What is a Canadian Academic Visa and What are the Work Permit Requirements?

In recent years, many university professors and lecturers have immigrated to Canada, and Canada continues to attract interest in academia. Canada’s annual ranking among the top 3 in the world’s top 10 most livable countries, the fact that most Canadian universities are ranked high in world rankings and that it has world-class educational accreditation are important factors in foreign academics choosing Canada.

The type of visa that foreign nationals who want to carry out academic activities in Canada must obtain is the Canadian academic visa. The Canadian academic visa is a type of Canadian work visa given to people who want to work at a higher education institution in Canada.

Canadian academic visa holders may be required to obtain a work visa depending on their job description and the length of their stay in Canada. Canada grants exemptions to research assistants who are registered as students and meet certain conditions.

Who is Eligible for a Canadian Academic Visa?

Canadian academic visas can be obtained by researchers, guest lecturers, visiting professors, postdoctoral researchers, those who will receive awards in their field, and other academic staff.

In order for Canadian scientific visa holders to work as researchers or instructors in any institution, they must also receive a certificate from this educational institution.

Who is Granted a Canadian Academic Visa That Does Not Require a Work Permit?

The academic visa, which does not require a Canadian work permit, is issued by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada to academic advisors, academic supervisors, speakers, graduates, teaching and research assistants who come to Canada for a period of less than 120 days on assignment within an educational institution.

What are the Work Permit Exemption Requirements for Research Assistants in Canada?

Work permit exemption requirements for research assistants in Canada are listed below.

• Must be enrolled as a full-time student for undergraduate, graduate, doctoral or certificate studies at an accredited educational institution in Canada.
• Must have a valid study permit issued by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.
• Research activities must be carried out only within the educational institution in which the student is registered.
• The person must be given a reference by an official working in the relevant department.
• The research activity must be subordinate to the management of the relevant department or to a faculty member.

Canada has different regulations for graduates and students who want to become research assistants. It is possible to work as a research assistant while doing a PhD in Canada.

Who is Granted an Academic Visa Requiring a Canadian Work Permit?

Academic visas requiring a Canadian work permit are granted to visiting scholars, postdoctoral researchers, visiting professors, those who will receive research awards, and lecturers at universities in the United States, Mexico, and Chile.

What are the Work Permit Requirements for Those Coming to Canada on an Academic Visa?

Work permit requirements for those who go to Canada with an academic visa are listed below.

• In Canada, the majority of work must be teaching or conducting research.
• To work as a professor at a university in Canada, a doctorate in the relevant field is required.
• To work as a lecturer at a university in Canada, a master’s degree in the relevant field is required.
• It is necessary to prove to the authorities that you will leave Canada when the job that requires you to stay in Canada ends.
• The applicant must demonstrate that he/she can support himself/herself and his/her family’s expenses during the stay in Canada and upon departure from Canada.
• The applicant must have a clean criminal record and prove it with a criminal record certificate.
• The applicant must document that he or she is not a threat to Canada’s security.
• The applicant must not have a contagious disease and must undergo a general health check-up if necessary.
• The applicant’s employer in Canada must not be categorized as “inadequate” in the employer assessment.

Those who want to become lecturers in Canada must prove their qualifications both academically and for residence and work permits. The Work Permit Requirements for Canada require that the employer in Canada be qualified to hire a foreign national and that the person be proven to be suitable for the job.

How to Get a Canadian Academic Visa Work Permit?

With a Canadian academic visa, work permits are obtained in the form of employer-specific work permits.

In order for those who want to become academics in Canada to obtain a work permit; the employer institution must submit a job offer document to the Canadian Immigration and Citizenship Agency, pay the legal eligibility fee of 230 CAD and obtain a job offer number.

Is It Possible for Academics to Settle in Canada?

It is possible for academics to settle in Canada. Academics who want to settle in Canada can obtain permanent residence permit with the Canadian Express Entry program.

Academics who wish to settle in Canada must apply for the Canadian Express Entry program and receive an invitation to apply (ITA) from Immigration and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

Academicians who want to settle in Canada receive a score on the Comprehensive Scoring System (CRS) when they apply to the program, by evaluating their educational and professional resumes within the scope of the Express Entry Canada Immigration Application Requirements. According to the score received from this system, IRCC sends an application invitation to the candidates who stand out among the candidates who applied to the Express Entry program and these candidates can apply for permanent residence.

Scholars who apply to the Express Entry program to settle in Canada have a high chance of obtaining permanent residence even if they have not received any job offers or have not participated in provincial candidate programs, if they receive a score of 449 or above from the Comprehensive Scoring System (CRS).