Welders are needed in manufacturing, pipelines, shipbuilding, mining and construction across Canada. Foreign welders who can pass Canadian welding tests are often attractive to employers, especially in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario and Atlantic Canada.
Information checked: 24 October 2026.
Important: We share information only. We cannot provide jobs, LMIAs or welding tickets.
Welding Job Types
Welders and related machine operators are under NOC 72106 (TEER 2). Typical roles:
- structural steel welder;
- pipe welder (pipelines, plants, refineries);
- fabrication shop welder;
- maintenance welder in mines and mills;
- welder-fitter in shipyards.
Tickets and Certification
Two separate things matter for welders in Canada:
- Welding procedure tickets issued after passing practical tests under CSA standards, usually administered through the Canadian Welding Bureau (CWB). Employers frequently ask for specific positions and processes.
- Provincial trade certification, which is optional in some provinces and required in others. Welding is a Red Seal trade; see the Red Seal Program.
Pressure welding (for example on boilers and pressure piping) usually requires additional provincial qualifications.
Salary Ranges
Job Bank data for NOC 72106 has typically shown median wages around C$27 to C$35 per hour. Pipe welders and those working on remote industrial sites can earn much more, often with overtime and living allowances, while entry-level shop welders may earn below the median.
| Job type | Typical pay position |
|---|---|
| Shop or fabrication welder | Around the median |
| Structural welder with tickets | Around or above the median |
| Pressure or pipeline welder | Often well above the median |
Check current local wages on the Job Bank wage search.
Visa Types
- LMIA work permit through high- or low-wage streams.
- Provincial programs in provinces with manufacturing and energy industries.
- Federal Skilled Trades and Canadian Experience Class in Express Entry.
- Atlantic Immigration Program for designated employers.
Requirements and Documents
- reference letters listing welding processes (SMAW, GMAW, FCAW, GTAW), positions and materials;
- trade certificates and test records;
- passport, police certificates, medical if requested;
- language results for PR.
Some employers arrange practical tests abroad or by video before an offer.
Eligibility Points
Match your duties to NOC 72106, show continuous experience, and be ready to pass a practical test. Safety training such as WHMIS is usually completed after arrival.
Steps
- Document your processes and positions in detail.
- Apply to employers with a clear CV and photos of your work.
- Complete practical tests if requested.
- The employer applies for the LMIA.
- Apply for the work permit and give biometrics.
- Obtain local tickets and certification after arrival.
Where to Find Employers
- Job Bank welding postings.
- The positive LMIA employer lists, filtered by NOC 72106.
- Provincial manufacturing associations and union halls.
PR Pathways
Welders may qualify through Federal Skilled Trades, the Canadian Experience Class, provincial nominee streams for trades and the Atlantic Immigration Program. Check the latest Express Entry categories on the official page.
Verification
Confirm the employer’s registration and premises, ask for written contracts, and never pay a third party for a test, LMIA or job.
Official Websites and Embassy Contacts (Canada)
Use only government sources for rules, forms and fees. Bookmark these pages and type the address yourself instead of clicking links in messages:
- Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), work in Canada: canada.ca/work-canada
- Hiring foreign workers and LMIAs (ESDC): canada.ca foreign workers
- Job Bank (wages, job postings, outlooks): jobbank.gc.ca
- Express Entry: canada.ca/express-entry
- Provincial Nominee Program: canada.ca/provincial-nominees
- National Occupational Classification (NOC): noc.esdc.gc.ca
Embassy and visa office contacts: Canada does not process visas through private agents. Contact details for the visa office or embassy that serves your country are listed on IRCC’s official international visa offices page and on Global Affairs Canada’s embassies and consulates directory. Use those pages rather than phone numbers or emails found on social media.
How to Recognise Job and Visa Scams
Fake job offers for Canada are common, especially for trades, driving and labour roles. Warning signs include:
- Someone asks you to pay for a job offer, an LMIA or a “guaranteed” visa. Under Canadian rules, employers generally cannot recover LMIA costs from workers.
- The offer arrives on WhatsApp or social media with no interview and no verifiable employer.
- The “employer” uses a free email address and refuses video calls.
- You are told to send money by gift card, crypto or a personal transfer.
To check a representative, use IRCC’s guidance on immigration fraud and scams. Only licensed consultants, lawyers or Quebec notaries may charge for immigration advice.
