How to Move to Canada for Work in 2026: A Clear Plan

To move to Canada for work, most people need a work permit. The most common is employer-specific: you need a job offer, and your employer may need a Labour Market Impact Assessment. Some people qualify for open work permits or permanent routes such as Express Entry. Check the official IRCC tools first and never pay for a job offer.

Key facts

• Canada has two types of work permits: employer-specific, the most common, which needs a job offer and may need an LMIA, and open work permits, available only in certain situations. (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, Find out if you need a work permit, May 2026)
• For LMIAs received as of July 17, 2026, the hourly wage threshold separating high-wage and low-wage positions is the provincial median wage plus 20 percent, for example $36.92 in Ontario and $38.40 in British Columbia. (Employment and Social Development Canada, Hire a temporary foreign worker in a high-wage or low-wage position, Jul 2026)
• Service Canada may refuse to process LMIA applications for low-wage positions in census metropolitan areas with an unemployment rate of 6 percent or higher. (Employment and Social Development Canada, Refusal to process a Labour Market Impact Assessment application, Jul 2026)
• As of March 25, 2025, Express Entry no longer gives Comprehensive Ranking System points for job offers. (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, Express Entry: CRS criteria, 2026)
• Temporary foreign workers have the same rights and protections as Canadians and permanent residents, and an employer-specific permit only allows work for the employer named on it. (Employment and Social Development Canada, Temporary foreign workers: Your rights are protected, 2026)

Canada is one of the most popular destinations for people who want to work abroad, and knowing how to move to Canada the right way saves months of effort. The rules changed in important ways in 2025 and 2026, so old advice can mislead you. This guide explains the main work routes, the current official thresholds and limits, how permanent residence routes relate to job offers, and the first steps after you arrive, using only Government of Canada sources.

How to move to Canada: start with the right permit

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) explains that there are two types of work permits. An employer-specific work permit is the most common: you need a job offer, and your employer may need a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). An open work permit lets you work for most compliant employers without a job offer, but it is only available in certain situations. IRCC has an online tool that asks a few questions to tell you which permit you need, if you are exempt and which instructions to follow. Use it before you plan anything else.

The LMIA and wage thresholds

An LMIA is how Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) checks that hiring a foreign worker will not harm the Canadian labour market. The offered wage decides which stream the job falls into. ESDC sets an hourly wage threshold for each province and territory, equal to the local median wage plus 20 percent. For LMIAs received as of July 17, 2026, it is, for example, $36.92 in Ontario, $38.40 in British Columbia, $37.50 in Alberta and $36.00 in Quebec. Jobs at or above the threshold go in the high-wage stream; jobs below it go in the low-wage stream.

Low-wage jobs now face tighter limits. ESDC says Service Canada may refuse to process LMIA applications for low-wage positions in census metropolitan areas where unemployment is 6 percent or higher, and caps low-wage positions at a share of each workplace. In practice, skilled roles that pay at or above the threshold, and jobs outside high-unemployment cities, now have better chances.

Permanent residence and job offers

Many people hope to move to Canada permanently. Express Entry is one of the main systems for skilled immigrants, using a points-based Comprehensive Ranking System. An important change: IRCC says that as of March 25, 2025, it no longer gives CRS points for job offers. A Canadian job can still help through Canadian work experience and some provincial programmes, but it no longer adds Express Entry points on its own. Provinces also run their own nominee programmes that target specific occupations and regions.

How to move to Canada from US

If you are moving to Canada from the US, the same core rules apply: you need the right permit or permanent residence route. Some US citizens qualify for work under trade agreement categories that do not need an LMIA, depending on the occupation. Use IRCC's official tool to check your exact situation rather than relying on general advice. Many Americans also find it helpful to look at provincial nominee programmes in the province where they want to live.

How to move to Canada from the States with family

Family plans depend on your permit. In some cases, a spouse or partner can get their own work permit and children can study. The rules have changed in recent years, so check the current IRCC pages for family members of workers. Think about housing, schools and health coverage for everyone; ESDC notes that employers in some streams must pay for private health insurance until a worker qualifies for provincial coverage.

