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Work Permits Prioritized in Trucking, Agricultural as well as Healthcare Occupations

Posted on 22/09/2020

Did you know that when it comes to work permits, Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) is prioritizing key occupations in the trucking, agricultural, and agri-food industries? These are considered to provide essential services – along with health care workers – necessary and critical for Canada’s economy and as well to manage the COVID pandemic.

In other words, if you are applying to work in Canada in one of the following NOC (National Occupational Classification) jobs, you will face speedier processing and are possibly more likely to have your work permit approved.

Prioritized Occupations – not including healthcare (see below)

NOC Code Occupation
6331 Butchers, Meat Cutters, Fishmongers (wholesale & retail)
7511 Transport Truck Drivers
8252 Agricultural Service Contractors, Farm Supervisors, Specialized Livestock Workers
8431 General Farm Workers
8432 Nursery and Greenhouse Workers
8611 Harvesting Labourers
9463 Fish and Seafood Plant Workers
9617 Labourers – Food, Beverage, & Associated Products Processing
9618 Labourers in Fish and Seafood Processing
9462 Industrial Butchers & Meat Cutters, Poultry Preparers, & Related Workers

 

For healthcare workers, IRCC and ESDC are assuming that most arriving in Canada will be staying for short-term work assignments related to the COVID health emergency and therefore will have been granted work permit exemptions.

However, licensed healthcare professionals who are applying for a work permit should note that:

  • You will have to apply for your work permit from abroad and wait for approval of your work permit before travelling to Canada.
  • If you are travelling by air to Canada from anywhere that is not the USA, you will have to have:
  • Your work permit OR
  • If you have not received your work permit, a Letter of Introduction to present to your air carrier before being allowed to board your flight.

The following healthcare occupations are being prioritized by ESDC and IRCC:

NOC Code Occupation
3011 Nursing co-ordinators & Supervisors
3012 Registered Nurses & Registered Psychiatric Nurses
3111 Specialist Physicians
3112 General Practitioners & Family Physicians
3124 Allied Primary Health Practitioners
3125 Other Occupations in Health Diagnosing & Treating
3131 Pharmacists
3211 Medical Laboratory Technologists
3212 Medical Laboratory Technicians & Pathologists Assistants
3214 Respiratory Therapists, Clinical Perfusionists, and Cardiopulmonary Technologists
3215 Medical Radiation Technologists
3217 Cardiology Technologists & Electrophysiological Diagnostic Technologists
3233 Licensed Practical Nurses
3234 Paramedical Occupations
3413 Nurse aides, Orderlies & Patient Services Associates
4411 Home Child Care Providers (LMIA-required in-Canada applicants)
4412 Home Support Workers excluding housekeepers (LMIA-required in-Canada applicants)

 

Please note that the final two occupations – Home Child Care Providers & Home Support Workers – require LMIA (Labour Market Impact Assessment) for in-Canada applicants.

Posted in News Tips and tagged COVID-19, Work Permit

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