Foreign workers or people from other countries can work in Canada without doing an LMIA if they fall under the following categories.
International Mobility Program is a work permit under IRCC that aims to level up the social, cultural, and economic development of the country. All these work permits do not require LMIA as the government categorizes it as a “significant benefit” or its exemption will fall under the reciprocal category.
In case of hiring conditions that are categorized under either work permit exemptions or LMIA exemption codes will not need to follow LMIA. If an employer aims to hire workers across different nations, they first have to make a payment for the employee compliance fee and an employment offer via IRCC’s online portal.
The employers of the province of Quebec are not required to submit a Quebec Acceptance Certificate for hiring employees through IMP.
Here’s the list of LMIA exempt work permits and programs of Canada.
Intra Company Transfer
MNCs can transfer their staff to Canada through ICT.
This facility is only available to the MNCs whose main branch or subsidiary branch is operational in a Canadian location. Only having a physical location is not enough.
CUSMA
Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement is a work permit that enables the citizens of Mexico and the U.S. for getting the status of Canadian permanent residency.
CUSMA was previously called NAFTA enables the resident and citizens of the U.S. and Mexico to reciprocate talented workers across their borders without LMIA.
CUSMA has the following 4 categories for temporary workers
- CUSMA professional- Professionals qualifying to work in at least 60 industries.
CUSMA Intra Company Transfer- Workers, executives having knowledge and experience in a specified industry moving to Canada for job purposes.
CUSMA Traders- People coming from the U.S. and Mexico to Canada for the trading of goods and services.
CUSMA Investors- Investors who invest in running businesses based in Canada for developing the businesses.
CETA
The CETA stands for Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement which is an agreement made between the European Union and its states.
Following is the list of set of workers benefiting from CETA
- Business visitors- People visiting Canada for business/ investment purposes
- Investors- Investors of Europe making investments in businesses based in Canada for directing and developing the business.
- Employee transfer- Personnel of any business transferred to any Canadian branch.
- Service suppliers and independent workers – This category are for specified categories of suppliers and independent employees.
Media related professionals
Employers of TV and films can hire employees through TV and Film Production Work permits.
Canadian and foreign TV and production companies can hire professionals from other nations by simply demonstrating the need for talent for Canadian production. Such professionals can enter Canada through this permit.
Entrepreneurial visits- Business professionals can come to Canada without a work permit if they aim to perform business-related activities. This includes professionals entering Canada to appear in conferences, purchase Canadian commodities, giving or take training.
Business visitors have to pass the following requirements
The stay duration should be less than 180 days and the professional should not try to work in the Canadian labor market. The mainstream of income or profits should be external to Canada.
After the foreign professional meets the requirements, he/she needs to show an admissible passport, basic money to incur all the expenses for the duration, and criminally and medically valid.
Entrepreneurial visitors will either require an Electronic Travel Authorization or a TRV to travel through the country.
After-sales support service
Workers dealing in repair work, installation work, servicing, and testing work of equipment do not require a work permit.
Installation does not necessarily count setting up techniques done by building traders and construction workers like electricians, plumbers, or pipefitters.
Services offered post-sales also apply for workers entering Canadian provinces to install, set up, or repair instruments, pieces of equipment that are purchased outside of Canada. It includes the service that should be performed at the time of original sales with a valid agreement or warranty contract.
It also includes scenarios of sales or purchase agreements related to software. Workers entering Canadian provinces for installation purposes or for giving training to other professionals will also be considered in the category of Business visitors.
Workers performing the tasks of building construction are not covered under this provision.
