Work in Canada for South Africans

One of the most popular countries for South Africans looking to emigrate,⁵ Canada has long since remained a hotspot for South African professionals. The country’s most recent census counted over 54,000 South African nationals who have moved to the Great White North!⁶

While there are many reasons Canada has remained a sought-after destination, many skilled South African workers are often drawn to the economic stability of the country⁷ - not to mention its steadily increasing employment rate for new immigrants from overseas.⁸ If you’re thinking about moving to Canada from South Africa for work, this article will explain everything you need to know.

We’ll also quickly introduce you to Wise, a bank alternative that specialises in international transfers to South Africa. Wise is a great way to save money if you’re considering sending some of your salary back to South Africa.⁴

Learn more about Wise

Do South Africans need a work visa/permit for a job in Canada?

Foreign professionals who want to work in Canada need to obtain a work permit to do so. Work permits vary depending on how long you want to work in the country and your level of experience in the profession.

Are there different types of work permits/visas (e.g. A/B/C types)?

Canadian work permits are usually valid for up to 2 years, while work visas (like the Express Entry visa) allow South African professionals to move to Canada and work on a longer-term basis.

Work permits in Canada for short-term employment

If you already have a job offer from a Canadian employer, you can come to the country on an Employment-Specific Work Permit.⁹

Professionals looking to move to Canada without a job offer first might be eligible for an Open Work Permit. This permit lets you work for any employer in the country, however, these permits are only usually granted in specific situations.¹⁰

Work visas in Canada for long-term employment

Professionals looking to relocate to the country for longer-term employment can apply for an Express Entry visa. This visa gives foreign professionals the right to work in Canada, as well as the opportunity to apply for permanent residency - and eventually Canadian citizenship.

You can apply for an Express Entry visa in one of three ways:¹¹

Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)

Foreign skilled workers with at least one year of work experience outside Canada can apply for a visa through the FSWP.

Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)

For foreign professionals qualified for a skilled trade job, the FSTP grants them the right to work in Canada - provided they have at least 2 years of full-time work experience within the last 5 years in a “skilled trade” industry.

Canadian Experience Class (CEC)

The CEC is for professionals from overseas who already have previous work experience in Canada (at least 1-year experience in the past 3 years).

South African professionals looking to work in a certain province or territory can also apply for the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP). To apply for this programme a province must first nominate you.¹²

Work opportunities in Canada?

Foreign workers have long been the driving force behind Canada’s labour supply, and the Canadian job market is known for its wealth of opportunities for overseas professionals looking to move to the country.

The number of job vacancies in professional, technical and scientific services has recently risen in Canada, as have the available roles in health care and social assistance.¹³

South African professionals looking to take advantage of these vacancies, or look for other job roles in Canada, can do so on the following online portals:

• LinkedIn¹⁴
• Indeed¹⁵
• Monster¹⁶
• Eluta¹⁷
• Canada-jobs¹⁸

In terms of wages, Canada has one of the highest average salaries in the world.¹⁹ Below is a table of the average annual salary in the country for various occupations.

Occupation	Average Annual Salary CAN$²⁰	Average Annual Salary (ZAR)
Accountant	$85,000	1,194,574 ZAR
Educator	$37,018	520,244 ZAR
Electrician	$64,351	904,397 ZAR
Chemical Engineer	$118,000	1,658,387 ZAR
Dentist	$207,150	2,911,313 ZAR
Data Analyst	$89,699	1,260,392 ZAR
Copywriter	$66,259	931,028 ZAR

Send money to South Africa from Canada using the mid-market rate

If you’re a South African expat living in Canada, Wise can help you save money¹ when making international money transfers back to South Africa.

Although the majority of Canadian banks will allow expats to make international transactions, they normally add a markup onto the mid-market exchange rate, meaning you end up paying more for your transfer.

The mid-market exchange rate is the rate that banks use to transfer money between them and is considered the fairest rate in the market. Find out what you would pay for an international money transfer with Wise:

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Wise customers don’t have to pay an additional markup fee but only a small transparent fee to make an international transaction¹. That’s because Wise uses the mid-market rate for overseas payments!

With Wise, South African expats could save money¹ when making international payments from Canada to South Africa.

Join Wise!

What is the process when applying for a work visa in Canada for South Africans?

South African professionals who are eligible for an Express Entry visa can apply for one on the official Canadian government website. You can check your eligibility for this visa online.²¹

After submitting your profile, it will then be ranked using the Canadian Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). If your profile is approved, you’ll shortly be invited to apply for the programme you applied for.

What is the processing time?

The Canadian government processes the majority of Express Entry applications within 6 months.²² The processing time for professionals going through the Provincial Nominee Program can be up to 7 months.²³

Do I need a residence permit/ visa for Canada before applying for a work visa/permit?

