Documents required for a Canada work permit 2026 — full checklist

A Canada work permit refusal in 2026 is almost never about eligibility — most are about documents. IRCC officers don't reject because you missed an obscure form; they reject because something in the package didn't match something else. This is the document-by-document checklist used by applicants who get approved on the first try, organized by what officers actually look for.

Two routes, two document packages

Before anything else, identify which package you need:

1. LMIA-based work permit (Temporary Foreign Worker Program). Your employer obtained a positive Labour Market Impact Assessment from ESDC before you applied. Your file has to match the LMIA exactly — job title, NOC code, wage, location, hours.
2. LMIA-exempt work permit (International Mobility Program). Your job is under an exemption (intra-company transferee, CUSMA/USMCA professional, post-graduate work permit, spousal open work permit, etc.). Your employer submitted an offer of employment through the IRCC Employer Portal and paid the $230 employer compliance fee, generating an A-number.

The mandatory documents below are identical for both. The category-specific section differs.

Section A — Identity documents (everyone)

• Valid passport. Validity must cover the entire requested permit duration plus a month buffer. Get a new passport before applying if you're within 18 months of expiry — IRCC will issue the permit only up to passport-expiry minus 1 day, costing you time on the back end.
• Two recent passport-style photos (35 × 45 mm, taken within 6 months). Required for paper applications and biometrics enrolment. Digital applications skip this but you'll need them at the VAC.
• Photocopy of all passport pages with stamps or visas. Don't skip the blank pages — officers want to see no gaps.
• Previous Canadian permits / visas / refusal letters, if any. Disclose every prior Canadian application. Omissions surface in GCMS and trigger misrepresentation findings.
• National ID card for countries where it's standard (India Aadhaar/PAN, Pakistan CNIC, Philippines PhilSys, etc.). Translated if not in English or French.

Section B — Employment documents (LMIA-based)

If your employer has a positive LMIA:

• Copy of the positive LMIA decision letter issued by ESDC. The original, with the file number visible. Note the LMIA expiry date — your application has to be submitted (not approved, just submitted) before that date.
• Job offer letter from the employer. Must include: job title, NOC TEER and code, employment start date, weekly hours, hourly wage, location address, benefits, and the LMIA file number.
• Signed employment contract. Sometimes combined with the offer letter, but a separate signed contract reduces re-request risk.
• Employer's business documents (only if specifically requested): incorporation certificate, recent T4 summary, evidence of operations.

The single most common LMIA-route refusal: the offer letter NOC code or wage doesn't match the LMIA decision. Pull both and compare line-by-line before submitting.

Section C — Employment documents (LMIA-exempt / IMP)

• Offer of employment letter with the A-number (starts with "A" followed by 7 digits) generated by the Employer Portal. The A-number proves the employer paid the $230 compliance fee.
• Signed contract or offer letter with the same job details (title, NOC, hours, wage, location).
• Evidence of the LMIA-exemption category. This varies — examples:
  • Intra-company transferee: letter from the foreign employer + Canadian entity confirming common ownership, plus your one-year continuous employment proof.
  • CUSMA / USMCA professional: university degree in the named profession, proof of citizenship (US or Mexico), employer letter confirming the position falls under Appendix 2.
  • Post-graduation work permit: transcript + degree + DLI confirmation letter. No employer letter required (PGWP is open).
  • Open work permit for spouses of skilled workers: principal applicant's valid work permit, marriage certificate, proof of cohabitation.

Section D — Proof of qualifications

• Educational documents. Original or notarized copies of degrees and transcripts. ECA is not required for work permits — but if the LMIA or job offer specifies degree-level education, you'll need to prove it.
• Professional licences or certifications in the field (engineer P.Eng., nurse NCLEX, accountant CPA, doctor MCC). Required if the job involves a regulated profession.
• Employment reference letters from past employers covering the work experience claimed. Each letter must include: job title, dates of employment, hours per week, salary, and a signature with the writer's title and company contact info on letterhead.
• Updated CV / resume matching the work history claimed.

Section E — Financial documents

• Bank statements for the past 4–6 months showing balances that cover settlement funds plus first month of expenses. The threshold isn't fixed for work permits (unlike study permits), but officers expect to see at least CAD 2,500–5,000 beyond travel cost for a single applicant and proportionally more for accompanying family.
• Tax returns or pay stubs from your current employer (last 3 months) — proves your current income matches what you claim.
• Asset statements (property deeds, fixed deposits, investment certificates) if relying on assets to prove ties or financial capacity.

Section F — Ties to home country (where applicable)

This applies if you're applying from outside Canada and need to satisfy the officer you'll leave Canada when your permit expires. Stronger for closed work permits, less critical for open ones.