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Jobs Exempt from Work Permit Requirement

In special situations, you may be able to work temporarily in Canada without holding a work permit issued by Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC).

Check the list of work permit exemptions below. You may not need a work permit if your work is described below. Brief descriptions are provided here, but for more complete descriptions, see the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations.

• Business Visitors
• Foreign Representatives
• Family Members of Foreign Representatives
• Military Personnel
• Foreign Government Officers
• On-Campus Employment
• Performing Artists
• Athletes and Coaches
• News Reporters
• Public Speakers
• Convention Organizers
• Clergy
• Judges and Referees
• Examiners and Evaluators
• Expert Witnesses or Investigators
• Health-Care Students
• Civil Aviation Inspectors
• Accident or Incident Inspectors
• Crew Members
• Emergency Service Providers

Business Visitors

People coming to Canada on business do not need a work permit. Business visitors must work for a company located outside of Canada. Business visitors cannot directly enter the Canadian labour market.

Foreign Representatives

Diplomats and official representatives of other countries or the United Nations and their staff do not need a work permit to work in Canada.

Family Members of Foreign Representatives

Family members of accredited diplomats may work in Canada without a permit if they have a “no objection letter” from the Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs.

Military Personnel

Members of an armed force from another country may work in Canada without a permit if they possess movement orders which state that they are entering Canada under the terms of the Visiting Forces Act.

Foreign Government Officers

Canada has exchange agreements with some countries for public officials to work in each other’s government departments. Government officials coming to work in Canada should bring a formal letter of agreement if their period of work is longer than three months.

On-Campus Employment

Certain foreign students studying in Canada can work on their campus without a work permit. To learn more, see Studying in Canada.

Performing Artists

Foreign artists and their essential supporting staff coming to Canada to perform do not need a permit if they are only performing in Canada for a limited period of time and will not be performing in a bar or restaurant. Artists working in Canada in this category may not enter into an employment relationship with the Canadian group that has contracted for their services. Artists must also not perform for the production of a movie, television or radio broadcast.

Athletes and Coaches

Foreign teams, athletes and coaches may compete in Canada without a work permit.

News Reporters

Reporters working for foreign newspapers, television channels, news agencies or companies involved in reporting news events may work in Canada to report on events in Canada.

Public Speakers

Guest speakers, commercial speakers or seminar leaders may speak or deliver training in Canada without a work permit as long as the event is no longer than five days.

Convention Organizers

Organizers and administrative staff who are organizing meetings or conventions in Canada do not need a work permit.

Note: Service providers, such as those who provide audiovisual services and other such “hands-on” help do need a work permit to work in Canada.

Clergy

Persons who are coming to Canada to work as ordained ministers, lay persons or members of a religious order do not need a work permit to perform their religious duties or assist a religious group. These religious duties may include preaching doctrine, presiding at liturgical functions or spiritual counselling.

Judges and Referees

Officials at international amateur competitions may come to Canada to judge or officiate without a work permit.

Examiners and Evaluators

Professors and academic experts may come to Canada to evaluate or supervise academic projects, research proposals or university theses. This applies to Canadian research organizations as well as academic institutions.

Expert Witnesses or Investigators

Experts may work in Canada without a work permit to give evidence for a regulatory body, tribunal or court of law.

Health-Care Students

Foreign health-care students can do their clinical clerkships or short-term work in Canada without a work permit if the work is for the primary purpose of acquiring training. Health-care students must have written approval from the Canadian regulatory board responsible for their occupation. A normal training practicum should not exceed four months.

Note: Although a work permit is not required, a Canadian Immigration medical exam is required before entry.

Civil Aviation Inspectors

Inspectors coming to Canada to do safety inspections of flight operations or cabin safety of commercial airlines doing international flights do not need a work permit.

Accident or Incident Inspectors

Accredited representatives or advisors coming to Canada do not need a work permit to work as part of an aviation accident or incident investigation conducted under the authority of the Transportation Accident Investigation and Safety Board Act.

Crew Members

Foreign members of a crew working on foreign vehicles (for example: flight attendants or shipping crew) do not need a work permit if the vehicle is in Canada for the international transportation of cargo or passengers.

Emergency Service Providers

Persons coming into Canada to help out in emergencies do not need a work permit if they are entering to help preserve life or property. Examples of emergencies would be natural disasters such as floods or earthquakes, or industrial accidents threatening the environment.