Good Jobs You Can Do Without Work Permit in Canada (2024)

Canada, known for its diverse culture, stunning landscapes, and welcoming attitude towards immigrants, attracts thousands of individuals seeking new opportunities every year.

While many of these individuals require a work permit to pursue their career goals, there are some exceptions to the rule.

Did you know that certain professionals, artists, and individuals can work in Canada without needing a work permit?

From international students and business visitors to artists, athletes, and public speakers, there are various categories of individuals who are exempt from the work permit requirement.

This exemption not only simplifies the process of working in Canada but also opens up new possibilities for those who want to contribute to the country’s growth and prosperity.

In this blog post, we will explore the various jobs and activities that do not require a work permit in Canada, helping you understand the eligibility criteria, requirements, and benefits of working in Canada without the need for a permit.

Whether you’re an individual looking to expand your professional horizons or an employer seeking to hire international talent, this information will guide you through the process and help you make informed decisions.

LIST OF JOBS IN CANADA THAT DOES NOT REQUIRE WORK PERMIT

Foreign nationals may be able to work in Canada without a work permit for certain kinds of jobs.

Note that merely being listed does not guarantee that an individual will be granted a work permit exemption.

A person’s job must be on this list and they must meet the additional exemption requirements for their particular job, as stated on the International Mobility Programme webpage, in order to be eligible for a work visa exemption.

Below are the various jobs in Canada that can be performed without a work permit.

ATHLETE OR COACH

You might not need a work permit if you are a foreign national competing in Canada as a member of a foreign sports team.

Athletes, coaches, and other international team members are covered by this clause.

In the event that you are working with a Canadian team, you will need a work permit.

INVESTIGATOR FOR AVIATION INCIDENTS OR ACCIDENTS

You might not need a work permit to conduct such investigative work in Canada if you are certified as an agent or adviser to look into aircraft accidents and/or other events.

The Transportation Accident Investigation and Safety Board Act must be the subject of the investigation in order to be eligible for the exemption.

BUSINESS VISITOR

Foreign nationals who come to Canada on business trips but do not join the Canadian workforce are known as business visitors.

You might not need a work permit in Canada if you fit the description of a business visitor.

Be aware that there is a big distinction between a business person and a business visitor.

Make sure you fit the description to be eligible for the exemption.

CIVIL AVIATION INSPECTOR

You can be eligible for a work permit exemption if your job involves monitoring the flight operations and cabin safety of foreign flights that pass through Canada.

CLERGY

For the purpose of performing religious work in Canada, foreign nationals who are laypeople, ordained ministers, or members of religious orders may be eligible for a work visa exemption.

In Canada, your responsibilities can involve leading worship, preaching doctrine, and/or providing spiritual counselling.

CONVENTION ORGANIZER

Should you plan or oversee global conferences or conventions, you can be eligible for an exemption from the need for a work permit.

Note that this exemption only applies to the organisers of the conferences; anyone offering hands-on services (such audio-visual services) needs to get the proper work licence.

CREW MEMBER

Should you be a foreign national employed as a truck, bus, shipping, or airline worker, you can be eligible for an exemption from a work permit.

Your employment must fulfil two requirements in order to be eligible for the exemption:

• Your work must be related to the operation of the vehicles and/or the serving of passengers.
• You must be working on vehicles that are owned and registered by businesses outside of Canada and that are used to transport freight and/or passengers abroad.

EMERGENCY SERVICE PROVIDER

You can be eligible for a work permit exemption if you are a foreign national and will be working in Canada to offer services during an emergency.

Your assistance must be for the protection of Canadian property or human life.

Natural catastrophes like fires or floods as well as industrial mishaps that endanger the environment are considered emergencies.

EXAMINER AND EVALUATOR

If you are a professor or other academic expert and a foreign national, you could be able to work in Canada without a work permit if you meet specific requirements.

These tasks consist of assessing and/or supervising theses, research proposals, and academic projects.

You might work for a Canadian research group or a Canadian educational institution.

EXPERT WITNESS OR INVESTIGATOR

Should you be employed in Canada to furnish testimony in front of a tribunal, regulatory agency, or court of law, you can qualify for an exemption from a work permit.

FAMILY MEMBER OF FOREIGN REPRESENTATIVE

You might qualify for a Canadian work permit exemption if you are the spouse, child, or foreign representative. You have to fulfil the following requirements in order to be eligible:

• You must have a passport with a GAC counterfoil and be accredited by Global Affairs Canada (GAC).
• A letter of no objection from GAC is required. Normally, this letter is only sent out in the event that Canada and another nation have a reciprocal employment agreement.

FOREIGN GOVERNMENT OFFICER OR REPRESENTATIVE

If you fit any of the following three requirements, you can be eligible for an exemption from a work permit:

• Working under an exchange agreement that permits officials from your country to work in Canada’s government, you are employed by a foreign government.
• You are an official representative of another nation or a foreign diplomat.
• You are an official United Nations representative or a foreign diplomat.

If an official letter is required for foreign government employees to work in Canada for more than three months, they must receive one.

HEALTH CARE STUDENT

If you are a foreign national enrolled in a healthcare programme in Canada and would want to work as part of your training, you might be able to obtain a work permit exemption.

To be eligible for the exemption, you need to fulfil the following four requirements:

• It is required of you to take part in clinical clerkships.
• Your employment is mostly intended for training purposes.
• The provincial regulatory authority that oversees your profession must have given you formal permission (albeit not all provinces need this).
• Less than four months must pass during your training.

You will need a work permit if any of these requirements are not met.

JUDGE, REFEREE OR SIMILAR OFFICIAL

You can be eligible for a work permit exemption if you are a foreign person visiting Canada to serve as a judge or an official in an international amateur competition.

This exemption applies to the following kinds of events:

• Festivals of dance and music.
• Shows featuring animals.
• Farm competitions.

MILITARY PERSONNEL

If you serve in the armed services of another nation, you can be qualified for Canada’s work permit exemption.

You need movement orders certifying that you are entering Canada in accordance with the Visiting Forces Act in order to be eligible for this exemption.

NEWS REPORTER OR FILM AND MEDIA CREW

You can be eligible for a work permit exemption if you are a foreign national employed as a news reporter or member of a film or media crew in Canada.

You must fulfil one of the requirements below in order to be eligible:

• Either you or a member of the news reporter’s team must be a news reporter.
• You have to be a part of a media or film crew that isn’t planning to work in Canada.
• You have to be a journalist employed by a non-Canadian print, radio, television, or web medium.
• As a resident correspondent, you must be.
• You have to be in charge of an event that lasts less than six months or a member of the administrative team.

PRODUCER OR STAFF MEMBER WORKING ON ADVERTISEMENTS

You can be eligible for a work permit exemption if you are coming to Canada to work on a foreign-financed commercial or advertising shoot for magazines, television, or other media.

This exception only covers temporary jobs, typically those that last two weeks or less.

PERFORMING ARTIST

It is possible for some international performers to perform in Canada without a work authorization.

To be eligible for this exemption, the foreign national needs to fulfil multiple requirements:

• You are either the overseas artist or a vital member of their support team.
• You have a brief performance scheduled in Canada.
• The company that employed you will not engage you for permanent work in Canada.
• There won’t be any work involved in producing a broadcast for radio, TV, or movies.

PUBLIC SPEAKER

You can be eligible for a work permit exemption if you are a foreign national who leads seminars, speaks as a guest speaker, or gives a commercial speech.

The only people who qualify for this exemption are speakers at events that last no more than five days.

SHORT-TERM HIGHLY-SKILLED WORKER

High-skilled individuals may be allowed to work temporarily in Canada if a specific length of time elapses between each exception.

Foreign nationals employed at NOC Skill Level 0 or A may be excused from needing a work permit for a brief period of time in Canada under the conditions of the short-term work permit exemption.

In order to qualify for the exemption from a short-term work permit, the employee must be coming from:

• To work under this exemption for a period of 15 consecutive calendar days or less, provided that six months have passed since the first day of work; or
• To work under this exemption for a period of 30 calendar days or less, provided that 12 months have passed since the first day of work under this exemption

Those who live in Canada are not eligible to apply for the short-term work permit exemption since it is intended to make it easier for foreign citizens who live abroad to work.

SHORT-TERM RESEARCHER

A work permit exemption might be available to some foreign nationals visiting Canada for brief periods of time to do research.

The researcher is only eligible for this exemption if they fulfil the following requirements:

• Must be working for 120 days or less straight; Must be conducting research at a public degree-granting university or allied research institution
• Must not have used this exemption in the 12 months prior.

STUDENT WORKING OFF-CAMPUS

International full-time students can work off campus while they are enrolled in classes without needing a work permit.

During study periods, full-time international students are permitted to work up to 20 hours per week.

During regularly scheduled academic holidays and breaks, they are permitted to work full-time.

STUDENT WORKING ON-CAMPUS

To work on campus while enrolled full-time as an international student in Canada, you do not need a work permit.

During study periods, full-time international students are permitted to work up to 20 hours per week.

During regularly scheduled academic holidays and breaks, they are permitted to work full-time.