Open work permit for Iranians

The open work permit for Iranians in Canada is a new pathway for obtaining an open work authorization for Iranians. If you are in Canada on any temporary visa, and you meet the eligibility requirements, you can convert your visa to an open work permit. This policy, approved by the Canadian government on October 7, 2022, is aimed at providing better opportunities for Iranians who are in Canada on tourist, study, or work visas and is currently valid until February 28, 2025.

What are the requirements to obtain the latest open work permit for Iranians in Canada?

You must be in Canada.

You need to have an Iranian passport.

You should hold a temporary residency (visitor, work, or study visa in Canada).

Converting the open work permit for Iranians to permanent residency in Canada

If you have temporary residency in Canada with the Iranian open work permit, your status will expire eventually, and you will have to leave Canada. If you prefer to stay in Canada, you need to convert it to permanent residency.

To get permanent residency, you must apply through one of the immigration pathways that allow the conversion of the Iranian open work permit to permanent residency in Canada either directly or indirectly.

Ways to convert the Iranian open work permit to permanent residency in Canada

1. Work in Canada

Finding a job; applying through Canadian experience

You can work towards converting the Iranian work permit to PR by finding a job in Canada. After one year of working, you may be eligible to apply through the Express Entry program under the Canadian Experience Class.

Keep in mind that Express Entry is a points-based and competitive system; this means you have to compete with others for permanent residency to earn a higher score and get accepted.

Conditions that your job must meet:

It’s important that your job falls within the skilled job categories and in the NAFTA classification with TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3.

General jobs often cannot lead to permanent residency.

To be employed in skilled jobs, you usually need to have a college or university degree.

Finding a job; applying through provincial programs (PNP)

In this method, you can reach permanent residency through Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP), but you need to find an employer who qualifies under provincial regulations and is willing to hire you. Then, after entering the provincial points system and succeeding in its competition, you can apply for permanent residency from the federal government.

Specific provincial pathways with lower points

Some provinces have specific pathways where obtaining permanent residency is relatively easier. For example, in certain provinces in the Atlantic region, if you find a job, you can apply for residency through the Atlantic Immigration Program.

British Columbia also has specific pathways with lower points required for acceptance; for instance, there is a high demand for early childhood educators in this province, and the minimum score required for acceptance is low.

So, you can increase your chances by looking into specific immigration pathways in the provinces that have lower score requirements, helping you reach the required threshold.

A few notes:

Competition in the Canadian Experience Class subcategory has increased due to the rise in temporary residency visas, so your chances of acceptance may not be as high as before.

It’s better to first calculate your score in the Express Entry points system assuming you have one year of work experience in Canada, and then see approximately what your chances are.

2. Study in college or university

By enrolling in an institution with a DLI number, you can apply to convert your open work permit to a study permit. Ultimately, by studying and obtaining a Canadian qualification, you can apply for permanent residency through one of the Express Entry subcategories.

Note: While some people may prefer to work instead of studying, pursuing education in certain programs, fields, and provinces can lead you to permanent residency faster since studying earns you more points in the Express Entry system.

3. Express Entry, Federal Skilled Worker stream

By applying through the Express Entry system, Federal Skilled Worker subcategory, you can directly convert your open work permit to permanent residency.

However, most people don’t have a high chance in this method because the acceptance score in Express Entry is currently quite high (around 500 or more), and to reach this score, you generally need to meet relatively ideal conditions regarding age, language proficiency, and education.

Important note

Having a job offer in an Express Entry subclass normally adds between 50 to 200 points to your score, but if you have an open work permit as an Iranian, your job won’t have an LMIA (Labour Market Impact Assessment) and you won’t get those 50 or 200 points in the Express Entry system; consequently, your score will be lower than your competitors.

4. Investment in Canada

The method of converting an open work permit to permanent residency in Canada through investment is for individuals interested in investing in Canada to get PR. This method includes two federal and provincial subclasses. Regardless of which subclass you fall into, you need to have the ability, knowledge, and experience in management or business ownership to apply this way.

Federal methods

In these methods for converting Iranian open work permits to permanent residency, you inform the Canadian government of your intention to start or expand a business in Canada and apply for a work visa.

The federal investment method includes buying a business or franchise or starting a business under subclasses C11 and C12.

The difference between this work visa and the Iranian open work permit is that you gain an additional 200 points in Express Entry, which is a significant advantage for obtaining permanent residency.

Provincial methods

The initial steps of the investment programs in Canadian provinces can be somewhat challenging because the province requires a detailed business plan from you, but the advantage is that by acquiring a two-year work permit, you can convert the work permit to permanent residency without needing to go through scoring and a lottery system.

* With a minimum investment of $200,000, you can invest and start a business in provinces like British Columbia and Ontario.

Does applying for Iranian open work permits come with risks for obtaining permanent residency?

