreign national may work in Canada without having a work permit.

Categories of jobs in Canada that DO NOT Require Work Permit.

The following classes/types of jobs listed below, may not require a work permit before you can be gainfully employed in Canada.

Warning: Although I would love to make it abundantly clear that any job’s inclusion on this list does not mean that a person will be eligible for a work permit exemption in Canada. Before you can be granted a work permit exemption, take note that your job must be on this list and you’ve successfully met the extra exemption requirements for your specific job as outlined on the International Mobility Program webpage.

  • Athlete or Coach.
  • Aviation accident or incident investigator.
  • Business visitor.
  • Performing arts.
  • Civil aviation inspector.
  • Clergy (Pastor).
  • Convention organizer.
  • Crew member.
  • Emergency service provider.
  • Examiner and evaluator.
  • Expert witness or investigator.
  • Family member of foreign representative.
  • Foreign government officer or representative.
  • Health care student.
  • Judge, referee or similar official.
  • Military personnel.
  • News reporter or film and media crew.
  • Producer or staff member working on advertisements.
  • Performing artist.
  • Public speaker.
  • Short-term highly-skilled worker.
  • Short-term researcher.
  • Student working off-campus.
  • Student working on-campus.
  • Agriculture Work.

Available Jobs for Students in Canada without Work Permit.

Are you aware that as an international student, even though you don’t need a work permit for certain jobs, there are criteria you must meet before you’re allowed to work in Canada? You can check for these criteria in your study permit and see for yourself which of these jobs you’re qualified for.

Some of the jobs you can do as a student without a work permit in Canada include:

  • Bartending.
  • Waitress.
  • Customer service.
  • Babysitter.
  • Driver.
  • Dog walker.
  • Retail outlet.
  • Cashier.
  • Freelancer.

Important Note: Foreign nationals employed in any of the above-listed positions, there’s a huge possibility that you are qualified for a Canadian work permit exemption.

Temporary Jobs in Canada That Don’t Require a Work Visa.

For people who are still very much sceptical about migrating to Canada this year 2023, and want to ensure you have a job already waiting for you, without going there and hassling for a work permit for Canada.

Before applying for a Canadian Visa, I’ll highly suggest you check if your Visa status is on this list before applying for a Canadian work permit.

These are some available jobs in Canada that don’t require a work permit from Foreigners:

Occupations that Don’t Need a Work Permit
Athlete or Coach A foreign athlete, coach, or member of a foreign team competing in Canada
Aviation accident or incident investigator An accredited agent or adviser working on an aviation accident or incident investigation being done under the
Business Visitor A business professional coming to Canada to do business activities (will not be part of the Canadian labour market)
Civil aviation inspector Check the flight operations or cabin safety of commercial airlines during international flights
Clergy Assisting your congregations to reach spiritual goals
  • preaching doctrine
  • leading worship, or
  • providing spiritual counselling.

eg. missionaries, monks, pastoral animators, archbishops, bishops

Convention Organizer Organize or run international meetings or conventions.
Crew Member Truck driver, bus driver, or shipping or airline worker who:
  • works on foreign-owned and registered vehicles that are used mainly to transport cargo and passengers internationally, and
  • work is related to operating vehicles or serving passengers
Emergency service provider Coming to Canada to help out in an emergency, preserve life or property. Emergencies include natural disasters, such as floods or earthquakes, or industrial accidents that threaten the environment
Examiner and evaluator A professor or academic expert who evaluates or supervises academic projects, research proposals, or university theses. You may work for Canadian research groups or schools
Expert witness or investigator Coming to Canada to give evidence before a regulatory body, tribunal, or court of law
A family member of a foreign representative If you:
  • You’re the spouse or child of a foreign representative;
  • You’re accredited (with a counterfoil in your passport) by Global Affairs Canada (GAC), or
  • You have a letter of no objection from GAC (normally issued only if there is a reciprocal employment arrangement with your home country).
Foreign Government officer or representative
  • an employee of another government who is working under an exchange agreement that lets officials work in government departments in Canada and your country;
  • a diplomat or official representative of another country, or
  • a diplomat or official representative of the United Nations and its staff
Health care student
  • Clinical clerkships;
  • The main goal of your work is training;
  • you have written approval from the board that regulates your job (note that certain provinces do not need written approval); and
  • your training will last less than four months
Judge, referee or similar official An official at an international amateur competition who will judge or be an official for an artistic or cultural event, such as:
  • A music and dance festival,
  • An animal show, or
  • An agricultural contest
Military personnel a member of an armed force of another country. You have movement orders stating that you’re entering Canada under the terms of the Visiting Forces Act
News reporter or film and media crew
  • a news reporter or member of a reporter’s crew,
  • A member of a film or media crew who will not enter the Canadian labour market,
  • A journalist who works for a print, broadcast, or Internet news service (journal, newspaper, magazine, television show, etc.) and your company is not Canadian,
  • A resident correspondent, or
  • A manager and or member of clerical staff, as long as the event is short term (six months or less).
Producer or staff member working on advertisement Working on a foreign-financed commercial/advertising shoot for television, magazines, or other media and you’re:
  • a film producer,
  • an actor,
  • a director,
  • a technician, or
  • other essential personnel
Performing artist
  • you’re a foreign artist or the artist’s key support staff (people vital to the performance)
  • you will perform in Canada for a limited period of time
  • you’re not being hired for ongoing employment by the Canadian group that has contracted you, and
  • you’re not involved in making a movie, television, or radio broadcast.
Public speaker A guest speaker, commercial speaker, or seminar leader who is speaking at specific events, provided the event is no longer than five days
A short-term highly skilled worker Come to Canada as a high-skilled worker and
  • your job is under the NOC skill type 0 (managerial) or A (professional)
  • you will only work for
    • up to 15 consecutive days once every six months or
    • up to 30 consecutive days once every year
Short-term researcher Come to Canada as a researcher
  • at a public degree-granting institution or affiliated research institution
  • who will work for 120 or fewer consecutive days
  • who has not worked in Canada under this exemption in the last 12 months
Student working off-campus You can work for up to 20 hours per week during your semester and full-time over scheduled breaks
Students working on campus If you work on your university campus or college where you study in Canada

Canadian Visa Applications Can Be Simpler Than You Think

Applying for a Canadian Visa may look daunting, confusing, too much work to most, and time-consuming to others. However, if you can keep with up with the application’s strict deadlines, and requirements, it is more easier to avoid making a mistake that could cost you your chance to study and/or work in Canada.

I’ll advise you to follow the Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants (RCICs), and I promise you, the Canada Visa application process will be stress-free, and you don’t need to pay anyone a dime to commence your registration.

Through the Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants (RCICs), you’ll get to enjoy:

  • An in-depth eligibility assessment, to see if you’re qualified before applying for a Canada visa.
  • We will provide you with over 100+ immigration programs and visas that are easy and you can choose from.
  • An immigration program that will suit you, your partner, children and family members (Depending on your choice).
  • There will be available 24/7 daily support through every step of the application process till it’s stamped “APPROVED”.

About the author

Joseph Richard

A graduate of Medicine From IMSU, Current Nurse, Tertiary institutions news anchor and lover of Information. I love reading and sharing valuable Information/Tips/News

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