Open Work Permit for Vulnerable Workers

You may be eligible for an open work permit for vulnerable workers if you’re being abused or at risk of being abused in relation to your job in Canada. This temporary work permit helps protect your rights as a worker in Canada by helping you leave an abusive situation to find a new job. An open work permit lets you work for any employer in Canada, except for one that: * is listed as ineligible on the list of employers who have failed to comply with the conditions or * regularly offers striptease, erotic dance, escort services or erotic massages ## Video:

You can apply for an open work permit as a vulnerable worker if you * [Input] are in Canada * You can’t apply at a port of entry. * [Input] are being abused or at risk of being abused in relation to your job in Canada, and * [Input] have a valid (not expired) employer-specific work permit with your employer’s name on it, or * [Input] applied to extend your work permit before it expired and you’re still waiting on a decision ### What is abuse? Abuse can be any behaviour that scares, controls or isolates you. It can be physical, sexual, financial, psychological or reprisal. Examples of abuse that you should report in your application include: * physical harm * forcing you to work in a way that’s unsafe or puts your health at risk * unsafe or unsanitary living conditions in employer-provided housing * sexual touching that you did not agree to * making unwanted sexual comments to you * controlling where you can go * stealing from you * stopping you from seeing friends or co-workers * taking some or all of the money you are paid * threats, insults and intimidation * forcing you to commit fraud * a third party charging you fees for a job or making promises that aren’t real * any disciplinary measure, demotion, dismissal or threat to take any of these measures because you’ve reported non-compliance with working conditions or cooperated with an employer inspection ## Document navigation

You must apply for this open work permit online. You can’t apply at a port of entry. There are no fees for this work permit. ## On this page

## Step 3: Support your application with evidence To support your application, you must include information about * your situation * the abuse you’re facing or at risk of facing We encourage you to use the following form to provide your information: * Letter of Explanation – Open Work Permit for Vulnerable Workers [IMM 0017] (opens in a new tab) ### Types of evidence In your application, you should also include as much evidence as you can of the abuse you’ve been the victim of. Evidence could include * a letter, statement or report from an abuse support organization, medical doctor, health care professional, etc. * a sworn statement, also known as an affidavit , from yourself * a copy of an official report you submitted to an enforcement agency, such as a police or Canada Border Services Agency report * a copy of an official complaint submitted to a provincial government enforcement agency, such as an employment standards branch * a victim impact statement†www.justice.gc.ca * email or text messages * pay stubs or bank statements * photos showing injuries or working conditions * witness testimony * a copy of all the pages of your valid and expired passport(s) The list above includes some examples of the evidence you could provide. You may have other types of evidence. You should also include a table of contents for the submissions and evidence you’re providing. Get your documents translated and certified if they’re not in English or French Each supporting document that isn’t in English or French must have 2 parts: 1. an English or French translation that’s * stamped by a certified translator * Their certification must be confirmed by a seal or stamp that shows the translator’s membership number. * The translator should also photocopy your original document and stamp it if that’s what they based the translation on. * All stamps and seals that aren’t in English or French must also be translated. * You can include a scanned copy of a letter explaining that you don’t need an affidavit because you used a certified translator. * accompanied by an affidavit from the person who completed the translation swearing that their translation is true and accurate * The affidavit must be signed in the presence of an authorized person. * Use this option only if a translation can’t be completed by a certified translator. * Both the translated document and the original document the translator worked from must be referred to in the affidavit. 2. a scan of the original document, or a scan of a certified photocopy of the original document, that the translator worked from. * You only need to provide a scan of a certified photocopy of the original document if the translation was based on the certified photocopy. Who can’t translate documents * your family members * your immigration representative or consultant Get copies of documents certified To have a copy of a document certified, an authorized person must compare it to the original document and print the following on the copy: *  “I certify that this is a true copy of the original document.” *  the name of the original document *  the date of the certification *  the name of the authorized person *  their official position or title *  their signature Who can certify copies and be the witness to an affidavit In Canada, examples of authorized persons who can certify the copies of your original documents and be the witness to an affidavit include * a notary public * a commissioner of oaths * a commissioner of taking affidavits Authority to certify varies by province and territory. Check with your provincial or territorial authorities to be sure who can certify your documents. Outside Canada, each country has different authorities to certify documents. A notary public may be able to certify your documents, but you should check with your local authorities to be sure. Who can’t certify copies or be the witness to an affidavit An authorized person can’t certify a copy of a document or be the witness to an affidavit if they’re also *  the principal applicant or the applicant’s sponsor (if this applies) *  a family member of the principal applicant or the applicant’s sponsor (parent, guardian, sibling, spouse, common-law partner, conjugal partner, grandparent, child, aunt, uncle, niece, nephew or first cousin) ### Where to upload evidence of abuse You can upload your letter of explanation and other documents as evidence in the Client Information field under Optional Documents. There’s only 1 Client Information field to upload all of your evidence. You have to combine all your evidence in 1 file and upload it together, including a table of contents and translations of your supporting documents. Find out how to upload multiple documents into 1 field†ircc.canada.ca . #### If you can’t upload all of your evidence of abuse If you can’t upload all of your evidence due to an issue with the online application, you can also use your letter of explanation to briefly tell us about the evidence and why you can’t upload it. You can submit this evidence later if we ask for it. ## Certified translator

