This page will help you navigate through the various requirements for hiring a postdoctoral fellow who is not Canadian. If you require assistance, please contact us at gradstudies@sfu.ca or 778-782-3042.

Work Permits

• The prospective post-doctoral fellow (PDF) should apply for a work permit at the closest Canadian Consulate or Embassy in his or her country. This can take 2–3 months. There is a list of average processing times for different countries on the Citizenship and Immigration Canada website. US citizens and permanent residents of the US may apply for work permits at their port of entry into Canada (land border crossing or airport)
  
• In order to qualify for a postdoc work permit, the applicant must have completed their doctorate and be working in a related field to that in which they earned their PhD to be exempt from a Labour Market Opinion (exemption code C44).
  
• The prospective postdoctoral fellow will require a detailed letter of invitation from SFU which will state the amount of remuneration, location, nature and expected duration of the term of employment. If the research funding is from a foreign source, proof of that needs to be submitted as part of the application.
  
• Downloadable sample letters are available (Appendix B for Grant PDFs, and Appendix C for External PDFs). These should be provided to the PDF at least 3-4 months in advance of their anticipated start date in order to give them sufficient time to obtain their visas.
  

Social Insurance Number

• Once the individual arrives in Canada with a work permit, he or she can apply for a Social Insurance Number from Service Canada.
  

Health Care Plans

• The individual should apply for the BC Medical Services Plan (MSP) upon arrival in Canada. Please be aware that there is a 3 month waiting period before coverage will begin (2 full months, plus the remainder of the month of arrival).
  
• During the waiting period for MSP, postdoctoral fellows are required to carry their own medical insurance or purchase private coverage. (They are eligible to purchase SFU's plan for international students directly from Guard Me.)
• Note that Grant PDFs are eligible for employment benefits through the university and should apply to the BC MSP through SFU Human Resources. See Section 3.3 of the Postdoctoral Fellows policy. They would still require private coverage during the 3-month waiting period for MSP.
  

Register at SFU

• The final step for the postdoctoral fellow is to complete the PDF registration form and email it to the Office of Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Fellows at postdoc@sfu.ca. This will allow them to get an SFU email account and provide access to the library and other university services.