¶¡ÏãÔ°AV

Postdoctoral Fellows

Postdoctoral fellows at ¶¡ÏãÔ°AV (¶¡ÏãÔ°AV) will be able to broaden their research expertise, build associations with established researchers and strengthen their publication record, thereby enhancing their future employment opportunities. Postdoctoral fellows will have the opportunity to make significant contributions to their chosen field, the University, faculty researchers and graduate students. 

Eligibility Requirements
Postdoctoral Fellows at ¶¡ÏãÔ°AV must meet the following criteria.

  • Completed a doctoral degree (normally within the previous five years)
  • Planning to undertake additional advanced research at ¶¡ÏãÔ°AV for 1-3 years

There are two categories of ¶¡ÏãÔ°AV PDFs: External PDF and Internal PDFs (see the Definitions section for more details).

External Postdoctoral Fellows have secured funding from an external funding organization or a fellowship program which is external to the University and whose salary is paid wholly from such funding will be appointed as an External PDF. External PDFs do not have an employment relationship with ¶¡ÏãÔ°AV. They work independently under the mentorship of a supervising faculty member at ¶¡ÏãÔ°AV.  

Internal Postdoctoral Fellows salary is paid in whole or in part either from funds held by a University faculty member or from the University’s financial resources or a combination of the two will be appointed as an Internal PDF. An Internal PDF is an employee of the University. 

* PDFs are eligible for a work permit exempt from the requirement for a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA).

Step 1

Postdoctoral Fellow:

  • Check faculties/departments of interest to see if there are any postdoctoral fellow’s positions currently available at ¶¡ÏãÔ°AV. 
  • Visit the list of local and external Postdoctoral Fellow Funding opportunities.
  • Apply for an ¶¡ÏãÔ°AV postdoctoral appointment.

Step 2

Department:

  • Complete the PDF Appointment Form
  • Send a scanned copy of the postdoctoral fellow's passport along with the other required documents to Research Personnel Team (postdoc@sfu.ca). 

Immigration Consultant:

  • Pay the Employer Compliance Fee ($230) online and submit the Offer of Employment form to Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

Step 3

Research Personnel Team:

  • Forward the Offer of Appointment/Inviattion Letter to the postdoctoral fellow.

Immigration Consultant:

  • Forward the Employment Number and LMIA exempt code to the postdoctoral fellow which is required for the work permit application.
Postdoctoral Fellow:
  • Apply for a work permit. The following document and information will be required for the application:
  1. Offer of appointment/Invitation letter
  2. Offer of employment  number 
  3. LMIA exemption code 

Please follow the work permit guide below for more details. 

Step 4

Postdoctoral Fellow:

  • Apply for a Social Insurance Number (SIN) required for employment in Canada. SIN can be obtained from a local with a proof of ID and valid work permit. Download instructions (pdf).
  • Ensure you have adequate for the duration of your stay. The type of medical insurance required will depend on the length of your visit.
  • In order to have pay processed for your appointment, you will need to open a Canadian bank account, once you have obtained your SIN. Postdoctoral Fellows can apply for a bank account with many Canadian financial institutions online. Most banks require members to activate their accounts at a branch in person, while others allow applicants to complete the entire process remotely.  To open bank accounts, you will likely be asked for specific information. To speed up the process, have the following documents prepared:
  • Passport
  • Work Permit
  • Proof of employment at ¶¡ÏãÔ°AV
  • Canadian address
  • SIN (some banks)

View Banks and Credit Unions

The list below includes most financial institutions* you will find in the Metro Vancouver Area:

BANK




 (On ¶¡ÏãÔ°AV Burnaby Campus)

CREDIT UNION













Work Permit Application

How can I apply for my work permit?

You have two options for applying for a work permit:

  • Apply online
  1. Determine your eligibility and create a Personal Checklist Code by answering the questions in the Come to Canada wizard at
  2. Apply online at after creating a GCKey or Sign-in Partner login ID, and registering with MyCIC. Enter your Personal Checklist Code when prompted.  

Scan and upload all supporting documentation. Supporting documents should be current and original (unless it clearly states photocopies are acceptable). If your supporting documents are not in English or French, you must include a translation from a certified translator with your application. Refer to your online checklist for acceptable file formats.

  • Apply by mail
  1. Download the required forms from
  2. Submit your application to the Visa Office or Visa Application Centre (VAC) responsible for the country or region where you live.

Where can I apply for my work permit?

You may submit your work permit application to the visa office responsible for the country or region where you live.  For a list of visa offices outside Canada, please visit . If you are already inside Canada with a valid work permit, or you or your spouse or common-law partner hold a valid study permit, you may apply for your work permit from inside Canada. 

What documents do I need to apply for my work permit either online or by mail?

The documents you need to apply for your work permit will vary depending on where you are residing when you apply for your work permit. You will be required to submit standard IRCC forms plus supporting documentation.

Application item Application submitted outside Canada  Application submitted in Canada Tips
Document Checklist (required for paper-based applications only)

Document Checklist

(IMM 5488)

Document Checklist

(IMM 5556)

Place this document on top of your application package
Application Form

Application for Work Permit Made Outside of Canada

(IMM 1295)

Application to Change Conditions, Extend My Stay or Remain in Canada as a Worker (IMM 5710)
  • Complete the application form electronically (not by hand) 
  • Include the Offer of Employment Number in the application form)
Family Information

Family Information

(IMM 5707 or IMM 5645)

N/A
  • Include all family members even if they are not accompanying you to Canada 
  • Include the Family Information form listed in the application package for your country
Passport or travel document Photocopy all relevant passport pages. Include all pages with photos, signatures, stamps and other  markings. Photocopy all relevant passport pages. Include all pages with photos, signatures, stamps and other  markings.

The work permit will not be issued for longer than the validity of  your passport

Photo Online applications require a digital photo. Paper applications may requires 2 photos meeting IRCC requirements. Online applications require a digital photo. Refer to the photo specifications in your checklist
Fee N/A N/A The current fee for a work permit is $155.


Required supporting documents may include:

  • Proof you meet the requirements of the job being offered (ex. proof of education, work reference letters)
  • Offer of employment letter from the ¶¡ÏãÔ°AV Department offering you the position including
    • Employment start and end date
    • Amount of remuneration
    • Location
    • Nature of the position
  • Employment reference letters from current or past employer(s)
  • Employment records
  • CV/resume outlining relevant education, qualifications and work experience
  • Proof of funds (if you research funding is from an external source, proof of that must be submitted with your application)

Please consult the website of the Canadian visa office serving the country or region where you live to determine if you are required to provide additional forms or documents.

When is a medical exam required for a work permit?

You will need a medical exam if you have lived temporarily for 6 or more consecutive months in a designated country in the one year immediately before the date you enter Canada.  For a list of designated countries, please see

In some cases, there may be restrictions on the type of job you can hold unless you complete and pass an immigration medical exam prior to submitting an application for your work permit.  For a complete list of occupations requiring a medical exam, refer to

If a medical exam is required, you must make an appointment with a designated Panel Physician:

Can my spouse or common-law partner work in Canada?

If you hold a work permit, and are employed in a position listed at Skill Level 0, A or B in the , your spouse or common-law partner may be eligible for an open work permit.  If this is the case, your spouse must include proof that you are employed in a skilled occupation in their work permit application. 

See  or contact gradintl@sfu.ca for more information.

Contacts

FOR FACULTY, POSTDOCTORAL FLLOWS, VISITING SCHOLARS AND STAFF

Alina Roman
Manager, Immigration Services
immsfu@sfu.ca; aroman@sfu.ca
778.782.9935