Citizenship and Immigration Canada
www.cic.gc.ca
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Working temporarily in Canada: Arriving
Find out about
- Presenting your documents
- Medical and health insurance and workers’ compensation in Canada
- Getting a social insurance number
- Staying in Canada
- Employment and labour standards
Presenting your documents
When you enter Canada, explain to the immigration officer that you have come here to work.
Be prepared to show supporting documents, such as your letter of offer of employment. If you have the confirmation number for your offer, give it to the immigration officer.
If you have a letter from Citizenship and Immigration Canada saying that you are authorized to come to Canada to work, bring it with you when you come to Canada. This letter is not a travel document and it is not your work permit, but it can help support your entry to work in Canada. Once the immigration officer has checked your documents, the officer will print the actual permit for you.
Medical and health insurance and workers’ compensation in Canada
Your employer is responsible for making sure you are covered by medical and health insurance and workers’ compensation when you arrive in Canada.
Getting a social insurance number
You must have a social insurance number (SIN) to work in Canada.
You can pick up an application form for a SIN at the point where you enter Canada. You can also download the form from the Service Canada website. To access that site, go to the Related Links section at the bottom of this page. You can mail the completed application form and the necessary identification, or you can submit it in person. Instructions are given on the form. When you receive your SIN card, give the number on it to your employer.
Staying in Canada
Read your work permit carefully. It sets out all the conditions for working in Canada. If you do not follow those conditions, you could be asked to leave Canada.
You can apply to change the conditions of your work permit or to renew it. For more information, go to Work permit: Extending your stay in the Related Links at the bottom of this page.
Employment and labour standards
Each province and territory has standards to protect employers and employees.
Labour standards include rules about minimum wages, overtime, holidays, vacations, hours of work, rest periods and days of rest.
If you have any questions about labour standards or if you think your employer is not meeting the standards, contact the ministry responsible for labour or employment standards in the province or territory where you work.
To find out more about employment standards and your rights, see Temporary foreign workers -- Your rights and the law in the Related Links section at the bottom of this page.
Contacting a provincial/territorial labour standards organization
To find out how to contact the office responsible for labour or employment standards in the province or territory where you work, click the appropriate link below.
Alberta
British Columbia
Manitoba
New Brunswick
Newfoundland and Labrador
Northwest Territories
Nova Scotia
Nunavut
Ontario
Prince Edward Island
Quebec
Saskatchewan
Yukon
