According to Citizenship and Immigration Canada, 150,000 workers enter Canada each year to work temporarily in one of the country’s work visa programs. While some jobs do not require an official work visa, most foreign nationals wanting to work in Toronto will require a work visa or work permit before entering the country. After determining the kind of visa you want, you must complete a short visa application, which you can obtain at any Canadian embassy.

Determine whether you need to have a work visa to work in Toronto. Some jobs do not require visas to work in the country, such as members of clergy. You can check whether you need to apply for a visa by accessing the list of jobs that do not require visas. The list is available at the Canadian government’s immigration website.

Look for a job with a company based in Toronto. This can be a Canadian or foreign company,as long as it has an office in Toronto.

Apply for a job. If the company offers you a job, you must ask the company for an official invitation to work there. You will include this invitation when you submit your work permit. This step only applies to those wishing to work in Toronto as a skilled worker for a long period of time. If you are an unskilled working seeking temporary employment in Canada, you do not need to include a job invitation with a work visa application.

Go to your closest Canadian consulate office. When there, ask to speak with an official about filling out a work permit. If you want to just work temporarily in Canada, you will need to fill out a temporary work permit. If you want to enter Canada as a skilled worker and may want to transition this to a permanent residence visa in the future, you will need to fill out a long-term work permit under the Canadian Experience Class. You will only be able to work long-term in Toronto if you are an experienced or skilled worker.

Submit your application and any required application fees, which vary depending on the type of visa you apply for. Wait for your application to be approved. When your application is approved, you can enter Canada and work in Toronto for the time limited permitted by your work visa.

About the Author

Jessica Jewell is a writer, photographer and communications consultant who began writing professionally in 2005. Her chapbook, "Slap Leather," is forthcoming from dancing girl press. Her recent work has appeared in "Nimrod," "Harpur Palate," "Copper Nickel," "Rhino," "wicked alice," "Poetry Midwest" and "Barn Owl Review." Jewell was recently nominated for a Pushcart Prize. She earned her Master of Fine Arts from Kent State University.

Photo Credits

  • toronto harbour ferry image by Thilo Kierdorf from Fotolia.com
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