Intra-Company Transferees

Intra-company transferee work permits can permit qualifying multinational enterprises to transfer eligible personnel to a related Canadian business without an LMIA. This page focuses on the employer’s corporate relationship, Canadian operations and compliance evidence. Transferees reviewing their own work permit eligibility can also see Intra-Company Transfer , Worker Guidance.

Corporate relationship

The Canadian and foreign businesses must have a qualifying relationship, such as parent, subsidiary, branch or affiliate, and the relevant enterprises must be carrying on qualifying business. New-office cases require additional evidence showing credible establishment and operations in Canada.

Qualifying workers

ICT categories principally address executives, senior managers and workers with specialized knowledge. The worker’s prior employment with the related foreign enterprise, proposed Canadian duties and organizational position should be documented carefully.

Specialized knowledge

Specialized-knowledge cases require more than a generic assertion that the employee is experienced. The evidence should establish the knowledge required by the applicable ICT instructions and explain why the worker’s expertise is sufficiently specialized in the context of the enterprise and Canadian position.

Employer process

Where the ICT exemption applies, the Canadian employer generally submits the offer through the Employer Portal and pays the employer compliance fee before the worker submits the work-permit application, unless an exemption applies.

Evidence commonly reviewed

• Corporate ownership and relationship documents
• Foreign and Canadian business operations
• Worker’s employment history
• Organizational charts and reporting structure
• Detailed Canadian job description
• Specialized-knowledge evidence where applicable
• Business plan, premises and staffing plan for a new Canadian operation