Labour market impact assessment (LMIA) exemption codes – International Mobility Program (IMP)

This section contains policy, procedures and guidance used by IRCC staff. It is posted on the department’s website as a courtesy to stakeholders.

Sections 204 to 208 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (IRPR) provide the regulatory authority to issue a work permit to a worker who does not require a labour market impact assessment (LMIA) as per subparagraphs R200(1)(c)(i) to (ii.1).

There are specific situations that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) considers, by policy, as meeting the requirements of sections R204 through R208. In doing so, the department has created LMIA exemption streams (via unique administrative codes) to identify the different eligibilities or criteria for those specific situations. Meeting the eligibility criteria to be assessed under a LMIA-exemption category only means the applicant does not require a LMIA for their application to be processed. The officer must still be satisfied that all regulatory requirements are met for the issuance of a work permit, including all relevant factors of section R200.

The LMIA exemption codes are listed in the following tables.

Important: There were several code changes and new codes added on December 15, 2022. Officers should ensure that they are using the correct coding based on the specific work permit category instructions.

Legislative sections

A25.2 Public policies
R204: Agreements or arrangements
R205: Canadian interests
R206: No other means of support
R207: Permanent residence applicants in Canada
R207.1: Vulnerable workers
R208: Humanitarian reasons
International Mobility Workers Unit (IMWU): Port of entry (POE) assistance

A25.2: Public policies

Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA)	LMIA exemption code (December 14 and before)	LMIA exemption code (December 15, 2022, and after)
Public policies issued under A25.2 (inside Canada): Open work permits for Hong Kong recent graduates Optional open work permits for permanent residence pathways for Hong Kong residents Open work permits for foreign nationals with a support letter from a province or territory Instructions for special measures in response to global events can be found under Service delivery – Special measures. Expired: Public policy: Open work permits for applicants under the temporary resident to permanent resident pathway Public policy to issue an open work permit to certain post-graduation work permit (PGWP) holders – April 6 to December 31, 2023 – archived Temporary public policy: Graphic designers working on live-action television or film in Canada – September 10, 2021 to March 9, 2022 Temporary public policy to facilitate the issuance of an open work permit to former or current PGWP holders – June 13 to December 31, 2022 Temporary public policy to facilitate the issuance of an open work permit to former or current PGWP holders during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic – January 27 to July 27, 2021	R01	R01
Public policies issued under A25.2 (outside Canada) Instructions for special measures in response to global events can be found under Service delivery – Special measures. Open work permits for Hong Kong recent graduates Open work permits for H-1B visa holders and their family members Open work permits for foreign nationals with a support letter from a province or territory	R01	R02

Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA)

LMIA exemption code (December 14 and before)

LMIA exemption code (December 15, 2022, and after)

Public policies issued under A25.2 (inside Canada):

Instructions for special measures in response to global events can be found under Service delivery – Special measures.

Expired:

Public policy: Open work permits for applicants under the temporary resident to permanent resident pathway
Public policy to issue an open work permit to certain post-graduation work permit (PGWP) holders – April 6 to December 31, 2023 – archived
Temporary public policy: Graphic designers working on live-action television or film in Canada – September 10, 2021 to March 9, 2022
Temporary public policy to facilitate the issuance of an open work permit to former or current PGWP holders – June 13 to December 31, 2022
Temporary public policy to facilitate the issuance of an open work permit to former or current PGWP holders during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic – January 27 to July 27, 2021

R01

Public policies issued under A25.2 (outside Canada)

Instructions for special measures in response to global events can be found under Service delivery – Special measures.

R01

R02

R204: Agreements or arrangements

R204(a) Canada-international exemption codes
Regulation	LMIA exemption code (December 14 and before)	LMIA exemption code (December 15, 2022 and after)
Canada–international non-trade agreements Unique work situations: Airline personnel (operational, technical and ground personnel) United States government personnel	T11	T11
Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) Traders	T21	T34
CUSMA Investors	T22	T35
CUSMA Professionals	T23	T36
CUSMA intra-company transferee (ICT) Executives or senior managers	T24	T37
CUSMA ICT Specialized knowledge workers	T24	T38
Colombia – Traders	T21	F10
Colombia – Investors	T22	F11
Colombia – Professionals and technicians	T23	F12
Colombia – ICT Executives or senior managers	T24	F13
Colombia – ICT Management trainees	T24	F14
Colombia – ICT Specialized knowledge workers	T24	F15
Colombia – Spouses and common-law partners	T25	T25
Chile – Traders	T21	F20
Chile – Investors	T22	F21
Chile – Professionals	T23	F22
Chile – ICT Executives or senior managers	T24	F23
Chile ICT Specialized knowledge workers	T24	F24
Korea, South – Traders	T21	F30
Korea, South – Investors	T22	F31
Korea, South – Contractual service suppliers and independent professionals	T23	F32
Korea, South – ICT Executives or senior managers	T24	F33
Korea, South – ICT Management trainees	T24	F34
Korea, South – ICT Specialized knowledge workers	T24	F35
Korea, South – Spouses and common-law partners	T25	F36
Panama – Professionals	T23	F42
Peru – Traders	T21	F50
Peru – Investors	T22	F51
Peru – Professionals and technicians	T23	F52
Peru – ICT Executives or senior managers	T24	F53
Peru – ICT Management trainees	T24	F54
Peru – ICT Specialized knowledge workers	T24	F55
GATS Professionals	T33	T33
Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) Investors	T46	T46
CETA Contractual service suppliers	T47	T47
CETA Engineering technologists and scientific technologists	T48	T48
CETA Independent professionals	T43	T43
CETA ICT Executives or senior managers	T44	T44
CETA ICT Graduate trainees	T44	T42
CETA ICT Specialized knowledge workers	T44	T41
CETA Spouses and common-law partners of intra-corporate transferees (T44, T42 or T41)	T45	T45
CPTPP Investors	T50	T50
CPTPP ICT Executives or senior managers	T51	T51
CPTPP ICT Management trainees	T51	T54
CPTPP ICT Specialized knowledge workers	T51	T55
CPTPP Professionals and technicians	T52	T52
CPTPP Spouses	T53	T53
UK Independent professionals	T43	F60
UK – ICT – Executives or senior managers	T44	F61
UK – ICT – Management trainees	T44	F62
UK – ICT – Specialized knowledge	T44	F63
UK Spouses of intra-corporate transferees (F61, F62 or F63)	T45	F64
UK Investors	T46	F65
UK Contractual service suppliers	T47	F66
UK Engineering technologists and scientific technologists	T48	F67
Canada–Ukraine Free Trade Agreement (CUFTA) overview
Canada–Ukraine Free Trade Agreement (CUFTA) – Business visitors	N/A
Canada–Ukraine Free Trade Agreement (CUFTA) – Investors	N/A	F70
Canada–Ukraine Free Trade Agreement (CUFTA) – Intra-corporate transferees	N/A	F71, F74
Canada–Ukraine Free Trade Agreement (CUFTA) – Professionals	N/A	F72