### Fingerprints and photo (biometrics) Most people applying for a work permit from Canada must give their fingerprints and photo (biometrics). Because of your situation, we won’t ask you to give your biometrics when you apply. If an officer decides you need to give your biometrics, they’ll ask you to give them after you apply. When you apply online, you’ll be asked if you’ve given your biometrics for an application in the past. * If you’ve given them in the past, choose “Yes”. * If you haven’t given them in the past, choose “No”. * When asked about the fee, choose the option that says you’re exempt from paying the fee. * By choosing this option, you won’t be asked to pay the fee later in the application process. When you’ve answered all the questions, you’ll get your document checklist. It includes the form “Application to Change Conditions, Extend my Stay or Remain in Canada as a Worker (IMM5710)”. This is the work permit form you need to fill out. ### If you can’t apply online You can submit a paper application if either: * you can’t apply online because of a disability * there’s a problem with the online application * In some cases, you may be able to apply online if you follow special instructions. What to do if you have problems applying online ## Document navigation

We’ll contact you if we need more information after we receive your application. We may ask you to do an interview. This work permit is a temporary solution to help you remove yourself from an abusive situation. The work permit * has an expiry date * can’t be renewed If you’re approved for this work permit, it should give you enough time to find a new employer and apply for a new work permit . You must apply for another work permit before this one expires if you want to stay and work in Canada. After you get your open work permit, we may contact your employer to perform an inspection. We won’t contact them for any other reason. ## Inspections We may inspect employers to make sure they follow the rules when hiring temporary workers through the International Mobility Program or the Temporary Foreign Worker Program . Inspections are meant to protect temporary workers. If you’re approved for the open work permit for vulnerable workers, we may ask you to give us additional information to help with the inspection. You don’t have to give us information. The choice is yours. The inspection can happen at any time after you get your open work permit. ## Open work permit for your family members Family members who came with you to Canada may also be eligible for an open work permit if your application is approved. They must complete their own application but may submit it together with your application. ## Document navigation

Exit this page quickly: Go to google.ca†www.google.ca ## To exit this page quickly: Go to google.ca†www.google.ca If your abuser monitors your computer, delete your browsing history . If you need help right away call 9-1-1 or your local police. You may be eligible

There are no fees for this work permit.

### What is abuse? Abuse can be any behaviour that scares, controls or isolates you. It can be physical, sexual, financial, psychological or reprisal. Examples of abuse that you should report in your application include: * physical harm * forcing you to work in a way that’s unsafe or puts your health at risk * unsafe or unsanitary living conditions in employer-provided housing * sexual touching that you did not agree to * making unwanted sexual comments to you * controlling where you can go * stealing from you * stopping you from seeing friends or co-workers * taking some or all of the money you are paid * threats, insults and intimidation * forcing you to commit fraud * a third party charging you fees for a job or making promises that aren’t real * any disciplinary measure, demotion, dismissal or threat to take any of these measures because you’ve reported non-compliance with working conditions or cooperated with an employer inspection ## Document navigation