You are required to fulfill your employment contract. However, you have the right to look for a new job, while continuing to work for your employer. Your employer cannot penalize you or threaten to deport you for this. It is important to note, however, that if your employment contract has a fixed term and you leave before it expires, your employer may claim compensation from you. Your new employer will need permission from the Government of Canada to hire you as a temporary foreign worker. You will also have to apply for a new work permit before changing jobs. Workers from the SAWP (Mexico and the Caribbean) do not, in some cases, need to obtain a new work permit if they change employers.

Before taking any steps to change jobs, try to find a mutual agreement with your current employer. It is important to communicate! If that doesn‘t work, there are mediation services that can help you reach an agreement.

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