Applying for a Work Permit
Internationally educated teachers (IETs) can pursue permanent residency and secure work permits through various immigration programs. The pathway to PR varies based on your circumstances.
B.C. Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP)
The B.C. PNP is an immigration program designed to attract skilled workers and experienced professionals to the province. It allows the B.C. government to identify and nominate (recommend) individuals whose skills align with the province’s economic and labour market demands. This program operates under a federal-provincial agreement, giving B.C. government the ability to select individuals who can contribute to the province’s growth and development.
While a B.C. PNP nomination significantly strengthens an applicant’s chances of obtaining permanent residency, especially through the federal Express Entry system by adding valuable points to their application, the final decision rests with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). IRCC conducts thorough assessments to ensure applicants meet federal eligibility criteria and security standards.
- A desire to become a Permanent Resident
- A job offer from a B.C. employer for a full-time ongoing position
- The completion of an approved language test
- An Express Entry profile (if applying under Express Entry British Columbia stream)
- An internationally educated teacher (IET) applies to the B.C. PNP.
- If approved (nominated), the IET receives a Nomination Certificate from the Province of British Columbia.
- The IET submits a permanent residence application to the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) offices.
- The IRCC reviews and approves the application if the IET has met all requirements.
- The IET then becomes a permanent resident of Canada.
| Application Stage | Responsibilities | |
|---|---|---|
| Prior to registration | None | Responsibilities of the IET |
| Registration | IETs create their Registration in the application system, which adds their profile to the applicant pool. | Responsibilities of the IET |
| Invitation | IETs wait for an Invitation to Apply for PNP. Information on previous rounds can be found on the BC PNP website. | Responsibilities of the IET |
| Application | IETs: Complete the online forms, upload required documents, and pay fee. | Responsibilities of the IET |
| Decision | Check processing times on BC PNP site for latest information. | Responsibilities of the IET |
| Work permit | Complete the Come to Canada MyCIC account (online application system) Prepare the required application forms and upload supporting documents to your MyCIC account, including BC PNP nomination and work permit support letter, employer documents and medical exam Wait for the application to process and check 2 processing times. Provide biometrics, when requested Download the Approval letter, when issued, from your MyCIC account | Responsibilities of the IET |
| Prior to registration | Employers must advertise the role for 14 days. | Responsibility of the Employer |
| Registration | n/a | Responsibility of the Employer |
| Invitation | n/a | Responsibility of the Employer |
| Application | Employers: Complete employer forms and provide documents. | Responsibility of the Employer |
| Decision | None | Responsibility of the Employer |
| Work permit | Complete form and pay fee in the Employer Portal | Responsibility of the Employer |
Provincial Nominee Program
Internationally educated teachers (IET) are considered “skilled workers” under the BC PNP. Within the BC PNP, there are two streams for skilled workers through the Skills Immigration and Express Entry streams. IETs navigating the application process must follow specific steps involving both the provincial and federal governments.
The Express Entry B.C. (EEBC) stream is a fast-tracked immigration pathway that is linked to the federal Express Entry system, which manages applications for permanent residency in Canada. This process involves several stages:
- Express Entry Profile Creation: IETs must first create a profile in Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s (IRCC) Express Entry system.
- Registration and Application: IETs complete the registration and application through B.C. PNP EEBC stream.
- Provincial Nomination: If nominated, IETs receive additional Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points, significantly increasing their chances of receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residency. IETs are now eligible to apply for a work permit. They must work with their employer to obtain the information required to submit their application.
- Permanent Residence Application: Once nominated, candidates apply to IRCC for permanent residency, which is typically processed faster than non-Express Entry applications.
Read about the complete application process on the WelcomeBC website.
Skills Immigration (SI) is considered a “non-express entry” stream of the B.C. PNP. This means that the SI stream is not linked to the federal government’s Express Entry program; therefore, PR applications will take longer to process.
Applying to the SI stream involves two steps:
- BC PNP Nomination: The Province selects skilled workers and nominates them using the B.C. PNP’s Registration System (SIRS) for points ranking. IETs are now eligible to apply for a work permit. They must work with their employer to obtain the information required to submit their application.
- Permanent Residence (PR) Application: After nomination, candidates apply to IRCC, which conducts medical, security and background checks before approving PR.
Read about the complete application process on the WelcomeBC site.
Permanent Residence
If you are successful with your B.C. PNP application, you will be invited (nominated) to apply for your permanent residence status in Canada. The application and fees required for this will depend on whether you have applied through Express Entry or non-Express Entry streams.
Express Entry PR applicants
- Have additional points from the B.C. PNP nomination added to score
- Must wait for Invitation to Apply for PR
- Must complete the online forms, upload all required documents and pay fees
Non-Express Entry PR applicants
- Create an account in the PR Portal [is there a link?]
- Complete the online forms, upload all required documents and pay fees.
Because you are a work permit applicant, you can also check the status of your application by creating an application status tracker account.
Fees paid by IET include:
- Permanent Residence application fee
- Right of Permanent Residence fee
- Biometrics fee
- Costs related to police clearances, photos and other incidentals
Full list of immigration fees
Labour Impact Assessment
In certain circumstances, employers may hire a temporary foreign worker (e.g. IET) by obtaining a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). Before employers can hire a temporary foreign worker, an employer must prove that no Canadian citizen or permanent resident is available to do the job, and therefore they need to hire a foreign worker. This confirms that hiring a foreign worker does not harm the Canadian job market. This work permit is usually valid for three years.
Although employers initiate the LMIA process, IETs have role in the application process.
Internationally educated teachers must:
- Upload the LMIA approval to the work permit application to proceed. The employer will receive the Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) approval first and then send this to the IET.
Employers must:
- Advertise the position according to Service Canada’s requirements.
- Demonstrate there are no Canadians/PRs available to fill the role
- Explain the benefits to Canada for hiring the IET
- Pay the application fee