Intracompany Transferee

Intra-company transferees may apply for work permits if the employee

• is currently employed by a multi-national company and seeking entry to work in a parent, a subsidiary, a branch, or an affiliate of that foreign company inside of Canada;
• are transferring to an enterprise that has a qualifying relationship with the foreign company in which they are currently employed
• are being transferred to a position in an executive, senior managerial, or specialized knowledge capacity;
• have been employed continuously (via payroll or by contract directly with the company), by the company that plans to transfer them outside Canada in a similar full-time position (not accumulated part-time) for at least one year in the three-year period immediately preceding the date of initial application.

Requirements for the company if it is a start-up in Canada

• Generally, the company must have physical premises for Canadian operation, particularly in the case of specialized knowledge. However, the company can have a virtual office until the executive can purchase or lease a premise.
• The company must furnish realistic plans to staff the new operation.
• The company must have the financial ability to do business in Canada and compensate employees.
• When transferring executives or managers, the company must
  • demonstrate that it will be large enough to support executive or management function.
• When transferring a specialized knowledge worker, the company must
  • demonstrate that it is expected to be doing business;
  • ensure that work is guided and directed by management at the Canadian operation.

Duration of work permits for start-up

• Initial work permit: one year
• For renewals, evidence should be provided that
  • the Canadian and foreign companies still have a qualifying relationship;
  • the new office has engaged in the continuous provision of goods or services for the past year;
  • the new office has been staffed.