Wayne

Can a non-resident work on temporary contract to a Canadian business or
government agency in Canada without obtaining a work permit? Work
permits require a "job" offer before applying, and I presume few would
grant a contract to someone who didnt already have a permit (even if
contracts were considered jobs, which they probably and rightfully
arent).

Would temporary contract work perhaps be considered "doing business in"
rather than "work in Canada", and therefore not require a permit?

Andrew Miller

It doesn't work that way - you can "do business in Canada" (own a business)
but you cannot work in such without proper work permit if you are not a
Canadian citizen or a PR. Any work/activity that takes away opportunities
from Canadians or permanent residents to gain employment or experience in
the workplace is considered work and requires work permit. Thus your idea
about "doing business in, rather than work in Canada" has no merits at all.

--

../..

Andrew Miller
Immigration Consultant
Vancouver, British Columbia
email: [email protected]
(delete REMOVE from the above address before sending email)
________________________________


"Wayne" wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > Can a non-resident work on temporary contract to a Canadian business or
    > government agency in Canada without obtaining a work permit? Work
    > permits require a "job" offer before applying, and I presume few would
    > grant a contract to someone who didnt already have a permit (even if
    > contracts were considered jobs, which they probably and rightfully
    > arent).
    > Would temporary contract work perhaps be considered "doing business in"
    > rather than "work in Canada", and therefore not require a permit?

Wayne

Andrew Miller wrote:
    >
    > It doesn't work that way - you can "do business in Canada" (own a business)
    > but you cannot work in such without proper work permit if you are not a
    > Canadian citizen or a PR. Any work/activity that takes away opportunities
    > from Canadians or permanent residents to gain employment or experience in
    > the workplace is considered work and requires work permit. Thus your idea
    > about "doing business in, rather than work in Canada" has no merits at all.

Perhaps you misunderstood my intentions, because it was just a question,
not "an idea".

Is this a realistic way of finding work in Canada or not? If I
understand you correctly contracts would be treated just like job
offers. I dont know how long the work permit application process takes,
but my type of contracts are usually on fairly short notice, weeks or
(rarely) up to 2 months in advance. If the permit application process
takes many weeks it would probably be too long.

BTW, I rarely "take work away from" anyone. First of all, there are only
a handful of people who can do some of what I do, and most are not
available. Second, my contracts are often born out of ideas that I come
up with and and solicit funding for, there often is no existing
opportunity for others that I might be taking away. My idea is usually
the reason for that opportunity in the first place. But I suspect that
doesnt really matter, the simple act of working in Canada would probably
be viewed as taking an opportunity away from a Canadian even when no
such opportunity existed.