An Intra-Company Transfer (ICT) in Canada allows multinational companies to temporarily transfer employees to their Canadian branches, subsidiaries, or affiliates. This program is part of the International Mobility Program (IMP) and facilitates the transfer of skilled workers without needing a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA).

For the company:

The foreign enterprise must have a legitimate business and be an existing multinational corporation (MNC) with operations in at least two countries outside of Canada. 

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For the Employee:

The employee must be working in a position at the executive, managerial, or specialized knowledge level, have been employed by the company for at least one year in the past three years, and the position in Canada must be the same as their position in the foreign company. 

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For the Position:

The position in Canada must be at the executive, managerial, or specialized knowledge level and require the same skills and expertise as the position held by the employee in the foreign company. 

• Transfer of Expertise:

  The program allows companies to transfer their specialized knowledge and expertise to their Canadian operations. 

• Potential for Permanent Residence:

  After a period of employment under the ICT program, employees may be eligible for permanent residence in Canada. 

• Simplified Work Permit Application:

  Companies don't need to obtain an LMIA, which can streamline the application process. 

Stricter Requirements: 

• IRCC has introduced stricter requirements for ICT applications, including a clearer definition of "specialized knowledge" and a requirement that the foreign enterprise be a multinational corporation with operations in at least two countries, says IRCC. 

• Two Years of Specialized Knowledge Experience:

  For employees transferring under the specialized knowledge subcategory, they will generally need to demonstrate two years of experience in that area

Intra-company transferees entering under GATS qualify under Canada’s generally applicable immigration rules: R205(a) C12

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Free-Trade Agreement (FTA) ICTs under R204(a) apply where Canada has an FTA with another country which includes an intra-company transfer provision, such as the:

- The Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement

- The Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement

-The Agreement on Trade Continuity between Canada and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Eligibility depends on the nationality of the applicant and their foreign employer.