The Canadian Intra-Company Transfer (ICT) program allows foreign nationals to work temporarily in Canada for their international employer’s Canadian branch, parent company, subsidiary, or affiliate. ICT work permits are exempt from the Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) requirement, but applicants must meet specific criteria
Key Points:
Employees must be currently employed at a foreign multinational company (MNC).
The applicant’s work in Canada must be managerial, executive, or involving specialized knowledge.
The applicant must have worked full-time for a minimum of one continuous year in a comparable role in the last three years.
Part-time employees may be considered based on the number of years worked, comparability of positions, extent of part-time work, and program abuse prevention.
Recent corporate acquisitions or mergers can bypass the one-year continuous employment requirement if the employee has worked for one of the new corporation’s affiliates.
Established foreign MNCs must be actively conducting business with their Canadian company, providing goods and services on an on-going basis.
Start-ups must demonstrate financial capability, provide a business plan, secure a physical location, and prove Canadian management will direct the work.
Successful start-up applicants receive a one-year temporary work permit, renewable if the start-up maintains a qualifying relationship with a Canadian entity and actively conducts business in Canada.
The ICT program offers a streamlined process for transferring skilled employees to Canada, making it an attractive option for international businesses and their employees.
