The Immigration News

Program for International Mobility - (IMP) International Mobility Program

(IMP) International Mobility Program Visa honest

The International Mobility Program allows Canadian firms to hire foreign workers with a work permit in Canada without first completing a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA).

Positions that do not require an LMIA include those that:

• Provide Canada with wide economic, cultural, and other competitive advantages,  

• and Citizens and permanent residents of Canada should receive reciprocal benefits.

Workers who are eligible for the International Mobility Program (IMP) include:

• Those who come to Canada under trade agreements such as the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) or the Comprehensive Economic Trade Agreement (CETA).

• Those with an open work permit who enter Canada.

• Intra-company transferees are those who come to Canada to work for another company.

 (IMP) International Mobility Program Visa honest

When employing a foreign worker through the IMP, an employer compliance fee of $230 is normally required.

The cost is not required when a company hires an open work permit holder. Employment covered by a non-trade agreement, certain research positions, and charitable or religious activities are all fee-exempt.

Through the IRCC's Employer Portal, job offers via the IMP must be made. To use the Employer Portal, employers must first create a profile.

The portal must be filled out completely with information on the job being offered, including a list of responsibilities, the minimum education level, the experience required, as well as salaries and benefits.

The data entered could be used in federal government compliance audits of employers.

An offer number will be provided to employers who submit a job offer. The foreign worker will need this number to complete their work permit application.

If the foreign worker's work visa application is approved, he or she will receive the following benefits:

• If they are outside of Canada, a letter of introduction; 

• If they are currently in Canada, a new work permit; or applying at the time of admission.

At the port of entry, the letter of introduction is exchanged for a work permit if all of the requirements are still met.

The IMP is overseen by Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada. The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) and Employment and Social Development Canada are two other federal government ministries involved in the IMP (ESDC).

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