Your rights as a worker

ESDC says temporary foreign workers have the same rights and protections as Canadians and permanent residents. Your employer must give you information about your rights and a signed employment agreement on or before your first day, pay you as agreed, follow health and safety laws and make reasonable efforts to provide a workplace free of abuse. An employer-specific permit only lets you work for the employer named on it; to change jobs, you need a new permit, and your new employer usually needs a valid LMIA.

Step by step plan

1. Check your route with IRCC's official tool.
2. Check licensing for regulated jobs in the province you want.
3. Prepare documents: passport, degrees, references, proof of experience and language tests if needed.
4. Find an employer willing to support a work permit, focusing on skilled roles that meet the wage threshold.
5. Your employer applies for the LMIA, unless the job is exempt.
6. Apply for your work permit and wait for approval before you resign or book flights.
7. Plan your arrival: housing, health coverage, banking and your Social Insurance Number.

On Dev Global Jobs, browse jobs in Canada and compare routes in the visa guide.

Choosing a province

Canada's provinces differ in wages, living costs, climate and the jobs they need. The wage thresholds give a sense of local pay levels. Larger cities offer more jobs but higher rents, while smaller cities and rural areas may have strong demand in health, trades and agriculture. Research real job adverts and housing in each place before you decide.

Your first weeks

After you arrive, apply for your Social Insurance Number so you can work and be paid, open a bank account, get a local phone number and register for health coverage when eligible. Book temporary accommodation while you look for a long-term rental, and never send money for a place you have not seen or verified. Keep copies of your permit, contract and payslips together.

Credential recognition

Many jobs in Canada are regulated by provinces. Nurses, doctors, engineers, teachers and many trades need a provincial licence or certificate. The process can involve document checks, exams and language tests. Start early, because it can take months, and employers are more willing to support candidates who are already on the path.

Language tests and why they matter

Many Canadian programmes ask for proof of English or French, and a strong score can make a big difference. For permanent residence routes, language results often carry significant weight. For work, employers want to know you can communicate safely and clearly. Book a recognised test early, because dates can fill up, and prepare properly. If you speak French as well as English, say so prominently; both are official languages, and French skills open extra opportunities in some provinces and programmes.

Writing a Canadian resume

Canadian resumes are usually one to two pages. Start with a short summary that names your target role and your strongest skills, then list your experience in reverse order with clear results. Leave out your photo, date of birth and marital status. Use Canadian spelling and the job titles common in Canada. Be honest about your work permit situation, for example by noting that you will need an employer-specific permit or that you hold an open work permit. The CV builder includes a Canada format that follows these habits.

Interviews with Canadian employers

Most first interviews with overseas candidates happen by video. Expect behavioural questions such as tell me about a time you solved a difficult problem, and prepare answers with the STAR method: situation, task, action and result. Employers may ask about your licensing progress, language results and when you could start. Check the time zone twice, test your camera and sound, and send a short thank you email afterwards. If you receive an offer, ask for it in writing with the wage, hours, duties and location, and ask how the employer plans to handle the LMIA or any exemption.

Cost of living and budgeting

Costs vary a lot across Canada. Housing is usually the biggest expense, and rents in the largest cities can be high. Winter clothing, heating and transport are other costs newcomers often underestimate. Before you accept an offer, compare the wage with real rental listings in the area and build a monthly budget. Bring enough savings to cover your first weeks, including a rental deposit and the time until your first pay arrives.

Keeping your status valid

Once you are in Canada, keep track of the expiry date on your permit and apply to extend it in good time if your job continues. Work only within the conditions of your permit. If your employer, duties or work location change, check whether you need a new LMIA or permit before the change happens. Keeping your status valid protects your current permit and your chances of moving to permanent residence later.

Thinking long term

If you hope to stay in Canada permanently, plan from the start. Learn which permanent residence programmes fit your occupation, education, language skills and province. Keep records of your Canadian work experience, pay and tax filings. Improve your language scores where you can. Rules and programme priorities change, so check the official IRCC and provincial pages regularly and avoid relying on advice from social media or old articles.

