Canadian immigration program
Work Permit — International Mobility Program
The International Mobility Program covers employer-specific and open work permits issued without a Labour Market Impact Assessment, each tied to a defined category of exemption. Eligibility turns on qualifying under the relevant exemption and meeting general admissibility. The requirements below are quoted from the governing regulation and IRCC guidance and link back to them.
Sources on this page last verified Jul 16, 2026.
Eligibility criteria
The requirements below are drawn directly from the governing regulation and IRCC program guidance for Work Permit — International Mobility Program. Each is anchored to the verbatim source text, not a paraphrase, so you can read the rule as it is written and follow it to the official page.
“Application For Work Permit Made Outside of Canada (IMM 1295)”
“a Quebec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ) (if you plan to work a paid job in Quebec for more than 30 days)”
“You’re only eligible in certain situations.”
“pay the employer compliance fee of $230”
“This means the worker can work for anyone in Canada, except for employers that either are on the list of employers who don't meet their responsibilities, or regularly offer striptease, erotic dance, escort services or erotic massages”
“a letter from your current employer”
“Workers eligible for an employer-specific work permit (LMIA-exempt)”
“an employment contract”
“an employment contract (also known as the employment agreement)”
“From $230, unless [exempted](/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/work-canada/hire-temporary-foreign/find-need-labour-market-impact-assessment/employer-compliance-exemptions.html)”
“Application to Change Conditions, Extend my Stay or Remain in Canada as a Worker (IMM 5710)”
“can communicate with a moderate proficiency for speaking and listening in French”
“to meet the general requirements for all work permit applicants”
“To qualify for this fee, you must make your offer to a group of 3 or more foreign nationals (performing artists and their staff) **at the same time**.”
“Global Skills Strategy applicants (**if** the job is LMIA-exempt)”
“Under the International Mobility Program (IMP), you can hire a temporary foreign worker without a labour market impact assessment (LMIA).”
“The job is in National Occupational Classification (NOC) Training, Education, Experience and Responsibilities (TEER) categories 0, 1, 2 or 3 (high-skilled).”
“You meet the wage assessment for the job you’re offering.”
“to have a job offer from an employer who’s not on the list of non-compliant employers”
“You need a job offer.”
“proof that you meet the requirements of the job (for example, the license or certification if your job is regulated)”
“a copy of the positive LMIA and LMIA file number”
“Under the International Mobility Program (IMP), you can hire a temporary foreign worker **without** a labour market impact assessment (LMIA).”
“Your employer may need a labour market impact assessment (LMIA).”
“You don’t need a job offer.”
“lets you hire temporary foreign workers **without** a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA)”
“an offer of employment number”
“Workers who have an open work permit”
“This means the worker can work for anyone in Canada, **except** for employers that either - are on the [list of employers who don’t meet their responsibilities](/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/work-canada/employers-non-compliant.html), or - regularly offer striptease, erotic dance, escort services or erotic massages”
“Job offer not required”
“will live and work outside the province of Quebec”
“a photocopy of your passport or travel document”
“1 photo meeting the visa photo specifications”
“1 photo meeting the visa photo specifications”
“a reference letter from past employers”
“create and submit an offer of employment form through the Employer Portal”
“a photocopy of your valid (not expired) passport or travel document”
“proof of past work experience (for example, pay stubs)”
“You can work for most compliant employers in Canada.”
“You don't need an LMIA to hire these workers: Workers with a work permit exemption”
Documents and eligibility gates
Every requirement below is quoted verbatim from the official source and linked back to it. Navisa reads and cites the governing text rather than restating a document name from memory. This is a reference summary, not immigration advice, and it does not replace review by a licensed RCIC.
Eligibility gateopen_work_permit
“This means the worker can work for anyone in Canada, except for employers that either are on the list of employers who don't meet their responsibilities”
Eligibility gateopen_work_permit
“This means the worker can work for anyone in Canada, except for employers that either ... regularly offer striptease, erotic dance, escort services or erotic massages”
Eligibility gate
“Work-permit routing requires a confirmed job-offer / open-permit basis fact.”
Eligibility gate
“create and submit an offer of employment form through the Employer Portal”
Eligibility gate
“To qualify for this fee, you must make your offer to a group of 3 or more foreign nationals (performing artists and their staff) **at the same time**.”
