Citizens of certain European Union (EU) member states have an advantage when seeking Canadian work permits.<\/p>\n
If you hold citizenship in one of 27 eligible countries, you may qualify for a work permit through the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA).<\/p>\n
CETA work permits benefit from being exempt from Labour Market Impact Assessments (LMIAs), making them quicker and easier to obtain than permits under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP).<\/p>\n
Schedule a Free Work Permit Consultation with the Cohen Immigration Law Firm This article will cover<\/p>\n Eligible nationalities<\/p>\n The table below shows the member countries of the CETA.<\/p>\n Who is eligible to apply for a CETA work permit?<\/p>\n You may be eligible for a CETA work permit if you are a citizen of an EU member country and fall into one of the four categories listed below:<\/p>\n For a high-level summary of each CETA work permit, see the table below:<\/p>\n Graduate trainee<\/strong>s: Up to one year. <\/p>\n<\/td>\n Schedule a Free Work Permit Consultation with the Cohen Immigration Law Firm Intra-company transferees<\/strong>: Supervisors, executives, or specialized knowledge employees working for an EU-based company who wish to work temporarily<\/a> under a parent, subsidiary, or affiliate company in Canada. At least one year of ongoing employment with the same employer or a related employer in an EU country is required.<\/p>\n Physical relocation is not required, but the employee must occupy a position with the Canadian branch of the company.<\/p>\n Graduate trainees are also eligible to apply under this category, provided they have a qualifying degree (bachelor\u2019s<\/a>\/baccalaureate) or a license at a professional level which is aligned with the intra-company activity. Their transfer should be for career development or training purposes.<\/p>\n Investors<\/strong>: Executives, supervisors, or individuals with specialized skills who have made or are actively making a substantial investment in a new or existing Canadian business. Investors may only seek entry through this category to develop and direct the operations of the business.<\/p>\n To qualify, you must own at least 50% interest in the enterprise.<\/p>\n An offer of employment from an enterprise that has nationality in an EU member state is required. Nationality is dictated by ownership, not through the enterprise\u2019s place of incorporation.<\/p>\n Professionals<\/strong>: Contractual service suppliers or independent (self-employed) professionals possessing a university degree<\/a> or equivalent qualification, professional certifications required for the role, and related work experience\u2014three years for contractual service suppliers; six years for independent professionals.<\/p>\n Further, contractual service suppliers must have worked for an EU company (which holds a service contract in Canada) for at least one year prior to applying, while independent professionals need to show they have a signed contract between themselves and the Canadian service consumer.<\/p>\n As a professional, you can supply services for a maximum of 12 months.<\/p>\n Technologists<\/strong>: Engineering and scientific technologists who have been employed by an EU company for at least one year prior to applying and have a service contract in Canada\u2014which cannot exceed 12 months total in duration. You are expected to fulfill all professional licensing and\/or certification requirements for your occupation.<\/p>\n Technologists must have a minimum of three years of professional experience in a relevant sector and a post-secondary education spanning no less than three years and culminating in a degree. For engineering technologists, the degree must be in engineering technology, whereas scientific technologists may have a degree in one of 10 qualifying fields of study<\/a>.<\/p>\n Independent professionals and contractual service suppliers applying as engineering or scientific technologists are subject to additional requirements.<\/p>\n Additional entry requirements<\/p>\n In addition to meeting the eligibility requirements detailed above, all foreign nationals must also meet Canada\u2019s temporary resident entry requirements\u2014such as having financial support, satisfying an immigration officer of your intent to return home<\/a> at the end of your stay, and being admissible to Canada.<\/p>\n If you are criminally inadmissible<\/a> to Canada, you may be able to overcome your inadmissibility and obtain a CETA work permit by<\/p>\n Seeking advice from a qualified immigration lawyer<\/a> may help clarify whether your criminal record<\/a> poses a barrier to entering Canada and how best to overcome your inadmissibility.<\/p>\n Schedule a Free Legal Consultation with the Cohen Immigration Law Firm How to apply for a CETA work permit<\/p>\n You must apply for a CETA work permit from outside Canada.<\/p>\n The application process for a CETA work permit consists of two distinct phases: the first is the responsibility of the employer, and the second falls to you\u2014the foreign worker.<\/p>\n The steps each party must take are outlined below.<\/p>\n Employer steps<\/strong><\/p>\n Employee steps<\/strong><\/p>\n While the exact steps involved in applying may change depending on your method of submission\u2014online, through a visa office, by mail, or at a port of entry\u2014the overall process generally requires that you<\/p>\n *You may refer to the CETA instruction guide, which provides more detailed eligibility requirements and application information.<\/p>\n **Include proof of educational credentials, licenses and certifications, and\/or proof of specialized knowledge, if applicable.<\/p>\n You may also be required to submit biometrics<\/a> ($85) depending on the country in which you hold citizenship. IRCC will reach out to you and inform you if you must do so.<\/p>\n Work permit processing times<\/a> vary by country, but you can typically expect to receive a decision<\/a> on your application within one week to three months.<\/p>\n Can my spouse apply for an Open Work Permit?<\/p>\n Under CETA, spouses and common-law partners (\u201cspouses\u201d) of intra-company transferees<\/strong> may be eligible for an open work permit<\/a> (OWP) with the same validity period as the intra-company transferee\u2019s permit.<\/p>\n Spouses of CETA permit applicants applying under other categories are not eligible to obtain an OWP under CETA.<\/p>\n They may, however, be able to obtain an OWP not connected to CETA provided both of you meet the eligibility requirements listed below.<\/p>\n CETA permit holder<\/strong><\/p>\n Spousal requirements<\/strong><\/p>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n\n
\n\tEU member countries<\/strong>
\n<\/tr>\n\n Austria<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Belgium<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Bulgaria<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Croatia<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Cyprus<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Czechia<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Denmark<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Estonia<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Finland<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n France<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Germany<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Greece<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Hungary<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Ireland<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Italy<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Latvia<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Lithuania<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Luxembourg<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Malta<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Netherlands<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Poland<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Portugal<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Romania<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Slovakia<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Slovenia<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Spain<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Sweden<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n\tCETA category<\/strong>Who is eligible?<\/strong>Employer requirements<\/strong>Validity of work permit<\/strong>Extendable?<\/strong>
\n<\/tr>\n\n Intra-company transferees<\/td>\n Executives, supervisors, graduate trainees, or workers with specialized knowledge.<\/td>\n Must be a multi-national corporation with a qualifying relationship with the EU enterprise.<\/td>\n Executives or Specialists<\/strong>: Up to three years. <\/p>\n Yes, up to 18 months (not applicable to graduate trainees).<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Investors<\/td>\n Primary investors, employees of a major investor, or individual developing\/administering the operation acting in an executive or supervisory capacity.<\/td>\n Must have nationality in an EU member state and<\/strong> make or have made a substantial investment into a Canadian business. <\/td>\n One year.<\/td>\n Yes, up to two years. <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Professionals<\/td>\n Contractual service suppliers or independent (self-employed) professionals<\/td>\n Must be a Canadian employer.<\/td>\n 12 months in a 24-month period.<\/td>\n Yes, but not beyond 24 months.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Technologists<\/td>\n Engineering or scientific technologists.<\/td>\n Must be a Canadian employer enterprise or individual.<\/td>\n 12 months in a 24-month period.<\/td>\n Yes, but not beyond 24 months.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n\n
\n
\n
\n
\n