All eligible Iranians with an Iranian passport can apply for an open work permit; however, the key point is to act wisely! Each person’s situation is different from one another. When it comes to permanent residency or PR, converting your current visa to an open work permit may complicate your path to permanent residency.

For tourists

Converting a Canadian tourist visa to an open work permit for tourists doesn’t carry any specific risks and won’t complicate your residency path since the nature of a tourist visa is fundamentally different. So, you can safely apply to switch your tourist visa to an open work permit.

For students

In contrast, converting a student visa to an open work permit for Iranians can involve some risks for students!

Let’s look at an example to see what risks getting an open work permit for students seeking permanent residency might entail. Essentially, we’ll examine what happens if you continue your studies before applying for permanent residency versus if you abandon your studies and convert your study permit to an open work permit.

In this example, let’s consider a hypothetical case and evaluate their CRS scores (CRS is the Comprehensive Ranking System used by the Canadian immigration authority to calculate Express Entry scores. Candidates with the highest scores in this system are invited to apply for permanent residency in Canada).

Imagine a 35-year-old married individual who has worked for 3 years in Iran, holds a Canadian master’s degree, and has now completed their studies in Canada. Through the PGWP, or Post-Graduation Work Permit in Canada, they have 1 year of Canadian work experience. Their English language score for the Federal Skilled Worker program is CLB 8, and they don’t speak French. They don’t have a job offer with an LMIA and are not a candidate for any province. Their spouse doesn’t have PR, holds a bachelor’s degree, has 1 year of skilled work experience, and is accompanying them in Canada. They haven’t taken a language test. This individual has a CRS score of 462.

Now, consider the same person deciding to drop out of their studies and get an open work permit. For instance, let’s say they obtained their master’s degree in Iran, meaning it’s no longer a Canadian master’s. Since studying in Canada accounts for 30 points and the transfer of skills also affects the score to some extent, dropping out would result in a score of 432. This 30-point reduction in CRS is quite significant and has a large impact.

So, it might not make much sense for someone like that to want to drop out and apply for an open work permit for Iranians. Plus, if your study program is two years long, you’ll get a three-year PGWP afterwards.

If you decide to quit your studies, you’ll lose the points for studying in Canada which are valuable for getting permanent residency. Since studying in some provincial programs in Canada can be an advantage, giving up that point wouldn’t be a smart move.

However, if your situation is good for landing a job offer, you might be able to get to permanent residency faster through the Iranian open work permit route. So, it all really depends on your immigration case. That’s why we recommend reviewing all aspects of your decision and definitely consulting with specialists to choose the fastest way to achieve permanent residency without making your immigration journey a complicated maze.

Don’t forget, RainCity is with you at every step of the way to show you the smartest route.

RainCity services for obtaining the latest Iranian open work permit in Canada for you:

1. Assessing and analyzing your situation for getting a work permit.

At RainCity, the first step is always to assess your situation. Our goal is to find the best path for you to achieve your dreams. If you’re focused on permanent residency…

2. Signing a contract with you online.

If we’re sure that changing your current visa and applying for the Iranian open work permit is the best option for your case, you’ll receive an online contract. By signing it, you’ll take the first step towards applying for the open work permit.

3. Collecting documents and submitting the open work permit application.

After signing the contract and paying the associated fee, your documents, including a passport and a 3.5 by 4.5 photo, will be collected. Just lean back in your chair and know that you’re in safe hands! We’ll submit your open work permit application in under a week.

4. Supporting you forever!

Getting the result of your open work permit is not the moment we say goodbye to you! RainCity is always there to support you on your immigration journey.

Frequently asked questions

Can you travel to Iran while holding the Iranian open work permit?

Yes; you can travel to Iran and then return to Canada, as long as you have a Canadian visa.

You already have a Canadian visa and can travel to Canada with any visa in your passport.

Keep in mind that when traveling to Iran, you need to consider the validity of your visa. If you are in Canada and your visa has expired, you should apply for an extension within Canada before going to Iran.

A visa is a document for entering Canada, and a work permit is a document for staying in Canada; don’t confuse the two.

Is there any issue with the application process for family members from Iran when converting a study permit to an open work permit for Iranians?

No. If you are in Canada or plan to go to Canada and your spouse is in Iran, they can come to Canada on a tourist visa and apply for an open work permit there. Another way is for the principal applicant to enter Canada, find a job, receive two pay stubs (which means spending roughly one month working), and then, with those two pay stubs, obtain an open work permit for their spouse.

Can I apply for Permanent Residency (PR) after changing my student visa to an open work permit for Iranians?

Naturally, this is possible, but you need to carefully consider all aspects and make a thoughtful choice. Sometimes, studying can lead you to permanent residency more quickly, and converting a study permit to a work permit might complicate the PR process for you. In such cases, we recommend speaking with specialists so they can evaluate your situation and suggest the best immigration routes for you. Note that studying in certain fields and provinces in Canada can give you bonus points for obtaining residency, which shouldn’t be easily overlooked.

