In my last article I talked about how you can immigrate to Canada from Kenya. Today, we take a look into what it takes to work in Canada as a temporary foreign employee from South Africa. According to Department of Finance Canada, 1-million+ new jobs were added to the Canadian economy in 2021 making Canada one of the best destinations for foreign workers. As a result, Canada is currently accepting and processing work visa applications in as little as 2 weeks for under the Global Skills Strategy ( GSS ). The GSS is a Canadian federal government program started to help eligible Canadian businesses to employ skilled workers from around the world through faster application processing times, work permit exemptions and enhanced customer service.
You can therefore take advantage of these favorable conditions in Canada and apply for a Canadian work visa from South Africa if you meet the visa requirements of a work permit program.
What's Covered in This Article
Work in Canada from South Africa in 3 Steps
Step 1: Find a Job in Canada
To apply for a work visa from South Africa, you need a valid job offer.
The good news is that finding a job in Canada from South Africa is a huge possibility because Canada currently has many skills and labor shortages due to its retiring population. 25% of all working Canadians are on the verge of retiring, leaving many in-demand job openings in Canada that Canadians are unable to fill. Thus, employers are currently recruiting foreign workers to fill these job vacancies in Canada.
NOTE:
The type of Canadian work visa you qualify for will affect the type of job offer you can get in Canada.
For instance, if you have a job offer in one of the jobs in any of the occupations found on the global talent occupations list, then you could obtain a a work visa through the Global Talent Stream and enjoy the 2-week visa processing timeline!
Alternatively, you can also apply for a Canadian work visa from South Africa through an employer-specific work permit by applying through either: 1) the Agri-Food Canadian immigration pilot program; or 2) the Home care provider Canadian immigration pilot program of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program.
The best part is that after two years of work experience gained in Canada, you will be eligible to apply for permanent residence in Canada for yourself and and your family members!
Step 2: Get a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) from your employer
What is an LMIA?
A Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) is a document that an employer in Canada needs to get before hiring a foreign worker to prove that indeed, there currently is no Canadian worker or permanent resident that is available to do the said job the foreign worker is being hired for.
Jobs that are exempt from the LMIA requirement
Temporary foreign workers from South Africa who qualify for a work permit program under the International Mobility Program (IMP) are exempt from the LMIA requirement. For example, if you are transferred by your Canadian company from South Africa to Canada, then you would most probably qualify for exemption for LMIA as you apply for a work visa under the IMP.
Other in-demand occupations in Canada that are LMIA – exempt include: experienced healthcare and essential workers, self-employed graphic designers, self-employed writers, etc.
Step 3: Submit your Canadian work visa application from South Africa
Once you have a valid job offer and your LMIA, gather all other required documents and submit your work permit visa application to the Canadian embassy for processing.
How much does a Canadian Work Visa cost?
For your Canadian work permit and work visa application from South Africa to be processed, you must pay a visa fee that is dependent on the work permit and work visa you are applying for, and whether or not your family members will be joining you in Canada.
| Canadian Work Visa Application Fees | |
|---|---|
| Visa Type | Cost |
| Work permit | Canadian $155 per person |
| Work permit extension | Canadian $155 per person |
| Open work permit | Canadian $100 per person |
What if I am unable to obtain a job offer in Canada from South Africa supported by an LMIA
If for one reason or another you are unable to obtain a job offer in Canada from South Africa supported by an LMIA, your next best option is to apply to work and live in Canada through an immigration program instead of trying to get a Canadian work visa from South Africa.
Your best bet in this case is through the Express Entry immigration system that does not require a valid job offer to apply for Canadian Permanent Resident (PR).
How to Enter the Express Entry Draw from South Africa
Watch the video below for details:
