Can US Citizens Work in Canada?
Can US Citizens Work in Canada
Canada is a huge and very beautiful country with rich natural resources and a developed high-tech economy. Despite its large size, it is one of the most sparsely populated states in the world. Millions of people from all over the world think about immigration to this picturesque country for permanent residence, and hundreds of thousands every year make their dreams come true. The large-scale influx of foreigners into Canadian territory is due to the high standard of living in the country and the presence of very effective programs for immigrants. Canada has become the most attractive country for migrant workers, according to the results of a joint study by BCG and The Network, based on data from 2020. In 2021, the population of Canada is just over 37 million people. Many pieces of research show that today's citizens of the USA move abroad for the most part in search of attractive economic prospects and a better life and most immigrants from us ask question: "Can US Citizens Work in Canada ?". A significant number of such immigrants are highly educated and fairly wealthy people. Therefore, most of them choose Canada due to its social packages and ambitious development of many industries (from IT to agricultural sectors). Also, the transnational corporations keep opening their branches in Canada and launching projects that influence the whole continent of America. The citizens of the USA choose Canada for one more reason – a practical absence of bureaucracy. Canada has some agreements with the United States of America that let the citizens of both countries interact, move and co-operate freely and effectively. However, there are still some laws and requirements that need to be fulfilled by both parties and in this article, we will explain and discuss Can US citizens work in Canada and start permanently live there.
Can US Citizens Work in Canada : Types of Work permit
To work in Canada usually, immigrants need to obtain a work permit. There are two types of permits - the one is issued for a specific employer and an open permit. The first type includes such information as who is a hiring party, how long an applicant can work in Canada for the employer and the location of the office in particular. To get a work permit for a U.S. citizen, it is necessary to provide the officials with a job offer where all the terms and conditions about the employment are mentioned. Normally, an employer has to apply for a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) which is issued by Employment and Social Development Canada in order to show the government that the foreigner is an irreplaceable candidate for the job, but there is no need to get LMIA for the citizens of the USA. The inviting side must fill in the form, pay a fee, create a job offer and apply through the Employer Portal. US Citizens Can work in Canada with open work permit without any attachment to a specific entrepreneur and company and work for any enterprise, except those that are on the list of unacceptable employers and those who provide sexual services. There are still requirements that define if a person is eligible or not. For instance, a human being needs to be a spouse or a husband who holds a work permit; or has a right for Post-Graduate Work Permit (PGWP) or an individual has applied to Permanent Residence (PR) and waiting for the response from the Immigration, Refugees, Citizenship in Canada (IRCC).
Can US Citizens Work in Canada : Nafta Agreement
The main reason for foreigners to come here is due to the Fair Trade Agreements (FTAs) that Canada has signed with other countries. There are agreements with Mexico and the USA, South Korea, Colombia, Panama and Chile. Each document is bringing benefits to both sides in order to let their governments cooperate effectively with each other. Talking about the citizens of the US, there are the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) or Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) which are both economically motivated pact between neighbouring countries. Since the American and Mexican citizens do not need a Permanent Resident Visa to enter Canada, NAFTA work permit applications can be made at a state border checkpoint (such as a border crossing point or airport) or the Visa Office online or in a written form. Another benefit of a Canadian work permit under NAFTA is that an employee's spouse or civil law partner can obtain an open work permit for any job in Canada, even one that is not on the NAFTA professional list. This open work permit can be issued at the same time the employee is applying for their work permit. A spouse or civil law partner does not need a job offer to obtain an open work permit. A NAFTA work permit is a temporary work permit. However, NAFTA is also an excellent route to obtain permanent residency in Canada. Permanent immigration to Canada today is based on a points system known as an express entry. Applicants are ranked based on factors such as education, language skills, work experience and age. Additional points are awarded for Canadian work experience or a job offer in Canada. Compared to other work permits, employer involvement will be minimal and costs are low as the US citizens do not need LMIA assessment. However, both workers and employers who use the NAFTA program must comply with all regulations governing temporary work in Canada.
There are four categories provided by the FTA between Canada, the USA and Mexico: investors, traders, professionals and intra-company transferees. The Trader and Investor categories are very rarely used to obtain a work permit for cross-border trade or contractual services. These work permit options are purely technical and require a significant amount of supporting information, including business plans, detailed financial information and a variety of other documentation. However, in some cases, Trader and Investor work permits are the only option available. A NAFTA trader must demonstrate his or her intent to engage in a significant volume of trade in goods or services between Canada and their country of citizenship. “Significant trade” refers to more than 50% of the trade that occurs between Canada and one of these countries and that is based on the volume of trade or resources to be exchanged. It is important to note that a trade relationship must already exist between a foreign company and Canada and that a trader cannot enter into trade contracts or find clients. The trader must be hired as a manager or executor, or have responsibilities that involve the necessary skills.
Can US Citizens Work in Canada as Investors
NAFTA Investors must demonstrate that they have made significant investments in a new or existing Canadian business and that they intend to enter the Canadian market in order to develop the business and manage the Canadian business. Work permits for the NAFTA investor category may also be granted to the main investor's staff, who can be considered its integral staff. NAFTA professionals must be qualified to work in one of approximately 63 professions. Depending on the profession, the applicant may be required to provide educational letters of credit and proof of work experience in the field. In most cases, this is a bachelor's degree in a field related to the profession. Certain professions, such as nursing and psychology, require a professional license. Jobs for NAFTA professionals in Canada must be predetermined in an area of employment that matches their qualifications. Individuals who wish to have a self-employed job in Canada are not eligible to qualify for this category.
As part of a NAFTA-based company transfer, workers must be transferred on a temporary basis to work for a subsidiary or branch of their US employer. In addition, they must have been working for their American employer continuously for one or three years, occupying a position similar to the one they intend to take in Canada, and being employed by the company at the time of application. Workers who are transferred between companies based on NAFTA must work in positions that are managerial, executive, or related to specialized knowledge.
Under the International Mobility Program (IMP), work visas are obtained by foreigners who are subject to free trade agreements signed by Canada, as well as various programs united under the general definition of "Canadian interest". So, it includes three categories of professionals, intra-company transferees and business visitors. All of these work visas are exempt from the requirement to have a positive labour market impact assessment (LMIA). Please note that business visitors are the people who come to Canada temporarily only and they must inform the officer about the exact length of stay.
Nevertheless, there are jobs where a work permit is not necessary, an applicant can check if he or she needs a permit on the official website. Also, even if you are eligible to work in Canada without a work permit, it is still necessary to have an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) that is required for citizens of those countries that are on the visa waiver list and want to visit Canada for tourist or business purposes. eTA is issued within 72 hours from the moment of registration of the application and is sent by e-mail to the applicant.
If you need help with any kind of immigration services in Canada or have questions about Can US Citizens Work in Canada, please fill in application below or contact us directly.
