Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP)
The following streams of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) are available to Canadian employers who would like to submit an LMIA application, to hire a Pakistani national.
- Express Entry – this immigration process offers Pakistani nationals who are skilled workers, skilled trades persons, or who qualify for the Canadian Experience Class to work in Canada. Doherty Fultz provides further details on the programs: Federal Skilled Worker (FSW), Federal Skilled Trades (FSST), Canadian Experience Class (CEC), and the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) – ON & BC.
- Academics – The Canadian government welcomes foreign academics to help degree-granting educational institutions meet their staffing and teaching needs. This diversity also allows for new knowledge and expertise to come to campuses across Canada. This program is suitable for Pakistani nationals with at least one post-graduate degree (after a Bachelor’s). Upon being approved, the academic would be employed to teach or conduct research at a Canadian college or university. More information can be found at: https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/services/foreign-workers/academic.html
- Global Talent Stream – Pakistani nationals wishing to come to Canada through this stream must fall into one of two categories:
Category A: The national of Pakistan is an individual with unique and specialized skills, which the employer wants to hire to fill a unique and specialized position where the hiring employer is referred to the program by a “Designated Partner”.
OR
Category B: The Pakistani national is an individual who is a highly-skilled worker, to be hired to fill an In-Demand occupation, as listed on the Global Talent Occupation List. Some of these occupations are:
- NOC2147 Computer Engineers (not including software engineers/designers)
- NOC0213 Computer & Information Systems Manager
- NOC2171 Information Systems Analysts & Consultants
- NOC2172 Database Analysts & Data Administrators
- NOC2174 Computer Programmers & Interactive Media Developers
- NOC2175 Web Designers & Developers
- NOC5131 Producer, Technical/Creative/Artistic Director & Project Manager
- (subset) visual effects & video game
- Agriculture – This stream allows Canadian employers to hire a worker from Pakistan for up to 24 months with the workers filling only positions that are considered to be primary agriculture. The work for these occupations is on a farm, nursery, or greenhouse that produces items found on the National Commodity List. Some of these products are: apiary products, fruits/vegetables, mushrooms, flowers, nursery-grown trees, pedigreed canola seed, tobacco, dairy, horse, poultry, swine, among others. If hired through a positive LMIA, the Pakistani worker would be responsible for one or more of the following tasks:
- operation of agricultural machinery
- boarding, care, breeding, sanitation, or other handling of animals, other than fish, for the purpose of obtaining raw animal products for market
- collection, handling and assessment of those raw products, or the planting, care, harvesting or preparation of crops, trees, sod, or other plants for market
- NOC Codes that entail such responsibilities include: 0821, 0822, 8252, 8255, 8431, 8432, and 8611.
Note: Nationals of Pakistan do not qualify for the Seasonal Worker program.
- Caregivers – caregivers of Pakistani nationality can get hired in private residences to provide full-time care for people with medical needs, so long as Canadians and permanent residents can’t be found to meet the needs of the position. The role can be either live-in or live-out and can fall into one of two categories:
1. Caregivers for Children (under 18 years of age). Caregivers from Pakistan who are to be hired for this role would need to qualify for positions like childcare provider, live-in caregiver, or nanny (NOC4411)
2. Caregivers for People with High Medical Needs (65+ years of age and people with disabilities, a chronic or terminal illness). Pakistani caregivers to be hired for this role would need to qualify for positions like registered nurse (NOC3012), Licensed Practical Nurse (NOC3233), or Attendant for Persons with Disabilities, Home Support Worker, Live-In Caregiver, Personal Care Attendant (NOC4412)..
COVID-19 Priority Occupations
The occupations listed below have been given priority across all provinces/territories (except Québec) by the government of Canada, which are considered essential due to COVID-19. Until December 31, 2020 the program is prioritizing these occupations and waiving minimum recruitment requirements for these roles. For LMIAs that are received after January 1st, 2021 these occupations will continue to be prioritized, but will be subject to the usual minimum recruitment requirements:
- 6331-Butchers, meat cutters, and fishmongers-retail and wholesale
- 8252- Agricultural service contractors, farm supervisors, and specialized livestock workers
- 8431- General Farm Workers
- 8432- Nursery and Greenhouse Workers
- 8611- Harvesting labourers
- 9462- Industrial butchers and meat cutters, poultry preparers and related workers
- 9463- Fish and seafood plant workers
- 9617- Labourers in food, beverage, and associated products processing
- 9618- Labourers in fish and seafood processing
The minimum recruitment requirements are not being waived for the following occupations:
- 3012 – Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses
- 3111 – Specialist physicians
- 3112 – General practitioners and family physicians
- 3124 – Allied primary health practitioners
- 3131 – Pharmacists
- 3211 – Medical laboratory technologists
- 3212 – Medical laboratory technicians and pathologists’ assistants
- 3214 – Respiratory therapists, clinical perfusionists, and cardiopulmonary technologists
- 3219 – Other medical technologists and technicians (except dental health)
- 3233 – Licensed practical nurses
- 3237 – Other technical occupations in therapy and assessment
- 3413 – Nurse aides, orderlies, and patient service associates
- 3414 – Other assisting occupations in support of health services
- 6731 – Light duty cleaners
Meat Processors Two-Year Employment Pilot
The Two-Year Employment Duration for Meat Processors Pilot for positions in meat processing/manufacturing is a newly introduced program of the Low-Wage stream of the TFWP. Pakistani nationals interested in this program must qualify as skilled in one of the following occupations:
- Retail butcher (NOC B 6331)
- Industrial butcher (NOC 9462)
- Farm supervisor and specialized livestock worker (NOC B 8252)
- Food processing labourer (NOC D 9617)
Note: Some jobs require a Medical Exam to be completed prior to a permit being issued.
Note: A work permit cannot be valid longer than the applicant’s passport.