Find security guard jobs in Canada paying around C$22 per hour. Learn about LMIA sponsorship, licensing, work permits, requirements, applications and PR pathways.
Security guard jobs in Canada can pay approximately C$17 to C$30 per hour, depending on the province, employer, experience, licence, shift schedule and type of security work. A rate of C$22 per hour equals about C$45,760 annually for a full-time employee working 40 hours weekly.
Foreign workers can apply for security jobs in Canada, but obtaining a job offer does not automatically produce a visa. Most overseas applicants need an employer willing to support an employer-specific work permit, commonly through a positive Labour Market Impact Assessment, known as an LMIA.
This guide explains security guard salaries, licensing requirements, work permits, employer sponsorship and potential permanent residence pathways.
Security Guard Salaries in Canada
Security salaries vary considerably. Entry-level guards working in retail locations may earn less than guards assigned to airports, industrial facilities, hospitals, government buildings or remote projects.
Security position
Typical hourly range
Approximate annual income
Retail security guard
C$17 to C$22
C$35,360 to C$45,760
Mobile patrol guard
C$18 to C$25
C$37,440 to C$52,000
Hospital security officer
C$20 to C$29
C$41,600 to C$60,320
Industrial security guard
C$21 to C$30
C$43,680 to C$62,400
Loss-prevention officer
C$18 to C$27
C$37,440 to C$56,160
Armoured vehicle guard
C$22 to C$32
C$45,760 to C$66,560
These figures are estimates, not guaranteed wages. Applicants should check the current low, median and high rates for NOC 64410, security guards and related security service occupations, using the official Government of Canada Job Bank.
Overtime, night shifts, remote-site allowances and union agreements can increase total earnings.
Types of Security Guard Jobs Available
Common opportunities include:
Building and condominium security
Retail and shopping-centre security
Hospital security
Airport security
Construction-site security
Hotel and event security
Mobile patrol services
Industrial and warehouse security
Loss prevention
Armoured transport
Access-control monitoring
Corporate security reception
Applicants should read each vacancy carefully. Armed security, airport screening, government contracts and armoured transport may require additional licences, citizenship, permanent residence, security clearance or a Canadian driving licence.
Can Foreign Workers Obtain Visa Sponsorship?
Yes, but overseas sponsorship for entry-level security jobs is limited and competitive. A Canadian employer must usually show that it could not find a qualified Canadian citizen or permanent resident before employing a temporary foreign worker.
The normal process is:
The employer offers an eligible security position.
The employer applies for an LMIA when one is required.
Service Canada decides whether hiring a foreign worker is justified.
After receiving a positive LMIA, the employer gives the worker the LMIA number and employment contract.
The worker submits an employer-specific work-permit application to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, or IRCC.
Canada distinguishes between an employer-specific work permit, which requires a job offer, and an open work permit, which does not restrict the holder to one employer. Most foreign applicants cannot request an open permit simply because they found a security job. See the official IRCC work-permit portal.
Types of employment support
Route
Employer’s role
Important limitation
LMIA-based work permit
Obtains a positive LMIA and gives the worker a contract
Permit normally names the employer
LMIA-exempt work permit
Submits an offer through the Employer Portal when an exemption applies
Security jobs are not automatically exempt
RCIP job offer
Designated employer provides a qualifying offer
Job and community must meet RCIP rules
Provincial nomination
Employer supports a qualifying provincial application
Rules differ by province
Open work permit
Employer sponsorship is generally unnecessary
Only available to eligible categories
A company advertising security vacancies is not necessarily sponsoring international workers. Verify the immigration support attached to the specific vacancy.
Requirements for Security Guard Employment
Requirements vary by province, but employers commonly request:
Minimum age required by the province
Secondary-school education
Legal authorization to work in Canada
Provincial security guard licence
Mandatory security training
Criminal-record or background check
First Aid and CPR certification
English or French communication skills
Ability to write incident reports
Capacity to stand or patrol for extended periods
Availability for nights, weekends and holidays
A driving licence for mobile-patrol positions
Security licensing is regulated provincially. For example, Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia have separate training, examination and licensing processes. A licence obtained in one province may not be valid in another.
Foreign applicants usually secure legal work authorization first and then complete the licensing process required by the province. Do not assume that an overseas security certificate will replace a Canadian provincial licence.
Documents Required for a Work-Permit Application
Depending on the applicant’s situation, IRCC may request:
Valid international passport
Written job offer
Signed employment contract
Positive LMIA and LMIA number, when required
Employer Portal offer number for an LMIA-exempt job
Proof of education and security training
Employment reference letters
Curriculum vitae
Police certificates
Medical examination, if required
Biometrics
Passport photographs
Proof of funds for initial settlement
Marriage and birth certificates for accompanying family members
Evidence that the applicant is admissible to Canada
IRCC must be satisfied that the applicant will obey the conditions of the permit and leave Canada when the authorized stay ends, unless the person later obtains another valid status or permanent residence.
