Work permit and extensions
Open, employer-specific, IEC, CUSMA / T-MEC, PGWP — the right route for your profile.
Work permit types
- LMIA-based: employer with validated offer — for profiles with concrete offers + NOC TEER 0–3.
- LMIA-exempt (CUSMA / T-MEC): fast track for Mexican citizens in listed professions (engineers, health professionals, scientists, technicians).
- IEC — Working Holiday / Young Professionals: ages 18-35, up to 24 months, annual draw.
- Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP): after completing an eligible program at a Canadian DLI.
- Spousal open work permit: for partners of students or workers in Canada.
Current processing times (Mexico)
What’s included
- Eligibility + best-route analysis (CUSMA, IEC, LMIA-based, etc.)
- Job offer review + NOC validation
- Officer-facing cover letter
- IMM5710 / IMM1295 preparation
- Biometrics coordination
- Tracking until decision
- Strategy for subsequent permanent residence (Express Entry, PNP)
FAQ
LMIA vs. LMIA-exempt — what's the difference?
LMIA (Labour Market Impact Assessment) is the impact study a Canadian employer files before hiring. LMIA-exempt routes — CUSMA, Mobilité Francophone, intra-company transfers, IEC — skip the market test and are faster. We identify the right route for your profile.
Do Mexican citizens qualify for IEC?
Yes — Mexico has an agreement with Canada: Working Holiday (open work permit, up to 24 months) and Young Professionals (employer-specific). Annual quota, drawn randomly from the candidate pool. We help you enter the pool and complete the application when the invitation arrives.
Open work permit vs. employer-specific — which one?
Open lets you work for any employer and is granted only in specific cases (spouse of student/worker, IEC Working Holiday, post-graduation). Employer-specific ties you to one employer + NOC but is available for many more routes. We assess in the initial consultation.
Can my family come with an open work permit?
Yes — your spouse can apply for an open work permit as a dependent, and minor children can study in Canada without an additional permit (K-12). For graduate programs the spouse needs their own study permit.