Can I study while on the open work permit for Iranians after switching from a student visa?

Yes, but only in specific cases can you have both a study permit and a work permit.

How long does it take for Canada's immigration office to issue an open work permit?

As of August 9, 2023, the average processing time for work permit applications from within Canada, as stated on the Canadian immigration website, is 145 days. However, experience has shown us that applications from Iranians are prioritized.

If someone currently in Iran applies for a tourist visa and then comes to Canada, do they fall under this law?

Yes. All eligible individuals who enter Canada by February 28, 2025, can take advantage of this law.

Can I extend my open work permit by finding a job, or is it non-renewable after a certain period?

Currently, the open work permits that have been issued are valid for three years. However, there’s no guarantee that all work permits will be issued for three years; it’s just what we’ve observed. Open work permits under this method are not extendable, but it’s possible that a new public regulation may come in and allow for extensions.

That said, such work permits aren’t extendable on their own, and once they expire, if you want to stay in Canada, you would need to either get a study permit or a work permit that has an LMIA. Alternatively, if you qualify, you could apply for permanent residency.

Given that I've studied for two terms but still haven't paid a significant portion of my tuition, do you recommend switching my student visa to an open work permit for Iranians?

Converting a study visa to an open work permit involves some risks, and it’s not a decision to make lightly or impulsively. Because this decision can be pivotal, all aspects of it should be examined thoroughly.

People who have a study permit might complicate their path to permanent residency by converting their study visa to an open work permit. Each person has specific circumstances that need to be evaluated case by case. Our suggestion is to participate in RainCity consultation sessions so that we can show you the best options based on your situation.

It’s true that applying for an open work permit poses no harm for those who have a tourist visa, but for those with a closed work permit, like those dependent on an LMIA or ICTs, or even entrepreneur visas, it complicates their path to PR or permanent residency. This also applies to individuals with study permits.

Individuals with study permits can currently work full-time after their studies based on existing regulations, so there’s no need for them to get a work permit. If someone is still studying, they should make the decision to switch from a study permit to an open work permit more carefully, as studying might provide them with a better advantage for obtaining permanent residency.

If you drop your studies in hopes of getting an open work permit, you might face challenges in the future. So, a better approach would be to consult with experts, go over your residency options, analyze them, and thoroughly check whether giving up your study permit and getting an open work permit is the right choice for you.

If I'm in Canada with a tourist status and waiting for the result of my application to convert my tourist visa to an open work permit, will there be any issues if I need to return to Iran while waiting for the results?

We don’t recommend doing such a thing. It’s better to stay in Canada, get your open work permit, and then return to Iran.

How much does it cost to obtain an open work permit for Iranians through the new method?

Applying for an open work permit through this method doesn’t cost anything for Iranians inside Canada.

What happens to my children's school application when I convert my study permit to an open work permit for Iranians?

If you have children, when a parent gets a work permit, children under 18 can attend public schools for free.

Can Iranians with a tourist visa apply for the new Iranian open work permit using the flagpole method (at the Canada-U.S. border)?

No, this application must be submitted online.

Do people with an Iranian open work permit need to find a job in a specific NOC category to get PR, or will any job, like general jobs, work for them?

It doesn’t matter what method you choose to apply for permanent residency; you still need to ensure that your job designation aligns with the immigration department’s needs, just like anyone else coming to Canada wanting to work, so you can eventually achieve permanent residency. The key point is to make sure you select the right method that suits your situation so you can reach permanent residency.

Does the remaining validity of the visa matter when applying for a new Iranian open work permit? For example, can someone with 3 to 4 months left on their visa apply for such an open work permit?

The duration of your visa has nothing to do with this matter. The visa is for entering Canadian territory. As soon as you arrive in Canada and meet the requirements, you can apply for the open work permit for Iranians.

Do I need to have a job offer to obtain the Iranian open work permit?

No. You do not need a job offer to apply for the open work permit for Iranians. As long as you are in Canada, hold an Iranian passport, and your visa is a temporary type (tourist, work, or study), you can apply for the open work permit for Iranians.

Do I need to be in Canada to apply for the new Iranian open work permit?

Yes. To apply for this type of work permit, you must be in Canada by February 28, 2025.

Can I work while applying for the Iranian open work permit?

If you don’t have any permit yet, you can only work once your open work permit application is approved and you’ve been deemed eligible. However, when you’ve just submitted your application, you cannot work and must wait for the outcome.

What is the process for obtaining health insurance and medical services under the Iranian open work permit program?

The process of obtaining health insurance varies by province. In British Columbia, you can immediately apply for a health card without any restrictions. However, in Ontario, you must first provide a minimum six-month full-time job contract.

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