Preparing for a Welding Test
Many Canadian employers ask candidates to complete a practical welding test before or after an offer. To prepare:
- confirm which processes (for example SMAW, GMAW, FCAW or GTAW), positions and material thicknesses will be tested;
- practise the exact test positions, especially vertical and overhead, if you have not done them recently;
- review the relevant inspection criteria, such as bend tests or visual inspection standards;
- bring or confirm the required personal protective equipment;
- keep records of past test results and certificates to show employers.
If you are overseas, some employers or recruiters organise tests in your country or at approved test centres. Make sure any testing arrangement is linked to a real employer and never pay large fees to a recruiter who promises a guaranteed job.
Working Conditions and Safety
Welding jobs can involve heat, fumes, noise and work at height. Canadian employers must follow provincial occupational health and safety rules, which include training, ventilation, protective equipment and procedures for hot work. On large industrial sites, you may need additional safety tickets such as fall protection, confined space or first aid training. These can often be completed after arrival, but having them can make you more attractive to employers.
Living and Working in Industrial Regions
Many well-paid welding jobs are in resource and manufacturing regions, sometimes in remote areas or on rotational schedules (for example, several weeks on site followed by time off). Before accepting such a role, ask about:
- accommodation and meals on site;
- travel arrangements to and from the site;
- overtime rules and shift lengths;
- whether the job is permanent, seasonal or project-based.
Building a Strong Profile for Employers
- Prepare a clear CV listing your processes, positions, materials and the types of projects you have worked on.
- Collect detailed reference letters from previous employers that describe your duties and hours.
- Include photos of your work only if your employer allows it and they do not reveal confidential information.
- Be ready to explain your experience with blueprints, welding symbols and quality control.
Express Entry for Welders
Welders (NOC 72106) fall within the skilled trades eligible for the Federal Skilled Trades Program. IRCC’s minimum requirements include two years of full-time experience in the trade within the past five years, language results of at least CLB 5 for speaking and listening and CLB 4 for reading and writing, and either a valid job offer for at least one year or a certificate of qualification from a Canadian province or territory. Because welding certification rules differ between provinces, check with the provincial apprenticeship authority whether you can challenge the trade exam and obtain a certificate of qualification.
How the LMIA Process Works From Your Side
- The employer offers you a job and gives you a contract with wage, hours and duties.
- The employer applies for an LMIA to ESDC and pays the processing fee.
- With a positive LMIA, you apply online for an employer-specific work permit.
- You give biometrics and, if required, complete a medical exam.
- Your work permit is issued at the port of entry. Check that the details are correct before you leave the border area.
Your permit allows you to work only for the named employer in the named occupation. Changing jobs normally requires a new work permit.
Your Rights and Protections
You are entitled to the same workplace protections as Canadian workers, including the agreed wage, overtime where provincial law requires it, and a safe workplace with proper ventilation and protective equipment for welding fumes. Your employer must give you a signed employment agreement no later than your first day and must not keep your passport or work permit. If you experience abuse, you may be eligible for an open work permit for vulnerable workers.
Welding Tests and Positions
Employers often ask candidates to complete a practical welding test before hiring. Tests are usually based on a specific process (such as SMAW, GMAW, FCAW or GTAW), a material type and thickness, and a welding position. Positions are commonly described as flat, horizontal, vertical and overhead, with pipe welding tests in fixed positions often considered the most demanding.
To prepare:
- ask the employer which process, material and position the test will use;
- practise that specific combination if you can;
- bring your own protective equipment if the employer asks you to;
- describe your experience with specific processes on your CV, rather than writing only “welder”.
In Canada, companies doing structural welding are typically certified by the Canadian Welding Bureau (CWB) under CSA standards, and individual welders working for them must pass qualification tests. Your employer usually arranges these tests.
Health and Safety
Welding involves risks from fumes, ultraviolet light, burns, noise and confined spaces. Canadian employers must provide training and protective equipment and follow provincial occupational health and safety laws. You have the right to know about hazards, to take part in safety decisions and to refuse unsafe work.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are my foreign welding certificates valid in Canada?
They help show experience, but most employers require Canadian CWB tickets.
Which provinces hire the most welders?
Alberta, Ontario, Saskatchewan, Quebec and the Atlantic provinces have strong demand.
Do welders need a Red Seal?
It depends on the province; it is valuable even where optional.
Is overtime common?
On industrial and pipeline projects it is very common.
Can I take welding tests from abroad?
Some employers organise tests abroad or require them after arrival.
Is welding an Express Entry trade?
Welders have been eligible under Federal Skilled Trades; check current lists.
Summary and Next Step
Welding offers good prospects if you can prove your skill in practical tests. Prepare detailed references, check wages and use official employer data.