Producers do not require a work permit to enter the country but artists and crew members will get an LMIA work permit.
The Canadian Government to promote their revenue income and infrastructural aspect is offering work permit processing for professionals engaged in film shooting works at Canadian locations.
Covid restrictions in Canada have already been lifted. Fully vaccinated Travellers coming to Canada have to show the reports of a rapid Covid test. Whereas various Canadian provinces have reduced their restrictions related to Covid like the need for masks.
The Canadian film and TV industry are set to show its grace this year. The Canadian Government is making huge investments for the TV and film industry of its country. The chief of the province of Nova Scotia is ready to fly to L.A. to catch the directors of Netflix, Disney, and other studios of NBC. A studio in Burnaby is being constructed in a 3 lakh sq ft area of BC.
The Canadian Government has realized the importance of the T.V. and film industry after it has benefited the country socially, culturally, and economically. Thus, it has relieved professionals working as producers and crew members to enter the country without a work permit and LMIA exemption respectively.
Below is explained how TV and film crew members can enter Canadian province.
Professionals belonging to the TV and film industry and visiting Canada for work purposes may be exempt from the LMIA process.
Any professional moving to a Canadian province either requires an LMIA or is exempt from the LMIA process. The motive of an LMIA is to demonstrate to the government of Canada that there will be no harm to the Canadian Labour Market if the worker enters the country. This indirectly means that there will be no shortage of Canadian workers because of foreign workers coming to the country.
Work permit exemption from the LMIA process is when the specified work adds to Canadian cultural, monetary, and social aspects. Thus, such work permits do not need to show an LMIA. Work permits exempted from an LMIA are for workers who are engaged in any profession that is categorized as deemed essential. This gives them eligibility for the Television and Film Production Workers category.
The eligibility criteria for an LMIA exempt work permit are dependent if the job role is important for production. Since there is no specified list available of essential job roles. So, the definition of essential job roles is dependent on various factors like evidence provided in support of workers, etc.
Non-requirement of an LMIA
Workers engaged in specific job roles in the TV and film industry which do not demand advertisements do not require an LMIA.
Visa for business persons Actors, other crucial members of the production, producers qualifying as Business Visitors do not require a work permit.
There are mainly 3 categories that are eligible for getting recognition as a business visitor.
- Producers visiting Canada to execute a film/documentary/show which is entirely funded by any foreign party. The collaboration of the party funding the show and the Canadian businesses do not qualify.
- Workers entering the country for conducting commercial photoshoots can no longer stay more than 14 days. The same criteria for “essential personnel” are also applicable here.
- Artists- Artists staging shows, festivals, dramas, or coming as a guest which is recorded in Canada for a limited time can be considered as business visitors.
TV and film workers prioritized Work permit applications of professionals of the TV and film industry will take a processing time of 21 days. After this, the workers can enter their message in “Your inquiry”.
Faster processing by using the “FILMTV2020” code
The IRCC generates the final decision of work permit application within 21 days. The initial 5 days involve identification of the application whereas 2 weeks are dedicated to processing the application. Applicants can use the “FILMTV2020” code to make the processing of applications faster.
