Intra Company Transfer (ICT)

Canada Intra Company Transfer Work Permit, sometimes called Canada ICT Visa, is suitable for key workers and owners of multinational corporations who will be transferred to work in the affiliated Canadian company, either start-up or established one.

There are many advantages of inter company transfer to Canada, as compared to applying for a regular work permit. In addition to transferring expertise of key staff to the Canadian affiliate, getting ICT Work Permit is facilitated. It does not require an LMIA [labour market impact assessment] qualifies for 2-week processing time under the Global Skills Strategy, as well as experience gained on ICT Work Permit can be used to facilitate immigration to Canada after one year of working for Canadian affiliate.

Canadian and foreign enterprises must be legal entities that have a parent, subsidiary, branch or affiliate business relationship. Both Canadian and foreign companies must be, or will be doing business. Doing business regularly means, systematically, and continuously providing goods and/or services by a parent, branch, subsidiary, or affiliate in Canada and foreign countries, as the case may be. It does not include the mere presence of an agent or office in Canada. For instance, a company with no employees which exists in name only and is established for the sole purpose of facilitating the entry of intra-company transferees would not qualify. Evidence of the fact that a company is actively doing business such as annual reports (for public companies), articles of incorporation, profit/loss statements, partnership agreements, license to do business, business tax returns and registration with Canada Customs and Revenue Agency as an employer, may be useful. Both the Canadian and the foreign branches of the company must be doing business for the intended stay in Canada of the intra-company transfers.

Intra-Company Transferee Work Permit: Overview

One way to come to Canada despite the current travel restrictions is an Intra-Company Transferee Work Permit Application under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations. The Intra-Company Transferee Work Permit provides those with international companies the opportunity to temporarily relocate employees to Canada who meet the required criteria. Once the applicant obtains their Work Permit and begins working in Canada, they will gain Canadian work experience which may ultimately be used as a basis for their Application for Permanent Residence.

A significant advantage to Intra-Company Transferee Work Permit Applications is that applicants are exempt from the requirement to obtain a positive Labour Market Impact Assessment (“LMIA”) before making the Work Permit Application. Obtaining an LMIA can be a daunting and difficult process; therefore, being able to bypass this step is particularly appealing to many employers and potential Intra-Company Transferee applicants.

Spousal Open Work Permit & Length of Permit

For Intra-Company Transferee Work Permit holders looking to travel to Canada with their family, their spouse will be eligible to apply for a Spousal Open Work Permit and their dependent children (age 21 and under) may apply for either Visitor Records or Study Permits (depending on their age) so that they may accompany their family member to Canada. The Spousal Open Work Permit allows the qualifying spouse to work for any employer in Canada during the term of the Work Permit’s validity. Initial Intra-Company Transferee Work Permits may be valid for up to 3 years, with the possibility of extending the Work Permit in 2-year increments, up to a maximum of 7 years. For start-up companies in Canada, initial Intra-Company Transferee Work Permits are usually valid for 1 year.

Necessary Requirements

In order to qualify for the Intra-Company Transferee Work Permit, there are various criteria both the partaking companies and the applicant must meet. Prior to applying for an Intra-Company Transferee Work Permit, the following must be established:

• There must be 2 legally established companies (a Canadian company and a foreign company) that have either a branch, affiliate or parent/subsidiary relationship. This may require the incorporation of a company in Canada prior to the Work Permit Application. For there to be a parent/subsidiary relationship, the foreign company would need to own the Canadian company or vice versa. For an affiliate relationship, the definition is:
  • one of 2 subsidiaries, both of which are owned and controlled by the same parent or individual; or
  • one of 2 legal entities, owned and controlled by the same group of individuals, each individual owning and controlling approximately the same share or proportion of each company.
• Both companies must be actively and legitimately doing business, or in the case of a start-up Canadian company, be on the verge of actively doing business;
• The applicant must have been employed continuously and full-time by the foreign company for at least 1 out of the previous 3 years as an executive (e.g. president, CEO, vice-president, etc.) or as a senior manager (manager of a department in a company or manager of other managers, supervisors or professional employees). In turn, those deemed to be specialized knowledge workers for the company may also qualify to be transferred; and
• Finally, the applicant must be being transferred to the Canadian company to fulfill a position similar in nature to the position they held with the foreign company.

As part of an Intra-Company Transferee Work Permit Application, a variety of supporting documents clearly illustrating the success and legitimacy of both companies must be submitted. In addition, documents detailing the qualifications of the applicant must also be included.

Canadian Start-Up Companies

For those being transferred to a Canadian start-up company, the issuance of a Work Permit will be largely dependent on whether the new company has legitimatized itself in Canada to the extent possible, such as by securing leased premises, establishing a prospective customer basis and by providing proof of the company’s ability to financially sustain itself in Canada.

Long-Term Goals: Permanent Resident Status

As outlined above, coming to Canada temporarily as an Intra-Company Transferee Work Permit holder may open the door to various pathways toward Canadian Permanent Residence by helping either the Work Permit holder or their spouse obtain the required work experience in Canada to allow them to apply for Permanent Residence.

Whether you wish to discuss the growth of your business in Canada or your desire to work in Canada as a qualifying employee, we would be happy to speak with you about your options and this unique program.