A big part of your time as a Student might be figuring out what comes after. Work and life can both look drastically different depending on where you decide to go and many students decide that as graduation nears, so does an opportunity to make some exciting changes.
Relocating to Canada can bring a lot of ways to advance your career and discover more about yourself in the process, but as with most big moves, you will need to plan ahead. Besides navigating travel and living arrangements, you will need to decide what kind of work you could do and figure out how to apply for a Canada work visa before making your dreams a reality. Nevertheless, with some careful consideration, this could be an exciting step to bring your professional life to the next level.
Top Tips for UK Students Relocating to Canada with a Work Visa
Instead of getting overwhelmed by the challenges that come with immigration and Canada work visas for UK students, you can start by considering a few key points to make that journey easier.
First, you should ask yourself what it is that you want to get out of your move to Canada. Depending on your area of studies, there could be many ways your degree might lead you into a professional career, and knowing what kind of work you want to do will help you understand how the Canadian work visa requirements might apply to you.
Depending on your job, you might have different options, but there is generally a good chance that you will be required to apply for a work permit. Some exceptions to this could include careers in the performing arts, as a judge, referee or similar official roles, working as part of transportation crews, or if you are planning to work as a student on the campus of a Canadian university or similarly qualifying educational institution. You should always double-check if there are special needs or exceptions to your particular line of work.
Having a job lined up will also help you obtain your visa, so you should focus on this step first. Depending on your circumstances, you could qualify for an open visa which lets you work for any eligible employer in Canada. But there are also certain positions that will require you to obtain an employer-specific work permit which will limit your ability to work in Canada to a specific employer and position.
Besides your job, you should also consider your living and travel arrangements, as well as the general cost of living and all that is associated with it. When applying for a Canada work visa, you may need to show that you have adequate accommodation and the means to support yourself, so the more prepared you are in that area the less likely you will be to face issues when submitting your application.
You should also consider your long-term plans, as UK to Canada relocation for work is still a fairly significant commitment and it can be beneficial to understand how you see this adventure in the context of your wider life-plans before you go.
What Are the Steps to Obtain a Work Visa for Canada as a UK Student?
Once you have done the preliminary work of figuring out your options and goals, you will need to understand how to apply for a work visa in Canada.
Generally, when applying for a Canada work visa, you will need to show that you are eligible to do so and that you will not pose a strain to the Canadian society, meaning that you have to be in good health, have the means to support yourself, and be a positive member of society which usually means that you must not have committed any crimes.
You will also need to show that you have an eligible employment offer for a Canadian employer who isn’t named on the list of ineligible employers. Sometimes this employer might also need to submit a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA).
Depending on your circumstances, your work visa application may be filed from the UK or from your port of entry, but it is generally safer for you to apply in advance to make sure that you are ready to travel without any additional hiccups when the time comes. If you wish to apply at your port of entry instead, you will need to make sure that you have alternative permission to enter Canada, which might be available to you with a simple Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) if you are a UK national. Always keep in mind that you will need to provide adequate details and proof of your eligibility when applying for your work visa.
How Long Does It Take to Get a Work Visa for Canada as a UK Student?
When navigating your job hunt and work visa application, the timeframe will be a key factor to keep in mind. You should make sure that you start the application processes early to avoid any issues by the time that you wish to move to Canada, but some deadlines will need to be considered.
While Canadian work permit applications tend to take about twelve weeks to be processed, there can be a wide amount of variation ranging from days to months. This can be impacted by a number of factors, but you can give yourself the best chance of attaining your visa in a timely manner by being thorough with your application and submitting everything that is required with enough time to account for some delays. Nevertheless, there may also be some restrictions as to how early you will be able to apply so it is always best to try and balance everything and double-check your unique circumstances.
