Eligibility to work as a permanent resident

[JonDeaneStewart]

Hi All,

My wife has received her CoPR and we are planning to "land" in Alberta later this month. She has been applying for jobs but we are a bit confused about when she can legally start working. Would she need to wait to receive her PR card or would she be eligible after getting her paperwork signed and sent in after entering the country? Thank you!

Jonathan

 

[Ponga]

She can begin working as soon as she has her Social Insurance Number (SIN), which she can get long before she has her actual PR card.

I'm not sure if the COPR is sufficient, or if she has to actually land first, but...the next person that replies will undoubtedly know for sure.

 

[Graihn]

She can begin working as soon as she has her Social Insurance Number (SIN), which she can get long before she has her actual PR card.

I'm not sure if the COPR is sufficient, or if she has to actually land first, but...the next person that replies will undoubtedly know for sure.

You can definitely NOT work until you have a SIN-card. As soon as you have landed, you can get information at the airport, and sometimes apply for one there. If not, the next day go to a Service Canada and say you need a SIN-card, they will issue a temporary one on the spot, and the actual card will come in the mail in a week or two. You can use the temporary one to start working, as it has the same numbers. The numbers are what identifies you as being able to work.

 

[Ponga]

You do definitely NOT work until you have a SIN-card. As soon as you have landed, you can get information at the airport, and sometimes apply for one there. If not, the next day go to a Service Canada and say you need a SIN-card, they will issue a temporary one on the spot, and the actual card will come in the mail in a week or two. You can use the temporary one to start working, as it has the same numbers. The numbers are what identifies you as being able to work.

Right...that's what I said...No SIN no work.

 

[Graihn]

Right...that's what I said...No SIN no work.

You also said you weren't sure if the CoPR would be enough. That is why I chimed in.

 

[Ponga]

You also said you weren't sure if the CoPR would be enough. That is why I chimed in.

Gotcha.

 

[benjis_monikuss]

So out of curiosity but still in the same topic, I have been in Canada for 3 years on a WHP and already have my SIN. Once I get PR this will obviously change so I will be able to work the whole time then just need to go see Service Canada and get them to give me a new one right? 'Visitors' get a SIN starting with 9, that's how they identify us. So once I am no longer temporary will they issue a new number? As long as my current WHP doesn't run out before PR I should be fine to work seamlessly right? Still in the early months of stage 2 but valuable information to have regardless.

 

[Ponga]

So out of curiosity but still in the same topic, I have been in Canada for 3 years on a WHP and already have my SIN. Once I get PR this will obviously change so I will be able to work the whole time then just need to go see Service Canada and get them to give me a new one right? 'Visitors' get a SIN starting with 9, that's how they identify us. So once I am no longer temporary will they issue a new number? As long as my current WHP doesn't run out before PR I should be fine to work seamlessly right? Still in the early months of stage 2 but valuable information to have regardless.

Yes, but you would obviously give your employer your permanent number as soon as you have it (even prior to receiving your new permanent card), since you would then be eligible/responsible for things like CPP (Canada Pension Plan).

 

[Graihn]

Yes, but you would obviously give your employer your permanent number as soon as you have it (even prior to receiving your new permanent card), since you would then be eligible/responsible for things like CPP (Canada Pension Plan).

I hate having had to pay EI and CPP contributions as a a foreign worker when I couldn't claim any of them. Can't wait to become a PR.

 

[PMM]

Hi

I hate having had to pay EI and CPP contributions as a a foreign worker when I couldn't claim any of them. Can't wait to become a PR.

As an aside if a person pays CPP in Canada, no matter what their status, they will be eligible for a pension when they retire. That is as long as they pay 1 contribution. For example if you paid CPP for 1 year, you would be eligible of 1/40th of the CPP pension when you turned 65

 

[Graihn]

Hi


As an aside if a person pays CPP in Canada, no matter what their status, they will be eligible for a pension when they retire. That is as long as they pay 1 contribution. For example if you paid CPP for 1 year, you would be eligible of 1/40th of the CPP pension when you turned 65

Ok that's good to know. Will my EI contributions for two years under IEC benefit me as a PR if I ever became unemployed as a PR?

 

[SenoritaBella]

To clarify, as a permanent resident, she only needs the Social insurance number which Service Canada will issue on the day she applies. She can begin working(give the SIN number to the employer) while waiting for the card. When it arrives, make a photocpy of it and give your employer. Takes about 2 weeks for card to arrive if there are no issues.