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Last Updated On 3 November 2022, 8:43 PM EDT (Toronto Time)

Jobs That Don’t Need Work Permit: Without a doubt, most foreign nationals who intend to work in Canada must get a work permit. It serves as a legal document that allows a foreign national to lawfully work in Canada and receive remuneration from a Canadian employer.

Therefore, a foreign national may work in Canada without a work permit under specific conditions. However, there are numerous scenarios where an individual can work in Canada without needing a Temporary Work Permit.

Below are a few situations where a foreign worker may work in Canada without a work permit.

List of Jobs That Do Not Require a work permit

Athletes and Team Members
Civil Aviation Inspectors
Emergency Service Providers
Aviation or Accident Investigators
Health Care Students
Expert Witnesses and Investigators
Judges, Referees, and Similar Officials
News Reporters, Media Crews
Performing Artists
Expert Witnesses and Investigators

Business Visitors That Don’t Need A Work Permit

Short-term workers of temporary residents

Individuals employed full-time, personally, by temporary residents of Canada may also fall under business visitors. This group of qualified occupations includes domestic helpers, personal assistants, and live-in caretakers.

However, a Labour Market Impact Assessment and Work Permit are necessary for the employees if they stay more than six months.

After-Sales Service

After-sales workers can visit Canada to install, set up, test, and repair commercial or industrial equipment. The contract of sale for the equipment in Canada must specifically detail these services. Moreover, visitors under this category can train potential users or maintenance staff.

Board of Directors

Board of directors who must enter Canada to attend a meet qualify as business visitors. These people may get compensation for their time in Canada, but it should not involve any employment in the Canadian labour market.

Foreign companies hire Canadian companies

When a foreign business hires Canadian businesses to provide services in Canada, they may choose to send one or more employees to Canada to ensure that the task is fulfilled in the required way.

These foreign employees may enter Canada to help, support or supervise the hired Canadian company.

International Representatives

International representatives and their family members and personal staff can work without a permit in Canada. However, the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT) attributes these international representatives. Other exceptions are for diplomatic representatives who serve in United Nations offices in Canada.

However, international representatives’ family members must have a ‘no objection letter’ by DFAIT to work without a work permit.

Military member

Under the Visiting Forces Act, military and civilian members can work and study in Canada without a work permit. These exemptions also apply to the relatives of these people.

Foreign governments officials

Canada participates in agreements with other countries that permit the international exchange of public servants. International government employees can work for a department or agency of the federal or provincial government under these agreements.

U.S. Cross-Border Maritime Law Enforcement Agents

Joint crews from Canada and the United States sometimes engage in cross-border law enforcement. Such workers can work on both sides of the Canadian and U.S border.

Therefore, American crew members can work on Canadian soil without a work visa.

Aircraft security personnel

To oversee safety on foreign airplanes, foreign governments typically designate foreign IFSOs. As a result, they can work in Canada without a work visa since a foreign government chose them.

Business visitors Eligibility

Foreign workers who engage in business or trade operations in Canada but do not intend to enter the Canadian labour market can enter the country under this general business visitor category.

However, under this category, there are several subdivisions, but the following requirements apply to all business visitors:

No intentions of entering the Canadian labour market
The worker must engage in international-scale activities while working in Canada.

Business visitors in Canada who work for foreign employers much meet the following requirements:

The main source of workers’ income comes from outside of Canada.
Primary work location is outside of Canada
Employers’ profits are derived from sources outside of Canada.

Another aspect to remember is that business visitors must provide the immigration officer with proper documentation attesting to their stay in Canada when they travel. The required documents vary between cases, but frequently the following are helpful: