Home / LMIA-exempt work permits
Business mobility · Canada
Work permits without an LMIA.
Explore intra-company transfers and free trade agreement work permits for eligible employees, professionals and business people. Get clear advice on the route that fits your circumstances.
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What does LMIA-exempt mean?
An LMIA exemption allows an eligible worker to apply for a work permit without the employer first obtaining an LMIA. These routes generally fall under the International Mobility Program (IMP).
An exemption from an LMIA is not automatically an exemption from a work permit. The specific category must fit the person, the work and the employer. Many of the routes on this page lead to an employer-specific work permit.
Assess the exemption before choosing the application route.
Citizenship, occupation, qualifications, company relationships and the proposed Canadian activities can all matter. If no suitable exemption applies, a high-wage, low-wage or GTS LMIA may be worth assessing.
Official guidance: LMIA exemptions and work permit exemptions.
Intra-company transfers to Canada
An intra-company transfer (ICT) may allow an eligible employee to move temporarily from a foreign business to a related Canadian enterprise. The two businesses must have a qualifying parent, subsidiary, branch or affiliate relationship.
Executives and managers
We review the actual responsibilities, reporting structure and Canadian role. A senior-sounding title alone is not enough.
Specialized knowledge
Evidence must support the required proprietary knowledge and advanced expertise, and explain why the Canadian role needs it.
Under the general ICT rules, applicants normally need at least one continuous year of full-time employment abroad in a similar role during the previous three years. The multinational business, proposed transfer and benefit to Canada must also meet the category’s requirements.
Opening a Canadian company alone does not establish eligibility. New-enterprise applications need evidence such as a credible business plan, financial capacity, premises and staffing plans.
ICTs may qualify under the general provisions or an applicable trade agreement. The rules must be assessed for the specific route.
Official guidance: IRCC’s general ICT requirements.
Free trade agreement work permits
Canada’s trade agreements can facilitate temporary entry for defined categories of business people. Citizenship or eligible residence alone does not qualify someone: the work and supporting evidence must also meet the relevant agreement.
| Agreement | Who it may help | What we assess |
|---|---|---|
| CUSMA | Eligible U.S. and Mexican citizens. | Listed professionals, intra-company transferees, traders and investors. U.S. or Mexican permanent residence alone is insufficient. |
| CETA | Eligible citizens of European Union member states. | Company transfers, contractual service suppliers, independent professionals, investors and certain technologists, with category-specific conditions. |
| CUKTCA | Eligible UK citizens under the Canada–UK Trade Continuity Agreement. | The applicable professional, transfer or investment category and its supporting evidence. |
| CPTPP | Eligible nationals, and certain permanent residents, of participating countries. | Country-specific access to professionals and technicians, intra-corporate transfers and investor categories. |
Other agreements may be relevant, including those with Chile, Peru, Colombia and South Korea. Available categories, occupation coverage and documentation vary by agreement.
Official category guidance: CUSMA · CETA · CUKTCA · CPTPP · Other agreements.
For professionals, the details of the work matter.
We compare your proposed duties, education, professional credentials and contracts with the applicable category. We also assess whether licensing or registration is required to practise in Canada.
What does the employer need to do?
For most employer-specific LMIA-exempt work permits, the employer must submit an offer through IRCC’s Employer Portal and pay the CAD $230 employer compliance fee, unless an exemption applies.
The employer provides the offer of employment number to the worker for the work permit application. The offer, exemption explanation and supporting documents should tell a consistent story about the role and why it qualifies.
Employer obligations continue after approval, including complying with the employment conditions and keeping the required records. A work permit exemption or open work permit follows a different process.
Official guidance: hiring through the International Mobility Program.
How Tudor House can help
We connect the business context with the immigration requirements, so you understand why a route may fit and what evidence is needed.
- Identify the possible route.
Discuss citizenship, work history, duties, location, business relationships and timing.
- Check the category against the facts.
Assess the relevant ICT or trade-agreement provisions and identify gaps before preparing an application.
- Build a coherent submission.
Help organize corporate records, contracts, qualifications, role descriptions and supporting explanations within the agreed scope.
- Coordinate the application steps.
Where retained, assist with the employer offer and work permit application, and explain what to prepare for the next stage.
Have these details ready for our first conversation.
The worker’s citizenship and current status; job duties and salary; Canadian work location; company ownership and relationship; employment history; and any proposed service contract or expansion plan.
LMIA exemption questions
Do ICTs and trade-agreement permits allow work for any employer?
These routes generally produce employer-specific work permits. The worker must comply with the conditions on the permit. They are different from open work permits.
Does a U.S. green card qualify someone for CUSMA?
No. CUSMA’s Canadian temporary-entry provisions apply to eligible U.S. and Mexican citizens. Holding permanent residence in either country is not enough. Another route may still be available.
Can I incorporate a business in Canada and obtain an ICT permit?
Incorporation alone is insufficient. We need to assess the foreign and Canadian businesses, their relationship, your employment history and role, and the evidence required under the relevant ICT provisions.
Is a business visitor the same as an LMIA-exempt worker?
No. Some qualifying business visitor activities can be performed without a work permit, while an LMIA-exempt employee generally still needs a work permit. The planned activities must be assessed before deciding how to enter Canada.
Can my spouse work, and can this lead to permanent residence?
Family work permit eligibility depends on the applicable category and current rules; it is not automatic. ICT and trade-agreement permits authorize temporary work. Any permanent residence strategy needs a separate assessment.
What if no exemption fits my situation?
We can assess whether an LMIA is appropriate, including high-wage, low-wage or Global Talent Stream options. Explore our LMIA services →.
Your consultant
Clear advice from Chris.
I’m Chris Brown, a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant. I help employers and workers understand their options, identify the evidence they need, and make informed decisions about their Canadian immigration applications.
We work online with clients across Canada and internationally. You can discuss the job, the business and the worker’s situation directly with me.
RCIC #R528923 · Verify my licence with the College
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Moving talent to Canada? Start with the right questions.
Tell Chris about the worker, the business and the proposed Canadian role. We’ll discuss whether an ICT, trade-agreement category or another pathway may be worth exploring.
We’ll explain the proposed scope, professional fees and next steps before you decide to proceed.