Canada is one of the global top foreign worker destination locations for foreign workers to find an opportunity to work overseas.
As it has a cosmopolitan economy, liberalized immigration policy, and growing demand for professional and semi-professional staff, there are numerous foreign career opportunities for foreign job hunters.
One of the less in-demand but satisfying foreign workers’ careers is a Furniture Mover. If you are hardworking, healthy, and willing to have a stable job with a chance to immigrate to Canada, then this is most likely your ticket of gold.
In this article, here, we will guide you through everything you need to know about the activities and tasks of furniture movers in Canada on a work visa, including types of visas, compensation, and how to start.
What is the Role of a Furniture Mover in Canada?
Furniture movers help individuals and businesses relocate. Between moving furniture out of the home in a residential relocation, or helping companies with office relocation, movers offer a very useful service to help property get loaded, shipped, and unloaded safely without damage. Some of your day-to-day tasks as a Canada-based furniture relocation company are:
- Loading and off-loading furniture onto delivery vans.
- Wrapping and packaging merchandise so it is not damaged in transit.
- Securing loads with equipment like dollies, straps, and padding.
- Driving delivery trucks or riding as a passenger on delivery routes.
- Using tools and disassembling furniture as necessary.
- Following safety procedures and company guidelines.
It is a backbreaking job that demands body strength, hard work, and working under any and all weather conditions. Although as physically demanding a job as it is, it is a great career choice for that person who does not have a technical working background and no school education.
Why Canada is Employing Foreign Furniture Movers
Canada is growing its population with a very high growth rate, and migration is still going on in cities like Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, and Montreal. Office relocation and house relocation service is required daily. Besides this, the growing age group and lack of skills and overall manpower have left a gap which indigenous workers are not covering at a pace that is too slow. There are foreign workers working there on such jobs. Foreign, labor-thirsty, hardworking laborers who would never think twice about doing conveyance work and manual labor are hired by the Canadian companies directly. Even the employers sponsor in most instances and assist the immigration process through the country’s authorized work visa schemes.
How Foreign Workers Can Work as Furniture Movers in Canada Legally
To be employed as a furniture mover in Canada, you will require a valid work permit. Foreign workers will likely be best placed to be working under some of the numerous various work immigration programs for such work. The best ones most relevant to this kind of work are described as follows:
Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) for Furniture Movers
Temporary Foreign Worker Program allows Canadian companies to hire foreign workers to assist in doing the work when Canadians cannot. If your Canadian moving business is not able to hire locals, then they can request you to work for them under this program.
- You have to obtain permission in the form of Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) process. They are the ones who will tell the government that they really need to hire a foreign worker.
- After you obtain your positive LMIA, then you can apply for a work permit.
- This is the usual path of movers and other workers.
Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) for Movers Wanting Permanent Residence
There is a Provincial Nominee Program in every one of the Canadian provinces that recruits foreign workers to the province to work. They have general occupation workers, i.e., furniture movers, whom they recruit and you may be nominated if you qualify.
- Being nominated is an avenue to a work permit and then to permanent residence.
- It is a reasonable alternative if you would prefer future opportunities in Canada to be long-term.
Atlantic Immigration Program for Eligible Foreigners to Work in Eastern Canada
The Atlantic Immigration Program is available for foreign workers who are willing to work in the eastern provinces of Canada, such as Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador. Foreign workers can work in the said areas without the LMIA.
- If you are able to convince one of these provinces’ moving companies to hire you, this can be a quicker method of obtaining your work visa.
What You Will Need in Order to Be Eligible to Work as a Furniture Mover in Canada
The actual work itself is not something that one needs a college degree for, but the international applicants must be some sort of a fit:
- Physical Strength and Stamina: You require the physical strength to have the capacity to lift heavy weights (typically 50-100 pounds), stand and walk for hours at a time, and conduct physically demanding labor in any type of weather.
- French or English Working Knowledge: You don’t have to speak French or English fluently but should have the ability to read signs and communicate with your fellow workers and clients.
- Some Experience or Training (Optional but Preferred): A small amount of general labor, warehouse, or moving experience will be worth more on your application.
- No Significant Criminal Record: You will be required to present a police clearance certificate. No record simplifies the visa application.
Furniture Mover Salary in Canada
Furniture mover wages in Canada will certainly differ by city, size of company, and your level of experience.
- The majority of furniture movers make between $16 and $25 an hour.
- Larger city pay or pay for bigger moving companies will be more, particularly with overtime.
- Pay all year around will range from $33,000 to $55,000, and most of these movers also receive tips from customers, which can actually accumulate heavily in busy periods.
Top Cities and Provinces for Furniture Mover Jobs in Canada
If you’re looking to work where the opportunities are most abundant, consider targeting the following regions:
- Toronto, Ontario: Canada’s most urbanized city with ongoing residential and corporate moves.
- Vancouver, British Columbia: High housing demand and population growth.
- Calgary and Edmonton, Alberta: Major cities with immense labor demand.
- Ottawa, Ontario: Government institutions and frequent office relocations.
- Halifax, Nova Scotia: Growing city under the Atlantic Immigration Program.
Obtaining Furniture Mover Jobs in Canada from Overseas
The best method to acquire an employment is to start looking online or through the agency services on behalf of the Canadian employers’ representation. Follow the below steps in order to look for the employment ads:
- Look for employment ads like “Furniture Mover,” “Moving Helper,” or “General Laborer” on the internet.
- Search with terms such as “visa sponsorship” or “LMIA available” in an attempt to find employers who are looking to hire foreign workers.
- Employ job boards, company websites, and staffing agencies.
- English (or French, if looking for Quebec) proof your resume and accentuate your physical capability, experience, and willingness to relocate.
Step-by-Step Process to Apply for a Work Visa for Furniture Mover Jobs in Canada
Here’s a general description of the process if you’re applying from outside Canada:
- Step 1: Get a Job Offer: You must have a job offer from a Canadian employer. It must be in writing and mention the job, work duties, work location, and compensation.
- Step 2: Employer Applies for LMIA Request (if applicable): The employer applies for an LMIA with Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC). It asserts that they have attempted to hire Canadians first.
- Step 3: Application for Work Permit: Now you can proceed and apply for your work permit since you now have your positive LMIA. You will be providing copies of the job offer, LMIA, passport, etc.
- Step 4: Police Clearance and Medical Checkup: You will be required to get a medical checkup and police clearance certificates as part of the process.
- Step 5: Obtain Work Permit and Travel to Canada: You will be given a work permit for temporary visiting and working in Canada, if accepted.
How to Convert an Occupation of a Furniture Mover into Canada Permanent Residency
Canada work highlights one of the best aspects of the reality that even the most demanding occupation fields, like moving furniture, may be used as a stepping stone to permanent resident status. Below are some of the streams in which you can be eligible to apply after obtaining some work experience:
- Get a Provincial Nominee Program with Canadian work experience.
- Apply under Canadian Experience Class stream if you have one or two years of work experience.
- Apply under Atlantic Immigration Program if you are in Canada’s Eastern regions.
- Apply under Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot if you have work experience in rural regions.
By doing hard work, being well-behaved, and doing enough work, your chance to be a permanent resident is good.
Final Thoughts
Perhaps it’s not what people are hoping for when they wish to have a good time and become a Canada furniture mover, perhaps not, but reasonable money for hard work can open doors to a person immigration. Adhering to the rules, honesty in work, and being a joy to work with should make this the beginning it is deserved of a life of comfort in perhaps one of the most lovely countries in the world to reside.