A Canada Work Visa (work permit) is a written document allowing an individual to work in Canada on a temporary basis with the permission of the Canadian Government. There are two main categories of work permits: Employer Utilized Work Permit: This type of work permit allows you to only work with the employer that sponsored your application and states very specific conditions, including the length of time and place of employment. Open Work Permit: This type of work permit allows you to work for any employer in Canada, except some employers. Open Work Permits can be conditional, mainly reserved for the spouses of skilled workers and international students.