Common mistakes

• Relying on old advice about Express Entry job offer points.
• Applying only for low-wage jobs in high-unemployment cities.
• Ignoring provincial licensing.
• Paying anyone for a job offer or LMIA.
• Changing employers without a new work permit.

Example: a skilled tradesperson

Marco is an electrician with eight years of experience. He checks IRCC's tool and learns he needs an employer-specific permit. He starts the provincial licensing process for electricians in the province he prefers and books an English test. He applies to employers in a mid-size city outside the largest metro areas, where skilled trades are in demand. An employer offers him a full-time role at a wage above the provincial threshold and applies for an LMIA in the high-wage stream. Once it is approved, Marco applies for his work permit, waits for approval and then plans his move.

Example: a recent graduate

Priya has a master's degree and two years of work in data analysis. She researches Express Entry and learns that a job offer no longer adds CRS points, so she focuses on improving her score through language results and her education credential assessment. At the same time she looks at provincial nominee programmes that target data and technology roles. She keeps her current job while she builds her profile, and she treats any Canadian job offer as a bonus rather than the core of her plan.

Settling in

The first months in a new country can be exciting and tiring at the same time. Many cities have free settlement services for newcomers that help with housing searches, job readiness, language classes and understanding local systems. Join community groups, sports clubs or professional associations in your field to build a network. Learn how Canadian workplaces usually run: people often use first names, meetings start on time and polite, direct communication is valued. Give yourself time; most newcomers find daily life feels much easier after the first winter.

Students who want to work

Some people come to Canada first as students and later move into work. Study permits have their own rules on working during and after studies, and these rules have changed in recent years. If this is your plan, read the current IRCC pages for students carefully, choose a designated learning institution and a programme that fits your career goals, and plan your finances for the full length of your studies. Treat any work rights as a support, not a guarantee of a future job or permanent status.

Comparing Canada with other countries

Canada is not the only choice. Australia, Ireland, the UK, New Zealand and several European countries also hire skilled workers from abroad, each with different rules, wage floors and paths to stay longer. If your skills are in demand, compare two or three countries side by side: visa routes, salary floors, living costs and how easily your qualifications are recognised. A wider search often leads to a faster, better move. The visa guide on Dev Global Jobs is a quick way to start that comparison.

Avoiding scams

Fake Canadian job offers are common. Real employers do not charge for jobs or LMIAs. Be careful if someone promises a guaranteed visa for a fee, cannot be found in official business records or asks you to enter as a visitor and work. Government fees for your own permit are paid through official IRCC channels.

Documents to keep ready

A move to Canada involves a lot of paperwork, and having it ready speeds every step. Keep scans and originals of your passport, degrees and transcripts, detailed employment references on company letterhead, payslips or tax records that prove your experience, language test results, police certificates and any licences. If documents are not in English or French, you may need certified translations. Store copies in a secure online folder as well as on paper, so you can share them quickly when an employer, licensing body or IRCC asks. Check expiry dates on your passport and test results too; some must still be valid when your application is decided, not only when you apply. A little order now prevents long delays later in the process. Ask a trusted friend to keep a second set of copies, so you are covered if anything is lost during the move itself or delayed in the post. Being prepared like this is one of the simplest ways to reduce stress.

A realistic timeline

Plan for several months from job offer to arrival. The employer may need to advertise first, then apply for the LMIA, and then you apply for your permit. Licensing and language tests can add more time. Keep your current job until your permit is approved.

Live on Dev Global Jobs

Right now there are 118,637 open jobs on Dev Global Jobs (live count, 5 November 2026). Browse jobs in Canada, compare routes in the visa guide and build a Canadian resume in the CV builder.

Frequently Asked Questions

Sources

1. Find out if you need a work permit, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. Accessed 3 October 2026.
2. Hire a temporary foreign worker in a high-wage or low-wage position, Employment and Social Development Canada. Accessed 3 October 2026.
3. Refusal to process a Labour Market Impact Assessment application, Employment and Social Development Canada. Accessed 3 October 2026.
4. Express Entry: Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) criteria, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. Accessed 3 October 2026.
5. Temporary foreign workers: Your rights are protected, Employment and Social Development Canada. Accessed 3 October 2026.

Source: Dev Global Jobs, updated 5 November 2026.