Temporary or Permanent?
One of the first things to consider is whether your new hire will be filling a temporary or a permanent position. If it’s a senior or strategic position and you want to be sure your new hire will be able to stay beyond a couple of years, then it makes sense to assist them to immigrate to Canada permanently. But if the role is project-based or short-term then a Temporary Work Permit may be just fine.
In both cases there are some important advantages and disadvantages for both the employer and the foreign employee:
Permanent Immigration
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Temporary Work Permit
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The foreign employee has the comfort of knowing they are able to stay in Canada with their family permanently and therefore has more of an incentive to accept the job offer.
The foreign employee’s status in Canada is not tied to working for your company, they can leave and accept jobs with other employers if they wish to.
Unlike with a Temporary Work Permit, there is no need to renew their status; their status in Canada is permanent.
The immigration procedure is more complex and usually takes longer before they are able to start work.
Having permanent status makes life easier for the foreign employee in terms of schooling for their children, healthcare, their ability to obtain mortgages/loans, and their ability to sponsor relatives to move to Canada.
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The foreign employee does not have permanent status in Canada and must leave by the expiry date on the work permit (unless it is renewed). Not all foreign workers would be willing to "put down roots" in Canada on this basis.
The foreign employee can only work for the employer named on the work permit. If the job ends they will probably need to leave Canada.
If the job or project continues longer than anticipated their work permit will need to be renewed and renewal is never guaranteed.
The immigration process is simpler with fewer forms to complete and it is usually faster.
If the work permit is short (less than a year) the foreign worker may not be eligible for healthcare in Canada and may therefore need private health care.
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