Canada Work Visa Requirements for Indians: 2026 Checklist

Canada calls it a work permit, not a work visa. Most applicants get the employer-specific (closed) kind, tied to one employer. This checklist uses IRCC's work permit pages, the IRCC fee list and the VFS Global India pages, as published on the official sources, checked on 2026-10-15. For visitor visas, study permits and Express Entry, see our Canada visa guide for Indians.

Which documents does a Canadian work permit application need?

You apply online to IRCC from India. The IRCC Portal generates a personalised document checklist, so treat the table below as the core set and add whatever your checklist or the visa office asks for.

Do you need an LMIA, and who gets it?

Most jobs need one. The LMIA is the employer's document, not yours: the employer applies, and if it is positive, gives you the LMIA letter and Annex A to upload with your application.

Some jobs are LMIA-exempt. In that case you do not upload an LMIA, but you still need the job offer. Ask your employer which exemption it is using and keep its written confirmation in your file.

Open work permits, which need no job offer, are a separate category. IRCC says they are only for applicants who qualify under specific programs, so a general Indian professional cannot simply choose one.

How much money should you show?

IRCC does not fix a single rupee or dollar amount for employer-specific work permits. It asks for enough money to support you and any family members during the stay and to return home, and refers to low income cut-offs as a general guide.

Show funds that are clearly yours and have a visible history. For example, statements from your Indian savings accounts and fixed deposits with a visible history. If family members travel with you, the funds must cover them too.

What are the fees, and what does VFS charge?

IRCC publishes its fees in CAD only. The VFS amounts took effect on 1 May 2026, include taxes and are paid in INR by cash or UPI. VFS has announced new service charges from 1 November 2026 whose amounts were not published as of 15 October 2026. Booking a biometrics appointment is free.

What happens after you submit?

1. IRCC sends a Biometric Instruction Letter (BIL).
2. You book a free appointment at a VFS-run VAC. Since 24 February 2026 you must upload the BIL when booking.
3. You give fingerprints and a photo at one of 10 VACs: Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chandigarh, Chennai, Hyderabad, Jalandhar, Kolkata, Mumbai, New Delhi or Pune.
4. The New Delhi visa office assesses the file. IRCC's posted time for work permits applied for from outside Canada by Indian applicants is 11 weeks (last updated October 14, 2026).
5. If asked, you submit your passport at a VAC by prior appointment and collect it there or pay for courier return.

IRCC told a parliamentary committee in April 2026 that posted times are backward-looking, so treat 11 weeks as a reference, not a promise. Applications that need more information take longer.

How often are Canadian work permits approved?

IRCC's note to the House of Commons public safety committee (SECU, 30 April 2026) gives an 82% approval rate for work permit applications from all nationalities, for calendar year 2026 up to February 28, 2026. In the same period it gives 54% for visitor visas and 38% for study permits. IRCC does not publish an India-only work permit figure on that page, and the number describes past decisions, not your chances.

Before you submit: a final check

• The employer is not on the non-compliant list, and the job title and wage match the LMIA.
• Both the LMIA letter and Annex A are uploaded, or the LMIA exemption is documented.
• Funds are shown for every family member travelling with you.
• Every item on your personalised IRCC checklist is attached.
• You have kept the CAN$155 and CAN$85 payment receipts.

Yatra For Fun's India office in Gurugram prepares flight reservations, hotel bookings, travel itineraries and cover letters for visa files. Packages run from INR 1,000 for a flight reservation to INR 3,000 for a reservation, hotel booking, itinerary and cover letter. WhatsApp +91 95230 91018 or reach us through our contact page.

Frequently asked questions

Can I get a Canada work permit without a job offer?

Only if you qualify for an open work permit under a specific program. The employer-specific work permit that most Indians receive requires a job offer from an eligible Canadian employer.

What is Annex A in a Canadian work permit application?

Annex A is part of the employer's positive Labour Market Impact Assessment. IRCC asks for both the LMIA letter and Annex A from the employer when the job is not LMIA-exempt.

Can I pay Canadian work permit fees in rupees?

IRCC fees are published and paid in CAD online: CAN$155 for the work permit and CAN$85 for biometrics. Only the optional VFS services, such as courier, are paid in INR at the VAC by cash or UPI.

Where do I give biometrics for a Canada work permit in India?

At one of 10 VFS-run Visa Application Centres, after IRCC sends the Biometric Instruction Letter. Booking is free, and appointments require uploading that letter.