Intra-Company Transfer (ICT) Work Permit

Overview

An Intra-Company Transfer is designed for companies that already operate outside Canada and want to staff a Canadian office with people who already know the business. Because the transfer is internal, the government treats it as a significant benefit to Canada rather than a displacement of Canadian workers, which is why no labour market test applies.

Both established Canadian entities and newly opened start-up operations can sponsor a transfer, although a new office is assessed more strictly and is usually issued a shorter initial permit that must be renewed once the operation is trading.

Eligibility

• Current employment with a company outside Canada that has a parent, subsidiary, branch or affiliate relationship with the Canadian entity.
• At least one continuous year of full-time employment with that company in a similar role within the three years before the application.
• A position in Canada at the executive, senior managerial or specialized-knowledge level.
• A Canadian entity that is actively doing business, or a credible plan and physical premises where the operation is new.

Requirements

The employer carries most of the evidentiary burden. Officers look for corporate documents that prove the ownership link, financial statements that show the business is real, and a detailed job description that maps the role to an executive, managerial or specialized-knowledge definition rather than to an ordinary vacancy.

The employer also submits an offer of employment through the employer portal and pays the compliance fee, since the permit is employer-specific even though it is exempt from the labour market test.

Application process

• Confirm the corporate relationship and gather ownership and financial evidence.
• Submit the offer of employment through the IRCC employer portal and pay the employer compliance fee.
• Prepare the transferee's application with proof of the qualifying year abroad and the role definition.
• Apply online, or at a port of entry where the applicant is visa-exempt and the file is well documented.
• Complete biometrics and, if required, a medical examination before a decision is issued.

Documents

• Corporate structure chart and incorporation documents for both entities
• Employment letter confirming the qualifying year abroad, with dates, duties and salary
• Detailed Canadian job description and organisation chart
• Financial statements, tax filings or contracts showing active business
• Lease or premises evidence for a new Canadian office
• Passport, biometrics and, where applicable, a temporary resident visa application

Costs and timelines

Costs include the work permit processing fee, the employer compliance fee, biometrics and any medical examination. Amounts follow the published IRCC fee schedule and change periodically, so confirm them before paying.

Processing times differ sharply by route: a port-of-entry application can be decided the same day for visa-exempt nationals, while an online application follows the published service standard for the applicant's country of residence.

Common pitfalls

• Describing a routine role as specialized knowledge without showing what is proprietary or uncommon about it.
• Weak corporate evidence, so the officer cannot confirm the parent, subsidiary, branch or affiliate relationship.
• Gaps in the qualifying year abroad, such as unpaid leave or a change of employer inside the group.
• Opening a new Canadian office with no premises, no funding and no staffing plan.
• Assuming the permit converts automatically to Permanent Residence — it does not, and a separate application is required.