Licensed & Regulated
Regulated by the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (CICC)
Relocate key executives, senior managers, or specialized knowledge workers to your Canadian office — LMIA-exempt, with no minimum investment requirement. We manage the full ICT work permit process.
The Intra-Company Transfer (ICT) work permit is an LMIA-exempt pathway under Canada's International Mobility Program that allows multinational companies to temporarily transfer qualifying employees to a related Canadian entity — a parent company, subsidiary, affiliate, or branch. Because no Labour Market Impact Assessment is required, the process is faster and more straightforward than LMIA-based work permits.
To qualify, the employee must be transferring to a qualifying position: executive, senior manager, or specialized knowledge worker. The foreign company and the Canadian entity must have a qualifying corporate relationship — they must be the same legal entity or related through ownership. The employee must have worked for the foreign company in a qualifying role for at least one continuous year in the three years preceding the transfer. There is no minimum investment required to use the ICT category, making it one of the most accessible business immigration options for established multinationals.
Three categories qualify: Executives (directs management, sets policies, exercises wide decision-making authority), Senior Managers (supervise and control other managers or professionals, exercise high-level discretion), and Specialized Knowledge workers (proprietary knowledge of the company's products, services, procedures, or techniques combined with advanced expertise).
The foreign and Canadian entities must be related through parent/subsidiary, affiliate (common ownership of at least 50%), or branch (same legal entity) relationships. Documentary evidence of the corporate relationship — ownership charts, incorporation records, financial statements — is essential to a successful ICT application.
No LMIA is required. ICT work permits are processed under the International Mobility Program, often with faster processing times than LMIA-based permits. Initial permits are typically issued for up to one year for new offices or up to three years for established companies, with extensions available.
We review the employee's role, employment history, and the corporate structure to confirm ICT eligibility — determining whether the position qualifies as executive, senior manager, or specialized knowledge worker under IRCC criteria.
We identify and compile the evidence needed to establish the qualifying corporate relationship between the foreign and Canadian entities — ownership structures, financial records, and corporate documents that meet IRCC's requirements.
We prepare the Canadian employer's offer letter and LMIA-exemption support documentation, ensuring the position description accurately reflects the qualifying category and meets IRCC's documentary standards.
We prepare the complete work permit application package — all IRCC forms, supporting documents, and the employer's LMIA-exemption submission — and guide the employee through biometrics and submission to ensure a smooth process.
ICT work permit holders who accumulate skilled Canadian work experience may become eligible for Express Entry (CEC), provincial nominee programs, or other PR pathways. We build a long-term immigration strategy alongside the immediate work permit.
Licensed & Regulated
Regulated by the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (CICC)
Book a free 15-minute consultation with a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant — we review your situation, clarify your options, and give you a clear path forward.
ICT permits are LMIA-exempt, significantly accelerating the work permit process. Eligible spouses may apply for an open work permit.
Understanding why applications are refused helps you avoid the same pitfalls. Our consultants review every detail before submission to minimize your risk.
The Canadian entity and the foreign employer must be a parent, subsidiary, or affiliate. Officers require documentary proof — corporate ownership records, shareholder agreements, or articles of incorporation.
ICT permits only apply to executives, senior managers, and specialized knowledge workers — positions that do not meet the strict definition of these categories are refused.
The applicant must have been continuously employed by the foreign entity in a qualifying role for at least one year within the three years immediately before the transfer.
Claims of specialized knowledge must be supported by evidence that the expertise is proprietary, rare, and not easily transferable to a Canadian employee.
A shell company or one with no genuine commercial operations, physical premises, or employees in Canada does not qualify as a receiving entity.
Inconsistencies between the duties actually performed and the stated ICT category — identified through employer letters and organizational charts — are a common refusal ground.
⚠ A Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant reviews every file before submission to identify and address potential refusal grounds. Book a free consultation to have your specific situation assessed.
An ICT Work Permit is a temporary Canadian work authorization for employees of multinational companies being transferred to a Canadian branch, subsidiary, affiliate, or parent company.
No. Intra-Company Transfer work permits are LMIA-exempt, which significantly speeds up the processing time and reduces complexity for both employers and employees.
Executives and Senior Managers can receive permits for up to 3 years, while Specialized Knowledge Employees are typically eligible for up to 1 year. Extensions may be available based on continued eligibility.
Yes. Spouses of eligible ICT work permit holders may be able to apply for an open work permit, allowing them to work for most Canadian employers.
Yes. Dependent children of ICT work permit holders may enroll in Canadian schools.
The ICT permit is temporary and does not directly provide permanent residency. However, employees who gain Canadian work experience may later qualify for permanent residency through Express Entry, Provincial Nominee Programs, or other pathways.
Disclaimer: Immigration requirements, processing times, fees, and eligibility criteria are subject to change without notice based on policies set by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). All applications are assessed individually by IRCC. Professional immigration assistance does not guarantee the approval of any application. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.
Regulatory Notice: Alfalah Immigration Services is regulated by the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (CICC). In Canada, only Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants (RCICs) and licensed lawyers are authorized to provide paid immigration advice. You may verify any consultant's registration at college-ic.ca.
The information on this page is provided for general guidance only and does not constitute legal immigration advice. For advice specific to your individual circumstances, please consult a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant.
Alfalah Immigration Services is based in the Greater Toronto Area, Ontario and proudly assists clients across Toronto, Mississauga, Brampton, Markham, Richmond Hill, Oakville, Vaughan, Hamilton, Ottawa, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Montreal, and communities throughout all provinces of Canada.
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