The following table lists the work permit types available for major countries.
| Country | Work Permit Options | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| USA | LMIA | CUSMA | Rural Renewal | ||
| Australia | LMIA | IEC | Rural Renewal | ||
| England | LMIA | IEC | Rural Renewal | ||
| Scotland | LMIA | IEC | Rural Renewal | ||
| Ireland | LMIA | IEC | Rural Renewal | ||
| France | LMIA | IEC | FMP | Rural Renewal | |
| Mexico | LMIA | CUSMA | Rural Renewal | ||
| The Netherlands | LMIA | IEC | Rural Renewal | ||
| New Zealand | LMIA | IEC | Rural Renewal | ||
| Korea | LMIA | Rural Renewal | |||
| India | LMIA | Rural Renewal | |||
The options for pursuing Permanent Residence vary based on whether the internationally trained veterinary professional is applying from within Canada or from outside Canada.
Internationally trained veterinary professionals can apply for Permanent Residence from outside Canada, even without any Canadian work experience using these immigration pathways:
Having a job offer and Canadian work experience can open pathways to Permanent Residence for internationally trained veterinary professionals who are already within Canada as Temporary Residents. They can apply for Permanent Residence using the following pathways:
This checklist covers the necessary documents applicant may need to present for their work permit application:
LMIA is an employer-driven application where the employer requests permission from the Canadian government to hire a foreign worker because the employer is not able to find a suitable Canadian citizen or Permanent Resident to fill that position.
CUSMA seeks to liberalize trade between the U.S., Mexico and Canada and abolish tariffs and other trade barriers. Part of the agreement covers the flow of citizens between the countries’ borders.
Veterinary professionals are on the list of professions eligible for an LMIA exemption through CUSMA.
For more information and useful resources on the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) processes, visit the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada website.
The Francophone Mobility Program is a culturally mandated program, implemented to promote francophone immigration and the use of the French language in communities outside Quebec.
Internationally trained veterinary professionals who meet the above criteria are eligible for an LMIA exemption through the Francophone Mobility Program.
Work permit processing times depend on the country of citizenship or residence of the applicant. Check for the up-to-date processing times.
For more information and useful resources on the Francophone Mobility Program processes, visit the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada website.
This immigration partway falls under the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP). Those who are eligible and possess a job offer from an employer in a designated Alberta community, along with an endorsement letter from said community, are then able to apply for nomination under the AAIP. The applicant must intend to and be able to reside and work in the designated community in Alberta.
With the AAIP nomination a letter of support may be issued, allowing the applicant to request an LMIA exempt Work Permit. The AAIP nomination will also allow the applicant to apply for Permanent Residence.
A minimum of 12 months of full-time work experience in an eligible occupation within the last 18 months before the application is required. The experience can be a combination of experiences gained in Alberta, in Canada (outside Alberta) or abroad.
Depending on your specific background, additional documents (e.g. death certificate of spouse (if widowed), adoption certificate, proof of aliases, and so on) may be required.
Application acceptance dates, application targets and processing times are posted on AAIP processing times and application levels. They are subject to change. Applicants and prospective applicants should visit regularly for the most current information.
Find updates on the program and other AAIP programs here AAIP updates.
For more information and useful resources on how to apply for AAIP: Rural Renewal Stream, visit the Alberta government website.
The Federal Skilled Worker Program is for skilled workers with work experience who want to become Permanent Residents in Canada. It is under the broader Express Entry Immigration pathway done at the Federal – this pathway is the only pathway under the Express Entry program which applicants outside Canada can utilize to move to Canada as Permanent Residents.
An internationally trained veterinary professional who has work experience in their country may be eligible to apply for Permanent Residence through this pathway.
See the National Occupational Classification (NOC) TEER categories for veterinary professionals below:
To be eligible, the applicant must meet all the minimum requirements for skilled work experience, language ability and education.
Applicants who qualify can create an Express Entry profile. This is a way of showing interest in moving to Canada. The applicant will then be added to a pool with other applicants and given a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) Score. Immigration, Refugees and Immigration Canada (IRCC) will assess their application based on additional selection factors.
Eligible candidates will be invited to apply for Permanent Residence through one of the following:
Veterinary professionals fall under the healthcare occupations category. The eligibility requirements for veterinary professionals include:
For more information and useful resources on the Express Entry: Federal Skilled Worker Program and processes, visit the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada website.
Express Entry is an electronic system used to manage the applications of skilled workers who wish to become permanent residents of Canada. Express Entry manages three programs:
Veterinary professionals can apply for Permanent Residence from within Canada using any of the three programs. To be eligible for any of these programs, applicants must meet all the minimum requirements for skilled work experience, language ability and education.
Just like the FSWP, all pathways under the Express Entry program follow similar processes. If the applicant qualifies, they can create an Express Entry profile. This is a way of showing interest in moving to Canada. The applicant will then be added to a pool of applicants and given a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) Score. Immigration, Refugees and Immigration Canada (IRCC) will assess the application based on additional selection factors.
The system gives extra points to people already working in Canada or those with a job offer in Canada. Applicants can get even more points if a province in Canada chooses them through a program like the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP).
Veterinary professionals will fall under the healthcare occupations category. The eligible requirements for veterinary professionals include:
Alberta Opportunities Stream Application Process Overview:
Alberta’s provincial nominee program is another great option for Permanent Residence for those already in Alberta.
The Alberta Opportunities Stream eligibility requirements are as follows:
You must have the required licensing, registration or certification to work in your current occupation in Alberta.
Application acceptance dates, application targets and processing times are posted on AAIP processing times and application levels. They are subject to change. Applicants and prospective applicants should visit regularly for the most current information.
Find updates on the program and other AAIP programs here AAIP updates.
For more information and useful resources on how to apply for AAIP: Alberta Advantage Immigration Program, visit the Alberta government website.
