Can Work Permit Holders Change Their Work Location in Canada?
If a work permit holder in Canada has a permit with a specific work location, can they choose to work somewhere else once they arrive? The answer is yes, but before doing so, they may need to apply for a change of location request.
The Offer of Employment: Key to Location-Specific Work Permits
When a Canadian employer wants to support a foreign national’s work permit, they must submit an “offer of employment” through the Employer Portal. This step is required when the employer is using an exemption and not going through a Labour Market Impact Assessment. This applies specifically to work permit holders whose permits were initially supported by an employer’s submitted offer of employment.
Why Work Location Matters for Immigration Compliance
In the offer of employment, employers must specify where the employee will work in Canada. Employers can list multiple work locations if needed, but they must ultimately state where the employee will be based. This detail is important for immigration because the employee’s salary is tied to their work location. The government has a median wage—called the “prevailing wage”—that differs based on where the work is done.
For example, a technical architect in Saskatoon may earn a different salary than one in Burnaby, BC, due to each location’s prevailing wage. For this reason, it’s important to specify the work location on the permit to ensure the correct salary.
Conditions of the Work Permit: Working at Specified Locations
When a work permit is issued, immigration authorities usually list the work locations on the permit. This means that if a worker decides to work somewhere not specified, they would be violating the work permit conditions, which include working only at the listed location(s).
How to Change a Work Location on a Work Permit
If a worker needs to change their location, they must apply for this change first. This involves the employer submitting a new offer of employment to get approval for the worker to work at a new location. Not following this process could lead to a breach of work permit conditions and immigration regulations.
Requesting Authorization to Work from Multiple Locations
In some cases, an employer can request that the permit states “authorized to work from multiple locations across Canada” instead of just one location. This request is at immigration authorities’ discretion and can be useful if the job requires the worker to travel to various places across Canada.
If approved, the employer must pay the employee based on the highest median wage of these locations since wages vary. When an employee works in multiple places, the employer must offer the highest median wage among the locations.
Conclusion
For Canadian work permit holders, adhering to the work location specified on their permit is crucial for compliance with immigration regulations. Employers play a vital role by ensuring the correct location(s) are listed on the offer of employment, and they must be prepared to request authorization if a worker’s role involves travel to multiple locations. By following these steps, employers and workers can avoid potential breaches and support a smooth work permit process.
