The faster path, The wider gate.
The International Mobility Program is the route taken when no Labour Market Impact Assessment is required. Administered solely by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), it covers free-trade agreement workers, intra-company transferees, post-graduation work permit holders, spouses of skilled workers, and other categories where Canada has determined that hiring a foreign worker serves the national interest. In 2024, four out of five work permits issued in Canada came from this program.International Mobility Program
Built on agreements, not assessments
No assessment needed. The category is the assessment.
The International Mobility Program is the wider of Canada’s two work permit programs, both in volume and in scope. Where the TFWP requires a labour market test for every individual hire, the IMP exempts entire categories of workers from that test because Canada has already concluded, through trade agreements, multilateral commitments, or domestic policy, that hiring them advances national interests. The IMP issued roughly 80% of all work permits in Canada in 2024, including most permits held by free-trade agreement workers, intra-company transferees, recent graduates, and spouses of skilled workers.
One framework, many paths.
The IMP groups together nine major categories of LMIA-exempt work permits, each tied to a different policy goal. Some result in closed permits tied to a specific employer, others in open permits that allow work for almost any Canadian employer.- 01 Free Trade Agreements Key feature CUSMA, CPTPP, CETA, and bilateral FTAs Includes Chile, Korea, Colombia, Peru, Panama Permit type Closed
- 02 Intra-Company Transfers Key feature Multinational mobility within the same company Executives, managers, specialized knowledge Permit type Closed
- 03 International Experience Canada Key feature Youth mobility agreements with 36 countries Working Holiday, Young Professionals, Co-op Permit type Open or Closed
- 04 Post-Graduation Work Permit Key feature Graduates of Canadian Designated Learning Institutions Up to 3 years, retains educated talent Permit type Open
- 05 Spousal Open Work Permit Key feature Spouses and partners of skilled workers and students Subject to TEER restrictions since January 2025 Permit type Open
- 06 Bridging Open Work Permit Key feature For permanent residence applicants in process Continuity of work while PR application is reviewed Permit type Open
- 07 Significant Benefit Key feature Hires that bring social, cultural, or economic benefit Code C10, assessed case by case Permit type Closed
- 08 Reciprocal Employment Key feature Exchange programs and religious workers Comparable opportunities for Canadians abroad Permit type Closed
- 09 Francophone Mobility Key feature French-speaking workers outside Quebec Code C16, supports Francophone communities Permit type Closed
The Process · Step by step
From offer to work permit.
The IMP runs through four stages handled solely by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. Some open work permit categories (PGWP, SOWP, BOWP, and IEC Working Holiday) skip the employer steps entirely and go directly from the worker’s application to permit issuance.
01
Confirm the exemption applies
The Canadian employer (or the worker, in open permit cases) must confirm which IMP category applies and what LMIA exemption code corresponds to the situation. When the case is unclear, the employer can request an opinion from IRCC’s International Mobility Workers Unit (IMWU) before filing, but only if the worker is from a visa-exempt country and currently outside Canada. Choosing the wrong exemption code is one of the leading causes of refusals.
- Cost: None
- IMWU lead time: Submit at least 45 days before worker’s planned entry
02
Submit Offer of Employment
For employer specific permits (CUSMA, ICT, Significant Benefit, Francophone Mobility, and others), the employer submits an Offer of Employment through the IRCC Employer Portal and pays the compliance fee. The portal generates a 7 digit offer number that the worker will use in their work permit application. Open permit categories (PGWP, SOWP, BOWP, IEC Working Holiday) skip this step entirely.
- Employer cost: CAD $230 compliance fee
- Timing: Same day, online
03
Worker applies for work permit
The worker submits the work permit application to IRCC, citing the offer of employment number when applicable. The application can be filed online from outside Canada, at a port of entry (for citizens of visa-exempt countries), or from within Canada in specific cases. Biometrics may be required.
- Worker cost: CAD $155 work permit + CAD $85 biometrics
- Processing: Varies by category. Global Skills Strategy categories process in 2 weeks
04
IRCC issues work permit
If the worker is outside Canada, IRCC issues a Letter of Introduction, which is exchanged for the actual work permit by a CBSA officer at the port of entry. If the worker is inside Canada, the work permit is mailed directly. Permits may be open (any employer) or closed (employer-specific) depending on the category.
- Outcome: Letter of Introduction (POE) or work permit by mail
- Permit duration: Varies by category, up to passport validity
Recent updates to the program.
The International Mobility Program has seen a mix of expansion and tightening since late 2024. The federal government has raised IMP volume targets while introducing targeted restrictions to specific categories. The five most consequential updates are listed below, most recent first.-
01March 13, 2026
Special IMP measure for Quebec workers awaiting CSQ
Workers in Quebec who hold a recent employer-specific work permit and have received an invitation to apply for the Quebec Selection Certificate (CSQ) can obtain a 12-month employer-specific work permit extension under the IMP. The measure applies to permits expiring between March 13, 2026 and December 31, 2026, and is intended to retain skilled workers while their permanent residence path is processed. -
02February 10, 2026
IEC subsequent permits from inside Canada extended indefinitely
IRCC extended a policy first introduced in spring 2024 that allows International Experience Canada participants to apply for second or third permits without leaving Canada. The policy had been set to expire December 1, 2025; it now remains in place until further notice. -
03December 19, 2025
IEC 2026 season opens with 36 partner countries
IRCC opened the 2026 International Experience Canada season with quotas of approximately 90,000 work permits across 36 partner countries with bilateral youth mobility agreements. Working Holiday participants receive open work permits valid up to two years; Young Professionals and International Co-op are employer-specific. -
04November 5, 2025 · Levels Plan 2026-2028
IMP target raised to 170,000 work permits
The 2026-2028 Immigration Levels Plan, announced November 5, 2025, sets the annual IMP target at 170,000 work permits, up from 128,700 in the previous plan. The increase coincides with a reduction of the TFWP target to 60,000, reflecting a strategic federal shift toward LMIA-exempt pathways. -
05January 21, 2025
TEER restrictions introduced on Spousal Open Work Permits
IRCC restricted SOWP eligibility: spouses of work permit holders now qualify only if the principal worker holds a TEER 0 or 1 occupation, or a select TEER 2 or 3 role on a published list. The principal worker’s permit must also have at least 16 months of validity remaining at the time of application. Dependent children of foreign workers are no longer eligible. Spouses of free-trade agreement workers (CUSMA, CETA, and others) and workers transitioning to permanent residence remain exempt.
RCIC
Why hire an RCIC?
Under Canadian law, only Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants (RCICs), lawyers, and Québec notaries are authorized to represent applicants before IRCC and provincial immigration authorities. Any other paid representation is unauthorized and puts the application at risk.
A licensed RCIC is accountable to the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (CICC), bound by a strict code of professional conduct, and trained in current immigration law. For IMP applications specifically, this means correct category selection (free-trade agreement, intra-company transfer, IEC, PGWP, spousal open work permit, or other), identification of the applicable LMIA exemption code (R204, R205, R207, or R207.1), proper offer of employment submission through the IRCC Employer Portal, and complete documentation matching the criteria of the chosen exemption.
Megrez Immigration Consultants has operated as a licensed RCIC firm in Vancouver since 1996. Every IMP file at the firm, on both the employer and worker side, is structured, reviewed, and submitted under direct RCIC supervision.
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