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International Applicants

International Recruitment
 
The City of Calgary is looking for qualified and motivated individuals to join our team of more than 15,000 employees. The City offers a range of job opportunities and career path possibilities which is unique, providing services and delivering programs in more than 500 lines of business.

As an international applicant, there are a number of important steps, such as a valid work permit, employer labour market opinion (LMO), you have to take before moving to Calgary for a new career.
 
Immigration to Alberta is complex. To answer your questions about immigration, review information at the Alberta Immigration and the Citizenship & Immigration Canada (CIC) websites.
 
The following information on international recruitment provides an overview of Alberta Immigration, work permits, labour market opinions (LMO), and labour market opinion exemptions. This information is subject to change, and the author is not responsible for the visa and immigration information provided below. Information should always be validated by applicants by accessing the links provided.

Work permits  

If you are not a Canadian or a permanent resident, you will require a work permit in order to work in Canada.

A work permit is a document issued by Citizenship and Immigration Canada officials. It allows foreign nationals to work in Canada at a specific job for a limited time.
 
A work permit is not a contract. The employee (you) or the employer can end a job at any time. However, if the job duties change or the job is to be extended, the employee (you) must contact a Canada Immigration Centre (CIC) immediately, before the expiry date of the current authorization. If your work permit is connected to a LMO, a new LMO must be included with your application for a new work permit to extend your stay or change your job duties.

Labour market opinion (LMO) 

In most cases, employers who wish to hire temporary foreign workers must first apply to Service Canada, an arm of the federal government, for a LMO. The opinion assesses the impact the foreign worker would have on Canada’s labour market or, in other words, how the offer of employment would likely affect Canadian jobs.  The foreign worker needs a copy of the positive LMO and a job offer from a Canadian employer  in order to apply to Citizenship and Immigration Canada for a work permit. 
At present, The City of Calgary is not actively pursuing international recruitment. However, we will, as appropriate, employ individuals who possess open work permits or who are eligible to work under an LMO exempt category.
 
There are some types of individuals who need a work permit but do not require a LMO. If you fall under any of the four LMO exempt categories below, and are qualified for a position you are considering, you can apply for this position online, and select "yes" on the pre-screening question which asks: "Are you legally entitled to work in Canada?"
  1. Workers covered under international agreements – Eligible professionals under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), the Canada-Chile Free Trade Agreement (CCFTA), or the General Agreement on Trades and Services (GATS) are exempt from LMOs.  A summary of NAFTA professional titles can be located in Appendix G, B, and D respectively of the CIC Foreign Worker manual.
  2. Spouses or common-law partners of temporary foreign workers if the principal worker possess a temporary work permit, his/her spouse or common-law partner may be able to work while in Canada, and they must apply for their own work permit. Normally, they must meet the same requirements as the principal worker, including (if needed) the LMO from Service Canada. However, they may qualify as LMO exempt if the principal worker meets the following conditions:
    • The principal worker is authorized to work in Canada for six months or longer.
    • The job done by the principal worker is listed in skill level O, A or B in the National Occupational Classification.


      • If the principal worker meets these two conditions, the spouse or common-law partner may apply for a work permit that is "open" and that will allow her or him to accept most jobs with any employer. This permit will be valid for the same period as the principal worker's authorization to work in Canada. For more information on work permits view CIC frequently asked questions.

  3. International students, recent graduates, and spouse or common-law partners of students or recent graduates: There are various CIC student work permits available to international students while they are studying, to work on or off campus or as part of a co-op program. Other work permits allow recent Canadian graduates to work in Canada. In Alberta these work permits are for up to three years, depending on the length of the original school program. A spousal work permit will allow your spouse or common-law partner to work for the same period of time.
  4. Participants in exchange programs: Appendix E of the CIC Foreign Worker manual provides a list of international youth exchange programs which are exempt from LMOs.
View some of our employee testimonial videos to learn more about some employees who chose to move to Calgary and work for The City of Calgary.