Faster Work Permit Processing

In June 2017, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (“IRCC”) guaranteed faster processing for certain work permit applications. To be eligible, applicants must either:

• hold a positive LMIA under the Global Talent Stream; or
• be eligible for an LMIA-exempt, employer-specific work permit in either a Managerial (NOC 0/00) or Professional (NOC A) role.
  • Note that International Experience Canada applicants are not eligible; and
  • Applicants must be applying from outside Canada.

IRCC has guaranteed that in most cases, applicants to the programs above will be eligible for 2-3 week work permit processing.

Short-Term Work Permit Exemptions

Another outstanding change by IRCC was the addition of some (narrowly worded) short-term work permit exemptions. These exemptions have been added based on public policy considerations. Short-term work permit exemptions are now available for foreign nationals who will work in Canada in roles falling under NOC 0/00 or A, for either:

• 15 consecutive days in a 6 month period; or
• 30 consecutive days in a 12 month period.

This exemption has already proven itself to be extremely helpful to Canadian employers requiring only short-term, highly-skilled expertise in Canada.

At the same time, IRCC introduced a short-term work permit exemption for researchers. This 120 day work permit exemption allows eligible researchers to work in Canada for a short 120 day period without the need for a work permit. The foreign national must have an offer from a publicly funded, degree-granting institution at the College or University level, or its affiliated research institution, and the foreign national must have a significant role to play, or value to add to the research project.

These changes have been happily welcomed by employers in Canada: they are excellent additions to the options available when hiring foreign talent.

By Katie Van Nostrand, an immigration lawyer with Mathews Dinsdale & Clark LLP. The information provided in this article is necessarily of a general nature and must not be regarded as legal advice. For more information about Mathews Dinsdale & Clark LLP, please visit mathewsdinsdale.com.

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