Work as a foreign athlete

[BlackRedGold]

Dear forum members!

I am a 20 year old MMA athlete from Germany (which is a visa exempt country) and will go to Toronto this coming september to stay for six months. Even though I will train and compete for a Canadian MMA team, I will need to support myself with a job. Unfortunately it is hard to find any further information than that foreign athletes can work without a work permit / receive an open work permit (there are contradictory statements on cic.gc.ca) to support themselves financially.

I already sent out inquiries to the embassies and spoke to the VFS office in Bangkok (I'm training in Thailand for one year), but didn't get replies yet and the VFS couldn't help me.

Is there anyone out there who can give me some advice?
What kind of documents do I have to represent at the port of entry in order for me to receive an open work permit? (If I need one... do I?)
What documents are required to prove that I'll compete for a Canadian Team?

I appreciate any help!
BlackRedGold

 

[zardoz]

Dear forum members!

I am a 20 year old MMA athlete from Germany (which is a visa exempt country) and will go to Toronto this coming september to stay for six months. Even though I will train and compete for a Canadian MMA team, I will need to support myself with a job. Unfortunately it is hard to find any further information than that foreign athletes can work without a work permit / receive an open work permit (there are contradictory statements on cic.gc.ca) to support themselves financially.

I already sent out inquiries to the embassies and spoke to the VFS office in Bangkok (I'm training in Thailand for one year), but didn't get replies yet and the VFS couldn't help me.

Is there anyone out there who can give me some advice?
What kind of documents do I have to represent at the port of entry in order for me to receive an open work permit? (If I need one... do I?)
What documents are required to prove that I'll compete for a Canadian Team?

I appreciate any help!
BlackRedGold

If I understand the rules correctly, you will not need a work permit to train or compete, but you WILL need a work permit to take on employment to support yourself. http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/work/apply-who-nopermit.asp

 

[scylla]

If I understand the rules correctly, you will not need a work permit to train or compete, but you WILL need a work permit to take on employment to support yourself. http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/work/apply-who-nopermit.asp

Correct - no work permit needed to train or compete.

But no access to an open work permit to support yourself financially. If you want to work to support yourself financially, then you'll need a close work permit - which requires a job offer from an employer and a LMO to apply.

 

[BlackRedGold]

Thank you very much for your help - even if the result is a little bit disappointing

 

[BlackRedGold]

I checked the website of the CIC again and found the rule I was referring to:

" You may be eligible to apply for an open work permit if you are in one of the following situations: [...]

11.You are a professional athlete allowed to enter Canada and you need to do other work to support yourself while playing for a Canadian team."


Has anyone made experience with that or knows what kind of documents I will have to represent? (besides the documents I need to apply for an open work permit in any case).

 

[rhcohen2014]

I checked the website of the CIC again and found the rule I was referring to:

" You may be eligible to apply for an open work permit if you are in one of the following situations: [...]

11.You are a professional athlete allowed to enter Canada and you need to do other work to support yourself while playing for a Canadian team."


Has anyone made experience with that or knows what kind of documents I will have to represent? (besides the documents I need to apply for an open work permit in any case).

i would imagine a contract from the team stating you are there to train and compete with them needs to be submitted, and perhaps proof of expenses you will incur when there (ie: housing, food, equipment). there must be a guide for OWP for athletes where you found the above information?

 

[BlackRedGold]

Unfortunately not. That's the major problem: It seems to be so uncommon that whether the VFS office in Bangkok nor the one in Dusseldorf, Germany could help me.

 

[nasaba]

Hi BlackRedGold
Did everything work out on how have you done it? I am also an athlete with same intentions you had. Can you help me with the expierences you've made?
Thanks in advance!
nasaba from Switzerland

 

[AlanKju]

Hi BlackRedGold
Did everything work out on how have you done it? I am also an athlete with same intentions you had. Can you help me with the expierences you've made?
Thanks in advance!
nasaba from Switzerland

I'm currently applying for an LMIA, but I'll follow this topic. I have a nephew who is being invited to a soccer team in Toronto and there's not much information avaliable. Good luck to you, guys!