To give Canadian businesses the best possible conditions in which to compete internationally, Canada has signed bilateral and multilateral free trade agreements (FTAs). Most of the FTAs to which Canada is a party contain provisions designed to facilitate the temporary movement of business people to Canada.
In general, foreign workers who qualify under a free trade agreement (FTA) still need awork permitin order to work in Canada, but they are exempt from theLabour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA)requirement, which makes obtaining a work permit faster, less costly and more straightforward.
The Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) is the largest free trade agreement Canada is party to, and it has much in common with the other free trade agreements Canada has signed:
- The Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement between Canada and the European Union (CETA), together with the FTAs between Canada and Chile, Peru, Colombia and South Korea, all contain provisions allowing temporary entry for four categories of business person: traders, professionals, intra-company transferees and investors.
- Under the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS), professionals may enter Canada either as professionals or asintra-company transferees (ICT).
Entry requirements differ considerably between categories; in every case, however, the Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) requirement is waived.
Contents
The Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA)
The Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) was formerly known as the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). It makes it easier for citizens of the United States and Mexico to obtain a work permit in Canada without a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA).
Under CUSMA, eligible workers can apply under four categories: professionals, intra-company transferees, investors and traders. These provisions simplify the work permit process, reduce costs and processing times, and support trade and labour cooperation between the three countries. Workers must meet specific requirements to be approved.
Read more about how to obtainWork permits through CUSMA.
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The Canada-Chile Free Trade Agreement (CCFTA)
The Canada-Chile Free Trade Agreement (CCFTA) gives Chilean citizens the opportunity to obtain a Canadian work permit on preferential terms, in much the same way as other trade agreements such as CUSMA. The CCFTA allows eligible Chilean workers to work in Canada without a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA), which simplifies the work permit process.
Chilean workers can apply for a work permit under the following categories: professionals, business persons, investors and traders.
The CCFTA makes it easier for Chilean citizens to pursue career opportunities in Canada while strengthening economic cooperation between the two countries.
Read more about how to obtainWork permits through the CCFTA.
The Canada-Peru Free Trade Agreement (CPFTA)
The Canada-Peru Free Trade Agreement (CPFTA) gives Peruvian citizens the opportunity to work in Canada through a simpler process, with no Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) required. This reduces administrative steps and shortens work permit processing times.
Peruvian workers can apply for a work permit under the following categories: professionals, business persons, investors and traders. The CPFTA broadens career opportunities for Peruvian citizens in Canada while enabling Canadian businesses to draw on talent from Peru.
The LMIA exemption under the CPFTA not only helps workers but also strengthens economic cooperation between the two countries, supporting bilateral trade and investment across a range of important sectors.
Read more about how to obtainWork permits through the CPFTA.
The Canada-Colombia Free Trade Agreement (CCOFTA)
The Canada-Colombia Free Trade Agreement (CCOFTA) allows Colombian citizens to obtain a Canadian work permit without a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). This simplifies the process, reduces costs and processing times, and makes it easier for Colombian workers to access the Canadian labour market.
Under the CCOFTA, Colombian workers can apply for a work permit under the following categories: professionals, business persons, investors and traders. These provisions are intended to promote economic cooperation and trade between the two countries, while giving Canadian businesses access to skilled talent from Colombia.
The LMIA exemption under the CCOFTA helps Colombian citizens find lawful employment opportunities in Canada and strengthens labour, investment and economic ties between the two countries.
Read more about how to obtainWork permits through the CCOFTA.
The Canada-Korea Free Trade Agreement (CKFTA)
The Canada-Korea Free Trade Agreement (CKFTA) makes it easier for South Korean citizens to obtain a Canadian work permit without a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). The CKFTA simplifies the process, shortens processing times and broadens career opportunities for South Korean workers in Canada.
Under the CKFTA, South Korean citizens can apply for a work permit under the following categories: professionals, intra-company transferees, investors and traders. These provisions help workers access the Canadian labour market and also promote economic and investment cooperation between the two countries.
The LMIA exemption under the CKFTA makes it easier for Canadian businesses to recruit highly skilled South Korean workers, to the benefit of both countries in developing talent and expanding trade cooperation.
Read more about how to obtainWork permits through the CKFTA.
The Canada-EU Free Trade Agreement (CETA)
The Canada-European Union Free Trade Agreement (CETA) makes it easier for citizens of EU countries to obtain a Canadian work permit without a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA).
The member states of the European Union (EU) are: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Republic of Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden.
Under CETA, eligible EU citizens can obtain a Canadian work permit under the following categories: professionals, intra-company transferees, investors and traders. These provisions give Canadian businesses access to highly skilled European talent and create further employment opportunities for EU workers in Canada.
CETA not only supports bilateral trade and investment but also drives economic growth by increasing the mobility of skilled workers between Canada and the European Union.
Read more about how to obtainWork permits through CETA.
The General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS)
The World Trade Organization’s General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) allows citizens of member states to obtain a Canadian work permit as temporary workers. The General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) covers the 164 member states of the World Trade Organization (WTO), including major economies such as the United States, Canada, the European Union (EU), China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, Brazil, India and many others.
Under GATS, certain professionals in service sectors can be issued a work permit without a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA), which simplifies the process and shortens processing times.
GATS allows foreign workers to come to Canada under two main categories: skilled professionals and intra-company transferees. These categories make it easier for multinational companies to bring highly qualified staff to work in Canada.
Through GATS, Canada not only attracts international talent but also supports global trade in services, creating opportunities for cooperation between businesses and professionals from many different countries.
Read more about how to obtainWork permits through GATS.
The Canada – Panama Free Trade Agreement (CPAFTA)
The Canada – Panama Free Trade Agreement (CPAFTA) makes it easier for Panamanian citizens to obtain a Canadian work permit on preferential terms, in line with other trade agreements. The CPAFTA allows eligible Panamanian workers to work in Canada without a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA), which simplifies the work permit process.
Under the CPAFTA, Panamanian citizens can apply for a work permit under categories such as professionals, business persons, investors and traders. The agreement helps Panamanian workers access the Canadian labour market and also supports bilateral trade and investment cooperation between the two countries.
The CPAFTA broadens career opportunities for Panamanian citizens in Canada and strengthens economic ties between the two countries.
Read more about how to obtainWork permits through the CPAFTA.
The Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP)
The Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) makes it easier for nationals of member countries to obtain a work permit in Canada under preferential terms.
The Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) currently covers 12 member countries: Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, the United Kingdom and Vietnam.
The CPTPP gives workers from participating countries access to the Canadian labour market without a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA), which simplifies the work permit process.
Under the CPTPP, workers may apply for a work permit in categories such as professionals, intra-company transferees, investors and traders. This supports the movement of skilled labour, opens up career opportunities in Canada and strengthens economic cooperation between the member countries.
The CPTPP does more than widen employment opportunities: it also provides a platform for trade and investment between Canada and its partners across the Asia-Pacific region.
Read more about how to obtainWork permits through the CPTPP.
Read more about Canada’s trade and investment agreements athere.
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