Intra-Company Transfer (ICT) Work Permit
An LMIA-exempt work permit for transferring key employees to a Canadian branch, parent, subsidiary, or affiliate.
The Intra-Company Transfer (ICT) category lets multinational companies move certain employees to a Canadian branch, parent, subsidiary, or affiliate without a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). It is part of the International Mobility Program (IMP), because the transfer is considered to bring a significant benefit to Canada. ICT is a work permit pathway, not a business-investment program, and it is not job placement or recruitment.
Who the ICT category is for
ICT generally applies to employees in one of three roles being transferred to a qualifying Canadian entity:
- Executives who direct the management of the organization
- Senior managers who manage the organization or a key function or department
- Specialized knowledge workers with advanced expertise in the company's products, services, or processes
Key requirements
- A qualifying relationship between the foreign company and the Canadian entity (parent, branch, subsidiary, or affiliate)
- The employee has worked continuously for the foreign company in a similar full-time role, usually for at least one year in the past three
- The Canadian entity is, or will be, actively doing business
- The transfer is temporary and the role fits the executive, senior-manager, or specialized-knowledge definition
ICT and permanent residence
Time spent working in Canada on an ICT can later support permanent residence through Express Entry (for example, the Canadian Experience Class) or a Provincial Nominee Program, depending on your full profile. It is not automatic.
How a licensed RCIC helps
We assess whether your role and the company relationship realistically fit the ICT category, what documents are needed, and how to present a complete application. We do not recruit or place workers, and final decisions are made by IRCC.
