Other Free Trade Agreements

Canada has entered into Free Trade Agreements with multiple countries to facilitate the reciprocal entry of business persons between the countries. If a foreign national is eligible for a work permit under a Free Trade Agreement, they will not require a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). Canada is a signatory to many Free Trade Agreements, including the following:

• Canada-Chile Free Trade Agreement
• Canada-Colombia Free Trade Agreement
• Canada-European Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA)
• Canada-Korea Free Trade Agreement
• Canada-Peru Free Trade Agreement
• General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS)
• North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)
  
  

Canada-European Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement

If a foreign national is a citizen of a member state of the European Union (EU) and they are an independent professional, intra-company transferee, contractual services supplier, or investor they may be eligible for a work permit under the Canada-European Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA).

Independent Professionals

To qualify for a work permit as an independent professional under CETA, a foreign national must demonstrate that they:

• Are a citizen of an EU member state;
• Are providing a service to a Canadian entity on a temporary basis as a self-employed person;
• Are employed in a designated occupation;
• Have at least six years of relevant professional experience;
• Have a university degree or an equivalent qualification; and
• Have valid provincial, territorial, or federal certification, licensing, or registration in the province or territory in which the contract is executed (if required). 

There are many designated occupations for independent professionals, including the following:

Please note that this is not an exhaustive list and many of these occupations have restrictions.

Citizens of EU member states do not require a temporary resident visa (TRV) to enter Canada. Therefore, they may apply for a work permit at a Canadian port-of-entry (e.g. international airport, land crossing, etc.). However, they may elect to apply for a work permit at a Canadian visa office abroad prior to travelling to Canada. 

An independent professional may be issued a work permit which is valid for the length of the service contract or for one year within a two year period, whichever is sooner.  

Contractual Services Suppliers

To qualify for a work permit as a contractual services supplier under CETA, a foreign national must demonstrate that they:

• Are a citizen of an EU member state;
• Are an employee of an entity based in the EU which has a contract to supply a service to a Canadian entity;
• Are employed in a designated occupation;
• Have been employed with the entity based in the EU for at least one year;
• Have at least three years of relevant professional experience;
• Have a university degree or an equivalent qualification; and
• Have valid provincial, territorial, or federal certification, licensing, or registration in the province or territory in which the contract is executed (if required).  

There are many designated occupations for contractual services suppliers, including the following: 

Please note that this is not an exhaustive list and many of these occupations have restrictions. 

Citizens of EU member states may apply for a work permit at a Canadian port-of-entry or at a Canadian visa office abroad prior to travelling to Canada.

Similarly to independent professionals, a contractual services supplier may be issued a work permit which is valid for the length of the service contract or for one year within a two year period, whichever is sooner.

Intra-Company Transferees

To qualify for a work permit as an intra-company transferee under CETA, a foreign national must demonstrate that they:

• Are a citizen of an EU member state;
• Have been employed by, or in partnership with, an entity based in the EU for at least one year;
• Are being temporarily transferred to an affiliated entity in Canada; and
• They are a senior person within the organization, have specialized knowledge, or a graduate trainee.

If a foreign national is applying for a work permit as an intra-company transferee in a graduate trainee position, they must also demonstrate that they hold a university degree and will be working in Canada for career development purposes and / or to obtain training in business techniques and / or methods.  

Citizens of EU member may apply for a work permit at a Canadian port-of-entry or at a Canadian visa office abroad prior to travelling to Canada.

An intra-company transferee in a senior position and / or with specialized knowledge may be issued a work permit which is valid for the length of the service contract or for three years, whichever is sooner. However, an intra-company transferee in a graduate trainee position may be issued a work permit which is for the length of the service contract or for one year, whichever is sooner. 

Investors

To qualify for a work permit as an investor under CETA, a foreign national must demonstrate that they:

• Are a citizen of an EU member state;
• Are establishing, developing, or administering the operation of an investment;
• Are employed by an entity that has committed, or is in the process of committing a substantial amount of capital to the investment; and
• Hold a supervisory and / or executive position. 

Citizens of EU member states may apply for a work permit at a Canadian port-of-entry or at a Canadian visa office abroad prior to travelling to Canada.

An investor may be issued a work permit which is valid for one year and discretionary extensions are possible.