Dear all,

I read carefully the FAQ section about the Work Permits in Canada. I need some clarification on a certain subject that confuses me...

First let me introduce myself... I'm a Greek citizen (Greek passport holder), currently located in Athens-Greece and i plan to visit Canada and try to find a job there...

My occupation is Computer Systems Engineer, and is listed in NOC lists as a job in demand in Canada.

As a Greek citizen i do not require a Visa to travel in Canada (Greece is in the list of the Visa exempt countries).

My question is this:

If I'll enter Canada as a visitor and, during my stay there I manage to get a job offer from an employer, do I have to leave Canada in order to apply for a work permit or I can simply visit an Immigration office at a port of entry (e.g. Pearson intl airport IMM office) and apply for the Work Permit there?

What i read there : http://www.canadaworkpermit.com/faq/apply.html tells me that since I don't need a passport Visa to visit Canada, i will be able to apply for a Work Permit without leaving the country...(while in a "visitor" status...)

Do I understand it correctly? Is it so?


Thank you in advance for your response.
Sotiris.

You have misunderstood the FAQ. If you receive a job offer from a Canadian employer, you will need to submit the application at a location outside of Canada, which may include a port of entry based on your nationality. What the FAQ says is that you may remain within Canada while an application abroad is processing (which of course would refer only to a visa office application).

If an application is submitted to a visa office abroad while you do remain in Canada, then it is important to note that any interview requested as part of that process would be held at that same visa office or one of its satellite offices. If approved, then you would need to return to a port of entry to collect the actual work permit.

David thank you for your quick response...

Still, I have a couple of questions that I can't answer myself...

In my case, as a Greek citizen, what is considered a "port of entry" ? A Canadian international airport that connects Canada with Greece ?

Is that the place where i should apply for a work permit (if I am physically located in Canada when i get a job offer) ?
Is that the place where i should expect the work permit to be delivered in case my application succeeds?

(I try to figure out if I need to travel back to my homeland in order to apply and/or receive a work permit for Canada...)

A port of entry is any location at which someone can be processed for admission to Canada. This may include airports or land based border crossings, in either case for candidates entering Canada from abroad. For certain candidates, those exempt from passport entry visa requirements, many types of work permits can be submitted and processed at a port of entry so long as all requirements for eligibility are present at that time. It is important to note that, if a Labour Market Opinion Confirmation is needed as part of such an application, it should be secured in advance.