If you want to improve your career and overall quality of life, getting a Canadian Work Permit is one of the most effective ways to start. Whether you wish to come to Canada as a skilled worker, student, or family member, it’s important to understand how temporary work permits and permanent residency differ.
A temporary work permit lets foreign nationals come to Canada and work for a limited period. In contrast, Permanent Residency (PR) allows you to live and work in Canada indefinitely and can eventually lead to Canadian citizenship.
This guide is designed for readers who want to work in Canada or apply for PR. It compares both immigration pathways, eligibility rules, sub-categories, and application processes.
Most Canadian immigration pathways require you to meet language standards, and resources like CELPIP practice tools are essential for success. Recent policy changes such as reduced PR admission targets (2023) and tighter work permit rules (2025) make it even more important to understand your options clearly.
What Is a Temporary Work Permit?
The IRCC issues temporary work permits to foreign nationals so they can work in Canada for a limited time. These permits are usually granted only when a suitable Canadian citizen or permanent resident is not available for the job.
Temporary permits:
Have a limited duration
Can often be renewed
Do not give permanent status
There are two main types:
Open Work Permits
Employer-Specific (Closed) Work Permits
Open Work Permits
An open work permit allows you to work for any eligible employer in Canada (with a few exceptions). There are no restrictions on job type or location.
Key features:
No LMIA required
Valid for a few months up to three years
Duration depends on passport validity and eligibility
Types of Open Work Permits
1. Spousal or Common-Law Partner Work Permits
For spouses of PGWP holders or skilled workers
As of January 2025, stricter rules apply
Now available only to spouses of Master’s or PhD students
2. Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP)
For international graduates from eligible DLIs
Valid up to three years based on study length
Must apply within 180 days of graduation
2025 changes: Only graduates from specific eligible DLIs can get PGWP (priority fields: hospitality, agriculture, etc.)
3. Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP)
For applicants waiting for PR results (Express Entry or other PR streams)
Helps maintain legal status while PR is in process
Usually valid for one year or more
4. International Experience Canada (IEC)
For youth aged 18–35 from partner countries
Includes Working Holiday, Young Professionals, and Co-op
Valid for 12–24 months
No LMIA needed
5. Other Open Permit Categories
For refugees, protected persons, and vulnerable workers
Temporary policy allows PNP candidates with expiring permits to stay until Dec 31, 2025
Employer-Specific (Closed) Work Permits
These permits tie you to:
One specific employer
A specific job
A specific location
A set time period
Most closed permits require an LMIA, which confirms that no Canadian worker is available for the job.
The permit duration is normally up to two years, depending on the job offer. Permits can be renewed if the contract continues.
Types of Employer-Specific Work Permits
1. Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP)
Used to fill labour shortages in:
Agriculture
Caregiving
Manufacturing
High-demand sectors
Sub-streams:
SAWP (Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program): Up to eight months
Global Talent Stream: Fast processing for tech and IT (around 2 weeks)
2. Intra-Company Transfers (ICT)
For executives, managers, or specialized knowledge workers
Allows transfers within multinational companies
No LMIA needed
Valid up to three years
3. Caregiver Work Permits
For childcare providers or home support workers
Eligible for PR after two years of Canadian experience
Other Exempt Categories
Researchers
Charity workers
Emergency repair workers
A temporary policy introduced in Fall 2025 allows foreign workers to switch jobs without obtaining a new work permit.
What Is Permanent Residency (PR)?
Permanent Residency allows foreign nationals to:
Live, work, and study anywhere in Canada
Access most social benefits
Apply for citizenship after 3 years of residence
Enjoy long-term security and stability
To reduce pressure on housing and infrastructure, Canada lowered its PR target.
2025 PR admissions target: 395,000.
The main pathway to PR is the Express Entry System.
