There’s often confusion between a Canadian visa, Canadian temporary resident visa, and a Canadian work permit, study permit, or visitor record. Are they all the same, or are they completely different things that serve different purposes? The answer is that they’re all different. They serve different purposes, and you may need one or the other, or both, in some
The Start-Up Visa program is designed for international entrepreneurs with innovative business ideas or existing businesses outside Canada. The program helps them secure funding and support to scale their ventures in Canada while simultaneously applying for permanent residency.
To qualify, applicants must partner with a designated organization to fund or support their business. These organizations are government-approved and fall into three categories:
Venture capital funds
Angel investor funds
Business incubators
A Humanitarian and Compassionate (H&C) application is a way to apply for permanent residency in Canada. It is for people who may not qualify under regular permanent residency programs.
To transfer an employee to Canada, companies often use the ICT—the Intra-Company Transfer program. This Canadian immigration program is mainly for multinational companies.
By “multinational,” we mean companies that operate in at least two countries outside Canada, in addition to their Canadian operations. In total, they must have three different businesses in three countries.
As far as Canadian immigration law and the ICT program are concerned, those are considered ICTs: multinational companies.
Changes to the Intra-Company Transfer (ICT) Program
The Government of Canada has introduced important changes to the Intra-Company Transfer (ICT) program. These changes will affect how international companies transfer executives and senior managers to Canada. One key change involves what multinational companies must prove before transferring an executive or senior manager to Canada.
A multinational company that wants to transfer an employee from one of its locations outside of Canada to its Canadian office may be able to secure work authorization for that employee for up to three years initially, or in some cases, five or even seven years. Given this, what are the employer’s obligations to ensure the employee has a position to return to in their home country after their time in Canada? Is it even necessary to show this?
There have been significant changes to Canada’s immigration program, specifically affecting international or multinational companies bringing, or wanting to bring, specialized knowledge workers to Canada. The definition of specialized knowledge workers has changed, and this has, and will continue to have, a major impact on a company’s ability to apply for work permits for its employees successfully.
If you applied for a Canadian study permit and your application was refused, what are your options? Do you have options? Is it the end of the road for you? Probably not. You do have options. However, before you explore them, one of the first things you want to do is try to understand the reason behind the refusal. Once you’re clear on the reasons—the real reasons—then you can plot your path forward.
There have been some significant changes to the Canadian work permit program, which many international, multinational companies rely on to secure work permits for their employees inside Canada. One of the major updates is a change in the definition of what qualifies as a multinational corporation for applying for a work permit under Canada’s intra-company transfer program (ICT).
If a work permit holder in Canada has a permit with a specific work location, can they choose to work somewhere else once they arrive? The answer is yes, but before doing so, they may need to apply for a change of location request.
Hi there, welcome back. My name is Donovan Francis. I’m a Canadian immigration lawyer, and I help businesses with their employees’ work permit applications, saving them from all the legal hassle. In this video, I want to talk to you about the Intra-Company Transfer Startup Program, or ICT Startup.
The ICT Startup helps multinational companies that don’t yet have operations in Canada to eventually set up and send employees here.
When a Canadian employer is hiring a foreign national by submitting an offer of employment, they must include information about the wages the foreign worker will be paid. These wages need to match the median prevailing wage, meaning they should be similar to what others are paid for doing the same job in the same area as the foreign worker.
Using an unlicensed immigration agent and paying that agent to complete your Canadian immigration application comes with many risks. One of those risks is that your application may be refused outright, but even more important is the risk that you yourself may end up being barred from ever applying to enter Canada for a period of at least 5 years due to misrepresentation.
A Temporary Residency Permit (TRP) is available in certain circumstances where an applicant may otherwise not be allowed into Canada. Generally speaking, there are situations where someone—such as an employee, an applicant for a study permit, or a family member applying for a work permit—may be barred from entering Canada due to an issue that occurred in the past. These issues are referred to as inadmissibility’s.
A reconsideration request is where you, the applicant, or your legal representative reach out to immigration authorities. You argue that the decision on the refused application was wrong. The officer who made the decision may have missed some information or made a simple mistake.
