Canada work permit from Cameroon
Canada · About 26 weeks with us, as an indication: it depends on your file and on the authorities.
From abroad, most work permits rest on a job offer from a Canadian employer. It is an employer-specific permit: it states who you can work for, where and for how long.
Before you apply, the employer usually needs a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA), unless the job is exempt. For French speakers, the Francophone Mobility program lets an employer outside Québec hire without an LMIA.
We check the offer, the employer and your documents with you before anything is submitted. The application is submitted in your name, from your IRCC account.
Who is it for?
- You have a job offer from an employer in Canada.
- You speak French and have a job offer outside Québec (Francophone Mobility).
- A Canadian employer is recruiting you for a hard-to-fill job.
- You want Canadian work experience before applying for permanent residence.
The main conditions
- A genuine job offer from a Canadian employer, with a positive LMIA or an offer of employment number if the job is LMIA-exempt.
- The qualifications and experience the job requires.
- For Francophone Mobility: a job outside Québec and at least intermediate spoken French, as defined by IRCC.
- For a job in Québec: usually a CAQ for work in addition to the permit.
- Convince the officer that you will leave Canada when your permit ends, and have enough to live on when you arrive.
- Have no criminal record, be in good health and take the medical exam if asked.
How long does it take?
How long it takes depends on the employer's steps, then on IRCC processing times, which change often: check the official processing times page (in the sources).
The steps
-
Consultation and eligibility
Documents to prepare
- Valid passport
- Diplomas and certificates
- Detailed CV
- Job offer letter
-
Collecting the documents
Documents to prepare
- Job offer (LMIA or exemption)
- Educational credential assessment (ECA)
- Language test results
- Proof of work experience
- Police certificate
-
Creating the IRCC account
-
Filling in the forms
Documents to prepare
- Form IMM 1295
- Form IMM 5707
-
Paying the official fees
Documents to prepare
- Official fees receipt
-
Submitting the application
Documents to prepare
- IRCC acknowledgement
-
Biometrics appointment
Documents to prepare
- Biometrics instruction letter
-
Processing
-
Decision
Documents to prepare
- Port of entry letter
-
Work permit issued
Documents to prepare
- Work permit
Fees are discussed at the appointment, depending on your situation.
What we check with you
- The employer: that it exists, what it does, verifiable contact details, consistency between offer, salary and job.
- The LMIA or offer of employment number: it must appear in your application.
- Your proof of experience: employment letters with duties, dates and hours, pay slips.
- Scam warning signs: a job promised against payment, an unreachable recruiter, a contract with no identifiable employer.
- Common refusal reasons: doubts about your ability to do the job, an unconvincing offer, doubts about your return.
Book an appointment for this visa All visas for Canada
Frequently asked questions
How do I find a job in Canada from Cameroon?
Through Canadian job sites, including the Government of Canada's Job Bank, recruitment fairs and professional networks. A genuine job follows a real process: interview, contract, then the employer's steps. We check any offer you receive with you before you go further.
What is an LMIA?
A Labour Market Impact Assessment is a process the employer goes through with Employment and Social Development Canada. It shows they need a foreign worker for the job. Some jobs are exempt, such as those under Francophone Mobility.
What is Francophone Mobility?
A program that lets an employer outside Québec hire a French-speaking worker without an LMIA. You need a job offer and at least intermediate spoken French. It is worth a look if you speak French and the employer is outside Québec.
Can I get an open work permit from Cameroon?
Rarely. Most people applying from outside Canada are not eligible: open permits cover specific situations, often from inside Canada. From Cameroon, the usual route is a job offer.
Where do I give biometrics for a work permit?
At the Canada Visa Application Centre in Yaoundé, by appointment, within 30 days of your instruction letter. The appointment is free: don't pay anyone to book it.
Does a work permit lead to permanent residence?
It can help. Skilled work experience gained in Canada opens the Canadian Experience Class of Express Entry and earns points. It is not automatic: you must meet the criteria and be invited.