What is the difference between a Letter of Introduction (LOI) and a Work Permit?
The LOI is not your work permit — rather, it is a letter with a unique number which identifies you to the port of entry as being eligible to receive a work permit (commonly called a work visa). The LOI will be valid for presentation at a Canadian port of entry for 12 months from the date it is issued (unless you undergo a medical examination as part of your WHP application, the LOI will then be valid for a year from the date of the medical examination). The issuance of your LOI completes the processing of your application at the Consulate General of Canada in Sydney. When you present the LOI to a port of entry officer upon arrival in Canada, your 24-month work permit will be printed out and attached to your passport. Australian passport holders do not require a Temporary Resident Visa to enter and stay in Canada. You therefore do not need to apply for a separate visa to travel to Canada.