If you are sure that, had this error been noticed or the missed information been considered, the decision would have been different, a reconsideration request is a good approach to try and reverse the negative outcome.
When a Canadian employer wants to hire a foreign national, they first need to engage the government of Canada. This lets the government decide if the position should be filled by a foreign national or a Canadian. One way the government gets involved is through what’s called an offer of employment.
When a Canadian or foreign business wants to hire a foreign national in Canada using a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA), the business must provide supporting documents to immigration authorities. These documents prove the business is legitimate, active in Canada, and financially capable of paying the foreign national.
Employers in Canada seeking to hire a foreign national must follow specific steps before being granted authorization. One key step in this process is the requirement to advertise the job locally. These advertisements must meet set guidelines and be posted for a stipulated period before the employer can apply to hire a foreign worker.
Maintained status allows you to legally remain in Canada under the same conditions as your previous permit while waiting for a decision on your extension application. If you submit an application to extend your permit before it expires, you can stay in Canada and continue to work or study, depending on your permit type. This status keeps you protected until the immigration authorities make a final decision on your application.
After filing a Canadian immigration application, authorities may send a procedural fairness letter before refusing your application. This letter gives you the chance to address concerns raised by the immigration officer before a final decision is made. So, how should you respond?
When you submit a Canadian work permit application, there’s no guarantee it will be approved. If your application gets refused, it’s essential to know the real reasons for the refusal before deciding how to proceed.
If you’re an international student or a Canadian employer looking to hire an international student who has finished their studies, you might wonder if that student can work in Canada. The answer is yes—they might be able to work after applying for a Post-Graduate Work Permit (PGWP). In fact, many students can start working as soon as they submit their application, even before the PGWP is issued.
When a Canadian work permit, study permit, or even visa application gets refused, one option available to the applicant is to apply for a reconsideration of the decision. But the question is, do reconsideration requests actually work? The answer is yes, they do work—if there’s something valid to reconsider and if the officer’s decision was indeed incorrect.
The role of a technical lead is one of the most sought-after tech positions in Canada. If you are a Canadian employer looking to bring a foreign technical lead to Canada, you might be able to do so through several options, including the Intra-Company Transfer program or special LMIA programs.
Systems Analysts are tech professionals that Canadian employers often need. If you run a business and want to bring a Systems Analyst or several to Canada, you might be able to do so through the ICT (Intra-Company Transferee) Program. There are also other options available for Systems Analysts who want to work in Canada.
Software developers and programmers are among the most common professionals to receive work permits to work in Canada. If you run a company and want to hire a software developer who is not based in Canada, there may be a way to do so through a program known as the Intra-Company Transfer (ICT) or through other immigration options available for technical workers.
Technical architects are among the most common groups of professionals to be issued work permits to work in Canada on behalf of a Canadian employer. So, if you are a business owner or part of an organization that wants to bring technical architects to work in your Canadian operation, there may be a way for you to do so under a program known as the ICT.
Solutions architects are among many tech workers who may be able to transition to Canada on a work permit. If you are a Canadian employer and you are wanting to bring solutions architects to Canada, there may be several options available to you. Included in those options would be the intra-company transfer option.
Big Data scientists are among the roles that we’ve seen employers actively trying to secure work permits for to bring workers to Canada. If you are looking to bring a Big Data scientist to Canada, there may be options just by virtue of the nature of the work that a Big Data scientist does. One of those options may well be the intra-company transfer program (ICT).
If you are a foreign entrepreneur or innovator looking to establish your business in Canada and become permanent residents under the Startup Visa Program, a crucial element is first identifying and winning the support of a designated organization inside Canada.
Canada’s Startup Visa program helps foreign entrepreneurs and innovators set up their company in Canada and become Canadian permanent residents. To apply, you need two key documents: a commitment certificate and a letter or letters of support. What are these documents and how do they differ?
If you are a foreign entrepreneur with the skills and know-how to build an innovative company in Canada and scale it to eventually hire Canadians and potentially become a global company, then the Startup Visa may be the option for you. This visa allows you to bring your family and business partners to Canada.