Express Entry System (Points-Based)
Express Entry manages immigration applications from skilled workers. It includes:
1. Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)
For skilled workers with foreign work experience
Applicants must score 67/100 based on:
Age
Education
Language (CELPIP accepted)
Work experience
Adaptability
2. Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
For people with at least one year of Canadian work experience
Education proof not required
3. Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)
For eligible skilled trades
Must have:
A valid job offer or
A certificate of qualification
How Express Entry Works
Candidates create an online profile
Profiles are given CRS scores
Highest-ranking candidates receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for PR
Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP’s)
Provinces nominate candidates to meet economic and labor market needs. Subtypes differ by province (for example, Ontario has human capital priorities program and Alberta has opportunity stream), and many PNP’s are linked to Express Entry (meaning that connections to the province, like work experience or a job offer, become very important).
Family Sponsorship
Eligible Canadian citizens and PRs can sponsor spouse or partner, children, parents or grandparents.
Subtypes include:
- Spousal (within or outside of Canada),
- Dependent Children,
- Parents/Grandparents (based on a lottery;
There will be no new visas beginning January 1, 2025). Sponsors must prove that they can support the applicant financially for a period of time while they settle into Canada.
Other Pathways
- Caregivers Program: This program is for individuals who have Canadian caregiving experience for minimum 2 years. This program has also subtype like Home Child Care Provider Pilot.
- Start-up Visa: This program is designed for entrepreneurs. Individuals who have innovative businesses ideas can apply under this program.
- Atlantic Immigration Program: This program is designed for Atlantic provinces; applicants requires job offers to apply under this program.
- Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot: This program is designed for rural areas. It is a Community-driven program for rural areas.
- Francophone Mobility: For the French-Speakers outside Quebec this program is designed.
Some new pathways for skilled refugees and displaced persons will be introduced in 2025 by Canadian immigration.
Key Differences:
Aspect | Temporary Work Permit | Permanent Residency |
Duration | Limited from few months to years; is renewable | Indefinite; renewable every 5 years |
Work Flexibility | Varies (open: any employer; specific: tied) | Any employer, anywhere |
Path to Citizenship | No direct; can lead via experience | Yes, after 3 years’ residency |
Family Inclusion | Limited (spousal permits possible) | Full sponsorship options |
Requirements | Job offer/LMIA often; temporary intent | Points-based/skills; settlement funds |
2025 Targets/Changes | New streams; eligibility tweaks | 395,000 admissions; reduced targets |
Processing Time | Weeks to months | 6-12 months or more |
Eligibility Criteria
For temporary permits: You must prove a temporary intent, funds, no criminality, health; these depend on your specific subtype (i.e. job offer would use the employer specific application).
For PR: It depends on your pathway; virtually all pathways consider language, education, experience, and settlement funds. Age is the only factor that is about adaptability (points systems) as well.
Application Process
For Temporary residency:
- Gather your documents (valid passport and job offer letter or LMIA)
- Either apply online or you can apply through VFS;
- Fees are about $155 plus biometrics are $85.
- Processing time can be 4-8 weeks.
For PR:
- For Express Entry, you create your profile on official IRCC portal,
- Receive an ITA,
- Prepare all your document proofs
- Submit your full application.
- Fees are approx. $1365 for adults.
- For other pathways, if sponsored, a sponsor will have to fill out form 1323/1324
- For nominee; a nominee will take an action towards getting additional points too.
Pros and Cons:
- If you need experience, Temporary permits are best. But if you need stability and other government benefits then Temporary permits are not suitable.
- PR is advantageous in stability, health care, and education access; however, it is disadvantageous to get and justify experience and higher qualifications- and you will have to wait longer.
Transition from Temporary to Permanent
Many people will temporarily permit (for example, a PGWP) to receive Canadian experience for CEC or PNP, and are using higher data for the your CEC score; while there might be a BOWP you can use to mitigate waiting for your permanent residency.
Temporary permits are fitting for short-term goals, more rigorous, settling your permanent residency is long term. Eventually something will change in Canada in 2025 policy framework that will place an emphasis on sustainability: take note on your decision.
If you are concerned about learning resources as a barrier, celpip.biz will have the tools to help you succeed. Celpip.biz is your central resource point for developing CELPIP confidence and access to opportunities in Canada.