How to Find Security Guard Jobs With Sponsorship
Use the Job Bank’s section for foreign candidates outside Canada. Look for vacancies that explicitly state that international candidates may apply.
Apply through the employer’s official website whenever possible. A legitimate Canadian employer cannot guarantee visa approval.
Security Companies to Monitor for Vacancies
The following are established employers with security operations in Canada. Their inclusion does not mean that every vacancy offers LMIA support or visa sponsorship.
Confirm that the recruiter and vacancy appear on the agency’s official website. Never send passport details, banking passwords or payment to an unverified WhatsApp recruiter.
Steps to Get Visa Sponsorship
1. Select a province
Compare wages, licensing requirements, living costs and immigration programs. Research the provincial security regulator before accepting employment.
Prioritize advertisements that mention foreign candidates, LMIA support, designated-employer status or relocation assistance.
4. Complete the interview and verify the employer
Confirm the company’s corporate email domain, address, website and registration. The employment contract should state the wage, duties, location, hours and deductions.
5. Obtain the immigration documents
For an LMIA-based application, obtain a copy of the positive LMIA or its number and the signed contract. For an LMIA-exempt application, obtain the Employer Portal offer number.
6. Apply online through IRCC
Create an official IRCC account, complete the forms, upload the documents and pay the applicable government fees. Applicants may then receive instructions for biometrics or a medical examination.
7. Wait for a decision
Do not resign from your current job, sell major property or purchase a non-refundable flight solely because an employer issued an offer.
Applying at the Embassy and Work-Visa Verification
Canadian work-permit applications are generally submitted online to IRCC. The Canadian High Commission does not normally accept walk-in applications or verify private job offers at its gate.
Nigerian applicants may be instructed to provide biometrics or submit passports through an authorized Canada Visa Application Centre operated by VFS Global. A visa application centre is an administrative service provider. It does not decide applications.
Always confirm the current VFS address and appointment procedure through the official locator before travelling, because service locations can change.
Permanent Residence Pathways
A temporary security job does not automatically provide permanent residence.
Rural Community Immigration Pilot
The Rural Community Immigration Pilot, RCIP, can provide permanent residence to eligible workers with a job offer from a designated employer in a participating community. Security work may qualify only where the occupation is accepted by that community and all requirements are met.
Applicants generally need:
A qualifying designated-employer job offer
Relevant work experience or an eligible exemption
Language-test results
Education meeting the program standard
Community recommendation
Settlement funds
Check the official RCIP information and contact the participating community through its official website.
Provincial Nominee Programs
Some provincial nominee programs accept workers in occupations outside traditional professional categories. Eligibility depends on the province, employment history, job location, occupation, wage and employer.
A qualifying job offer from a designated employer in New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia or Prince Edward Island may support permanent residence under the Atlantic Immigration Program.
The employer must be officially designated, and the applicant must satisfy the program’s education, language, work-experience and settlement requirements.
Express Entry
Security guards fall under NOC 64410, generally classified as TEER 4. Security-guard experience by itself normally does not meet the skilled-work threshold for the Federal Skilled Worker Program or Canadian Experience Class, which generally use TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3 occupations.
A person may still qualify for Express Entry through experience in another eligible occupation. Do not advertise a security job as a guaranteed Express Entry pathway.
Settlement Benefits
Depending on the employer, province and immigration route, a worker may receive:
Provincial healthcare after meeting eligibility rules
Employment insurance and pension contributions
Paid vacation and statutory holiday entitlements
Workplace injury protection
Employer health or dental benefits
Relocation or accommodation assistance
Access to newcomer settlement services
Private insurance, housing, flights and family relocation are not automatically included. They must appear in the written employment contract.
Immigration Mistakes to Avoid
Paying someone for an LMIA or job offer
Believing a guaranteed-visa claim
Applying for jobs requiring Canadian citizenship or clearance
Ignoring provincial security-licensing rules
Submitting false experience letters or bank statements
Using an unlicensed immigration representative
Applying through a copied website or unofficial email address
Confusing a visitor visa with permission to work
Travelling before receiving the required approval documents
Assuming a C$22 hourly wage guarantees PR eligibility
Security guard jobs in Canada can provide stable employment at around C$22 per hour, but sponsorship is not automatic. The strongest application combines a genuine job offer, employer-supported work-permit documentation, the correct provincial security licence and a realistic immigration plan.
Verify every vacancy through the employer’s official careers page, confirm all immigration rules through IRCC and never pay for a promised job, LMIA or guaranteed Canadian visa.