Canada is a popular hotspot for South African workers, many who ask “Can I work in Canada without specifically obtaining a work visa?” Unfortunately, even if you want to come to the country and work for less than two years, you still need a work permit.

What is the total cost of applying for a work visa for Canada for South Africans?

The cost of applying for a Canadian Express Entry visa is generally the same, regardless of which programme you’re coming in on. This fee is also the same for an application for the Provincial Nominee Program.

The following fees apply to all routes of economic immigration, including:

• Canadian Experience Class
• Federal Skilled Workers
• Federal Skilled Trades
• Provincial Nominee

Fee type	Cost CAN$ per person²⁴	Cost (ZAR) per person
Application fee including right of permanent residence	$1,365	19,184 ZAR
Application fee (without right of permanent residence)	$850	11,456 ZAR
Add your partner or spouse including right of permanent residence	$1,365	19,184 ZAR
Add your partner or spouse (without right of permanent residence)	$850	11,456 ZAR
Add a dependent child	$230 (per child)	3,233 ZAR (per child)

What are the application requirements for South Africans?

The application requirements for South African professionals vary depending on whether you’re applying for a work permit or the Express Entry Visa/Provincial Nominee Program.

To apply for a work permit, you will be asked to produce the following:²⁵

• Valid employment offer from a Canadian employer.
• A Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) if required.
• Relevant work experience.
• Educational certificates.
• Evidence of your ties to South Africa and your intention to return, for example, family, employment or property in the country.

The application requirements for Express Entry are as follows. This is also the same for the Provincial Nominee Program:

• Test results to demonstrate language proficiency (e.g., IELTS).
• Overseas educational qualifications or educational credentials assessment.
• Complete Express Entry profile or PNP certificate of nomination.

For both Express Entry and the Provincial Nominee Program, applicants must plan to live outside the province of Quebec. This is because Quebec selects its own skilled workers.

Do employers provide sponsorship for working in Canada?

Canadian employers can sponsor skilled professionals from overseas to come to Canada and work on an Employer-Specific Work Permit. To sponsor a foreign professional, the employer must first demonstrate they can’t find a local person to fill the position.

What are the required documents?

To submit your interest in the Express Entry Visa/Provincial Nominee Program, you first need to submit a complete profile of information to be ranked and approved by the Canadian authorities.

While foreign professionals don’t need to upload any documents at this stage, you might need information from some of the following:²⁶

• Passport.
• Language test results.
• Proof of Canadian education or educational credential assessment report (for applicants applying through the Federal Skilled Workers Program or those who wish to get points for the education they received outside Canada).
• Provincial nomination (for PNP applicants).
• Written job offer from a Canadian employer (if relevant).
• Proof of work experience.
• Qualification in a trade occupation issued by a province in Canada (if relevant).
• Evidence of funds.

If your profile is approved and you’re invited to apply, most applicants will then need to upload the following documents:²⁷

• Police certificates.
• Birth certificate (if including dependant children on your visa application).
• Use of a Representative form (if you’ve used a representative to apply).
• Common-law union form (if relevant).
• Marriage certificate (if relevant).
• Divorce certificate (if relevant).
• Death certificate (if declared as “widowed”).
• Adoption certificate (if the dependent child is listed as “adopted”).

Working as a student in Canada

Canada is also a popular choice for South African students; the number of South Africans going to the country to study is increasing year on year.²⁸

To help financially support themselves during their studies, many overseas students search for part-time employment. However, working as an international student in Canada has a few conditions you need to be aware of.

Can students work part-time in Canada?

International students can work part-time (up to 20 hours per week) in Canada during school semesters. You can make up these hours by working more than 1 job, provided you meet the conditions stated in your study permit.²⁹

To get a part-time job in Canada, you need a social insurance number (SIN). Students can apply for a SIN to work off-campus provided they have the necessary conditions on their study permit.³⁰

Are students allowed full-time work in Canada?

International students can only work full-time in Canada during scheduled breaks, for example, over the Christmas period, in the summer holidays and during reading weeks. You’re not, however, allowed to work during a break that comes before you begin your very first semester at a Canadian university.³¹

Can you work in Canada after completing your higher education there (already have a study visa)?

Many South African students want to stay in Canada after they graduate. To work in the country after you finish your studies, you need to obtain a work permit.

Is there a need for a new visa/work visa for students?

International students who want to stay in the country and work need a permit to do so. If you have graduated from a designated learning institution in Canada, you might be eligible for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP).

The validity length of a PGWP depends on how long you have been studying in Canada or the date your passport expires - whichever comes first.³²

Visa for partner/family members in Canada

For many professionals, bringing loved ones over to Canada is an important part of relocating to the country for work. To be able to bring your spouse/common-law partner or any children to the country, you need to process them for permanent residency as your dependents.

