Labour Market Impact Assessment Exempt Work Permits

Labour Market Impact Assessment Exempt Work Permits

For workers who fall under one of the following exemptions it is possible to apply for a work permit directly without going through a lengthy Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) process if the worker falls under one of the following LMIA exemptions such as:

A25.2: Public policies

Public policies issued under A25.2

  • Guidance for special measures to support Hong Kong residents to come to Canada R01
  • Public policy: Open work permits for applicants under the temporary resident to permanent resident pathway

R204: International agreements or arrangements

R204(a) Canada-international exemption codes

  • Canada–International Non-Trade Agreements T11
  • Airline personnel (operational, technical and ground personnel)
  • United States government personnel T11
  • Trader (FTA) T21
  • Investor (FTA) T22
  • Professional/technician (FTA) T23
  • Intra-company transferee (FTA) T24
  • Spouse (Colombia or Korea FTA) T25
  • GATS professional T33
  • Investor (CETA/CUKTCA) T46
  • Contractual service supplier (CETA/CUKTCA) T47
  • Engineering technologists and scientific technologists (CETA/ CUKTCA) T48
  • Independent professional (CETA/CUKTCA) T43
  • Intra-corporate (company) transferee (CETA/CUKTCA) T44
  • Spouse (CETA/CUKTCA) T45
  • Investor (CPTPP) T50
  • Intra-company transferee (CPTPP) T51
  • Professional or technician (CPTPP) T52
  • Spouse (CPTPP) T53

R204(c) Canada-provincial/territorial exemption codes

  • Regulation LMIA exemption code
  • Canada-provincial/territorial T13
  • Atlantic Immigration Program C18

R205: Canadian interests

R205(a) Significant benefit exemption codes


C10 Entrepreneurs:

  • Airline personnel (foreign airline security guards)
  • Interns with international organizations recognized under the Foreign Missions and International Organizations Act
  • Rail grinder operators, rail welders or other specialized track maintenance workers
  • Experts on mission, working for a United Nations office in Canada
  • Foreign physicians coming to work in Quebec
  • Caribbean Agricultural Liaison Officers

C11 Self-employed or potential provincial nominee as an entrepreneur

  • Fishing guides (Canadian lakes)
  • Foreign camp owner or director, and outfitters
  • Foreign freelance race jockeys

Intra-company transferees (including GATS)

Unique work situations include:

  • Airline personnel (station managers) C12
  • Emergency repair or repair personnel for out-of-warranty equipment C13
  • Television and film production workers C14
  • Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot C15
  • Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot spouses C17
  • Francophone mobility C16
  • Live-in caregivers whose permanent residence application is submitted A71
  • Caregivers whose permanent residence application is submitted under the Home Child Care Provider Pilot (HCCPP) or Home Support Worker Pilot (HSWP) (occupation-restricted open work permit) C90
  • Spouses and dependents at age of majority of caregivers whose permanent residence application is submitted under the HCCPP or HSWPC91

Permanent resident facilitation work permit categories

  • Bridging open work permits (BOWPs)
  • Caregivers under the HCCPP or HSWP
  • Certain Quebec Selection Certificate (CSQ) holders currently in Quebec
  • Yukon Community Pilot (YCP)
  • Start-up business class (SUV) permanent resident visa applicants A75

R205(b) Reciprocal Employment exemption codes

  • Fishing guides (border lakes)
  • Residential camp counsellors
  • United States government personnel (family members) C20
  • International Experience Canada Program C21
  • Academic exchanges (professors, visiting lecturers) C22
  • Performing arts C23

R205(c) Designated by Minister


R205(c)(i) Research exemption codes

  • Regulation LMIA exemption code C31
  • i.1) Educational co-op – post-secondary C32
  • i.2) Educational co-op – secondary level C33

R205(c)(ii) Competitiveness and public policy exemption codes

  • Spouses or common-law partners of skilled workers C41
  • Spouses or common-law partners of full-time students C42
  • Post-grad employment C43
  • Post-doctoral Ph.D. fellows and award recipients C44
  • Off-campus employment See the instructions concerning students
  • Medical residents and fellows C45

R205(d) Charitable or religious work exemption codes

  • Regulation LMIA exemption code
  • Religious work C50
  • Charitable work C50
  • R206: No other means of support
  • R206 exemption codes
  • Regulation LMIA exemption code
    • Refugee claimants S61
    • Persons under an unenforceable removal order S62
  • R207: Permanent residence applicants in Canada
  • R207 exemption codes
  • Regulation LMIA exemption code

R207 Permanent residence applicants in Canada

Live-in-caregiver class
Spouse or common-law partner in Canada class
Protected persons under subsection A95(2)
Section A25 exemption (humanitarian and compassionate grounds)
Family members of the above A70


R207.1: Vulnerable workers exemption codes

  • Vulnerable workers A72
  • Family member of vulnerable worker A72

R208: Humanitarian reasons

R208 exemption codes:

  • Regulation LMIA exemption code
    • Destitute students H81
    • Holders of a temporary resident permit valid for a minimum of six months H82

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