Eligibility gate
“From $230, unless [exempted](/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/work-canada/hire-temporary-foreign/find-need-labour-market-impact-assessment/employer-compliance-exemptions.html)”
Eligibility gate
“Under the International Mobility Program (IMP), you can hire a temporary foreign worker without a labour market impact assessment (LMIA).”
Eligibility gateopen_work_permit
“You can work for most compliant employers in Canada.”
Eligibility gateemployer_specific
“proof of past work experience (for example, pay stubs)”
Eligibility gate
“1 photo meeting the visa photo specifications”
Eligibility gate
“a photocopy of your passport or travel document”
Eligibility gateemployer_specific
“proof that you meet the requirements of the job (for example, the license or certification if your job is regulated)”
Eligibility gateopen_work_permit
“You don’t need a job offer.”
Eligibility gateopen_work_permit
“Job offer not required”
Eligibility gateemployer_specific_work_permit
“You need a job offer.”
Eligibility gatelmia_required
“a Quebec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ) (if you plan to work a paid job in Quebec for more than 30 days)”
Eligibility gateinnovation_stream
“The job is in National Occupational Classification (NOC) Training, Education, Experience and Responsibilities (TEER) categories 0, 1, 2 or 3 (high-skilled).”
Required document
“1 photo meeting the visa photo specifications”
Required documentlmia_required
“a Quebec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ)”
Required document
“certified translations”
Required documentemployer_specific_work_permit
“a letter from your current employer”
Required documentemployer_specific
“a letter from your current employer”
Required documentemployer_specific_work_permit
“You need a job offer.”
Required documentemployer_specific_work_permit
“Your employer may need a labour market impact assessment (LMIA).”
Required documentlmia_exempt
“employment contract, also known as the employment agreement”
Required documentlmia_exempt_work_permit
“an employment contract (also known as the employment agreement)”
Required documentlmia_required_work_permit
“an employment contract”
Required documentlmia_required
“an employment contract”
Required document
“They will either need a visitor visa or an electronic travel authorization (eTA) to enter Canada.”
Required document
“to meet the general requirements for all work permit applicants”
Required document
“Group of 3 entertainers or more Fees: $690”
Required document
“Application For Work Permit Made Outside of Canada (IMM 1295)”
Required document
“Statutory Declaration of Common-law Union (IMM 5409)”
Required document
“Authority to Release Personal Information to a Designated Individual (IMM 5475) form”
Required document
“Use of a Representative (IMM 5476) form”
Required document
“Family Information Form - Visitors, Students and Workers (IMM 5707)”
Required document
“Application to Change Conditions, Extend my Stay or Remain in Canada as a Worker (IMM 5710)”
Required document
“If you’re not a citizen of the country or territory where you’re applying, you must send proof of your present immigration status in that country or territory.”
Required document
“to have a job offer from an employer who’s not on the list of non-compliant employers”
Required documentemployer_specific_work_permit
“proof that you meet the requirements of the job (for example, the license or certification if your job is regulated)”
Required documentemployer_specific
“proof that you meet the requirements of the job (for example, the license or certification if your job is regulated)”
Required document
“give you documents, like an LMIA letter and Annex A from their positive LMIA, which you’ll need to include in your application”
Required document
“a marriage certificate”
Required document
“proof of a medical exam”
Required document
“temporary workers may have to undergo a medical examination during the application process.”
Required document
“create and submit an offer of employment form through the Employer Portal”
Required documentlmia_exempt
“offer of employment number”
Required documentlmia_exempt_work_permit
“an offer of employment number”
Required document
“you’ll get an offer of employment number. You must give this 7-digit number to the temporary worker”
Required document
“a photocopy of your passport or travel document”
Required documentemployer_specific_work_permit
“a reference letter from your past employers”
Required documentemployer_specific
“a reference letter from past employers”
Required documentemployer_specific
“proof of past work experience (for example, pay stubs)”
Required document
“1 photo meeting the visa photo specifications”
Required documentlmia_required_work_permit
“a copy of the positive LMIA and LMIA file number”
Required documentlmia_required
“a copy of the positive LMIA and LMIA file number”
Required documentemployer_specific_work_permit
“proof of past work experience, for example pay stubs”
Required documentlmia_required_work_permit
“a Quebec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ)”
Required documentemployer_specific_work_permit
“proof that you meet the requirements of the job being offered”
Required documentemployer_specific_work_permit
“a resume”
Required documentemployer_specific_work_permit
“proof of past work experience (for example, pay stubs)”
Recent policy changes affecting this program
Tracked changes Navisa has tagged to this program, dated and cited to their official source.
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