Can I invite my partner if I already have a residence permit + work visa in Canada?

Professionals with a Canadian work visa and right of permanent residence can sponsor their partner to become a permanent resident of Canada, provided they can:³³

• Support them financially
• Ensure they don’t need additional governmental social assistance

What visa does my partner need to apply for to join me in Canada? Is the process different?

If your partner wants to join you in Canada, they’ll need to apply for permanent residence in the country. To apply for permanent residency, professionals must first apply to become a sponsor. Their partner then applies for permanent residence following this sponsorship.

Working self-employed (as a freelancer) in Canada

Canada also offers a separate working visa for self-employed professionals who want to come to the country and work as a self-employed person. To be eligible for the Canadian Self-Employed Persons Program, you need to demonstrate the following:³⁴

• Relevant experience in cultural activities (two years minimum experience being self-employed in such activities).
• Desire to make a significant contribution to the cultural life in Canada.
• Willingness to be self-employed in Canada.

Starting your own business in Canada

If you want to move to Canada and start a new business, you might be eligible for Canada’s Start-up Visa Program. This visa targets overseas entrepreneurs who have the potential and relevant skills to build a business in the country.

To apply for the Start-up Visa Program, entrepreneurs need to prove:³⁵

• Your business can compete on a global scale and can create jobs for Canadians.
• You have pitched your start-up to a designated organisation and have their support.
• You meet the language requirements.
• You have enough money to settle in the country.

Entrepreneurs who apply for permanent residence via the Start-Up Visa Program might be eligible for a work permit while they wait for their application to be approved.

Important processes to complete once you arrive in Canada

After you arrive in Canada to start your next professional chapter, you will need to do a few other things shortly after arriving in the country, for example:

• Apply for a Social Insurance Number (SIN). A SIN is crucial for working, paying your taxes, and applying for benefits and services from the government.³⁶
• Open a Canadian bank account. Opening a bank account will ensure you don’t face any salary delays or backlogs in securing funds. You can also look into an alternative banking provider specialising in international payments, like Wise.
• Apply for public health insurance. Each province is in charge of its own health insurance, so it’s worth researching exactly what each provincial plan covers when choosing where to settle.

Is it worth moving to Canada from South Africa for work?

Pros	Cons
There are many different short-stay work permits and long-stay residential visas available for South African professionals looking to relocate to Canada to work.	The Canadian Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) used to rank your visa application can be preferential, relying on a host of other factors outside of just work experience.
There is a wealth of job vacancies for immigrants, with the employment rate for skilled workers from overseas increasing year on year.⁸	While Canada is known for being welcoming to immigrants, the immigration process itself can be lengthy and complex.

For professionals from South Africa drawn to the vast array of employment opportunities Canada can offer, moving to the country for work is an attractive option for those keen to explore the Great White North.

If you’re considering relocating from South Africa to Canada for work, it’s crucial to think about which work permit or visa is right for you, and look into how you can become a sponsor to bring your partner or children to Canada, as well.

When it comes to managing your money while living in Canada, Wise is a great international money transfer services provider for making overseas payments from Canada to South Africa.⁴

Join Wise!

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Sources

1. Please seeTerms of Use for your region or visit WiseFees & Pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information.
2. Transaction speed claimed depends on funds availability, approval by Wise’s proprietary verification system and systems availability of our partners’ banking system, and may not be available for all transactions.
3. Eligibility is subject to verification of customers identity. Wise may request additional documents to verify a customer's identity.
4. Please note that certain products or features may not be available in all regions. Please visitwww.wise.com to check for availability and learn more about our offerings.
5. Countries South Africans are emigrating to
6. Immigration population in 2021 Canadian Census
7. Most economically stable countries in the world
8. Immigration as a source of labour supply for Canada
9. Employment-specific work permit
10. Open work permit
11. Immigration programmes managed through Express Entry
12. Provincial Nominee Program
13. Labour market shortage
14. LinkedIn
15. Indeed
16. Monster
17. Eluta
18. Canada-jobs
19. Canada highest salary in the world
20. Average annual salaries Canada
21. See if you're eligible for an Express Entry visa
22. Express entry processing time
23. PNP processing time
24. Visa application fee list
25. Application requirements for Canadian work permit
26. Required documents for Canadian visa initial profile submission
27. Required documents for Canadian visa if profile approved
28. Number of South African students in Canada
29. Work part-time as an international student
30. Social insurance number to work in Canada
31. Working before semester one begins
32. How long does a PGWP last
33. Who can you sponsor
34. Self-Employed Persons Program
35. Requirements for Start-Up Visa Program
36. Social Insurance Number