If you own a business and have a hard-to-fill position in Canada, and you have a family member outside Canada with the needed skills, you may be able to hire them using an LMIA (Labour Market Impact Assessment). However, your LMIA application must be very thorough.
A foreign entrepreneur and innovator who has applied for Canadian permanent residency under the Startup Visa program can also apply for a work permit as part of that application. However, there are specific requirements that must be met.
As a Canadian employer bringing foreign workers to Canada on work permits, it's crucial to be prepared for the possibility of an immigration audit. Each new work permit issued to your employees increases the chances of facing...
If you're a Canadian employer whose business relies on certain unique specialised tools, products, or processes, and you want to transfer employees to Canada, chances are those employees may fall into what is called a specialised knowledge category of workers. You may...
In this case study, we will share how we successfully assist a Canadian employer to bring hundreds of specialised knowledge workers to Canada under the Intra-Company Transfer (ICT) program. Understanding Specialized Knowledge Workers A specialised knowledge worker is...
If you have a business in the US and a related branch of that business in India, you may be unsure if you can set up a similar business in Canada and then bring employees to Canada.” The answer is yes, you absolutely can. We'll talk about how we've been able to...
In today's globalised world, it is common for Canadian employers and multinational companies to transfer specialised knowledge workers to Canada. But what about employees at the senior managerial level? Can they also be transferred? The answer is a resounding yes....
Are you an American company owner with dreams of expanding your business into Canada? Wondering if it's possible to set up a business operation in Canada and transfer yourself and your family there on work permits? The answer is a resounding yes! In this case study,...
If you are a Canadian employer who wants to support the work permit application of a foreign employee by applying for a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA), then you will want to know that there are fees associated with that LMIA application. There will be LMIA...
If you're a business owner in one of the countries in the European Union and you're thinking of setting up a business in Canada and transferring employees to Canada, is this even possible? It absolutely is. In this blog post, we will delve into a case study of a...
As a multinational corporation, have you ever wondered if it's possible to transfer multiple employees to your Canadian company simultaneously? The answer is a resounding yes! In fact, it's not only possible but also entirely feasible to bring in large volumes of...
As an employer in the United States, you may encounter situations where your employees on H-1B visas are nearing expiration. In such cases, it's essential to explore available options to retain these valuable employees. Fortunately, Canada provides potential solutions...
When a spouse is undocumented in Canada, families face a difficult choice. They must either find a way to get documented here or journey back to their home country to live together. This decision affects the entire future of a family, making the documentation process...
Understanding a Canada work permit is essential for a foreign worker family. This matters because it decides if your family can legally stay together. It directly affects a common law partner, dependent children in Canada, and seasonal agricultural workers. Your...
Several of Canada's immigration programs require foreign nationals to first understand their National Occupational Classification (NOC) code. The NOC system generates a code that identifies almost every single type of work inside Canada. When a foreign national...
A frequent situation arises when an employer submits a work permit application for a foreign worker. On the application, the employer lists a specific client location or office address as the place where the employee will be working. However, in industries like IT or...
Humanitarian and Compassionate considerations (H&C) serve as a specialized pathway for individuals seeking permanent residence in Canada who do not meet the requirements of standard immigration streams. While most people apply through programs like Express Entry,...
If you are a business owner with a company outside of Canada and are looking to transfer an employee to a Canadian branch or subsidiary, the Intra-Company Transfer (ICT) program may be an option. This program allows you to transfer an eligible employee from one entity...
Canadian employers who wish to hire a foreign national must often apply for a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). This process involves an employer demonstrating to Canadian immigration authorities that they have not been able to find a Canadian citizen or...
The Canadian immigration process is often overwhelming for businesses and individuals. Navigating the complex legal requirements to hire foreign workers or secure permanent status requires a strategic approach. High application volumes mean that Immigration, Refugees...
Sponsorship applications in 2026 involve a high level of scrutiny that can lead to refusals even for genuine couples. Many applicants are unaware of common errors that frequently appear in refused files. Understanding these pitfalls is essential for anyone navigating...
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