R204(b) Provincial/territorial-international exemption codes

There are no approved agreements at this time.

R204(c) Canada-provincial/territorial exemption codes
Regulation	LMIA exemption code: December 14 and before	LMIA exemption code: December 15, 2022 and after
Canada-provincial/territorial Nominated by a province for permanent residence Significant investment projects Exceptional or unforeseen events (such as natural disasters)	T13	T13
Atlantic Immigration Program	C18	C18
Quebec investors with notice of intent to select	-	T10

R204(d) Youth mobility exemption codes
Regulation	LMIA exemption code: December 14 and before	LMIA exemption code: December 15, 2022 and after
International Experience Canada Program	C21	C21

R205: Canadian interests

R205(a) Significant benefit exemption codes
Regulation	LMIA exemption code: December 14 and before	LMIA exemption code: December 15, 2022 and after
Significant benefit – General Unique work situations Airline personnel (foreign airline security guards) Interns with international organizations recognized under the Foreign Missions and International Organizations Act Rail grinder operators, rail welders or other specialized track maintenance workers Experts on mission, working for a United Nations office in Canada Foreign physicians coming to work in Quebec Caribbean agricultural liaison officers	C10	C10
Entrepreneurs or self-employed business owners Unique work situations Fishing guides (Canadian lakes) Foreign camp owners or directors, and outfitters Foreign freelance race jockeys	C11	C11
Provincial business candidates or Quebec self-employed applicants with a Quebec Selection Certificate (CSQ)	C11	C60
ICT – Executives, senior or functional managers – Existing business in Canada Unique work situations Airline personnel (station managers)	C12	C62
ICT – Specialized knowledge	C12	C63
ICT – Employees starting a branch or affiliate in Canada	C12	C61
Emergency repair or repair personnel for out-of-warranty equipment	C13	C13
Essential workers for the production stage of television and film	C14	C14
Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot	C15	C15
Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot spouses	C17	C17
Live-in caregivers whose permanent residence application is submitted	A71	A71
Caregivers whose permanent residence application is submitted under the Home Child Care Provider Pilot (HCCPP) or Home Support Worker Pilot (HSWP) (occupation-restricted open work permit)	C90	C90
Spouses and dependants at age of majority of caregivers whose permanent residence application is submitted under the HCCPP or HSWP	C91	C91
Certain Quebec Selection Certificate (CSQ) holders currently in Quebec	A75	A73
Public policy for spouse or common-law partner in Canada (SCLPC) class or family class applicants to apply in Canada		A74
Bridging open work permits (BOWPs)	A75	A75
Permanent resident facilitation work permit categories Caregivers under the HCCPP or HSWP Yukon Community Pilot (YCP)	A75	A75
Quebec Selection Certificate (CSQ) holders currently outside Quebec	A76	A76
Start-up business class (SUV) permanent resident visa applicants	A75	A77

R205(b) Reciprocal employment exemption codes
Regulation	LMIA exemption code: December 14 and before	LMIA exemption code: December 15, 2022 and after
Reciprocal employment Unique work situations Fishing guides (border lakes) United States government personnel (family members)	C20	C20
Residential summer camp counsellors	C20	C24
Coaches and athletes	C20	C26
Academic exchanges (professors, visiting lecturers)	C22	C22
Performing arts	C23	C23

R205(c) Designated by minister

R205(c)(i) Research exemption codes
Regulation	LMIA exemption code: December 14 and before	LMIA exemption code: December 15, 2022 and after
Research	C31	C31
i.1) Educational co-op – Post-secondary level	C32	C32
i.2) Educational co-op – Secondary level	C33	C33

R205(c)(ii) Competitiveness and public policy exemption codes
Act	LMIA exemption code: December 14 and before	LMIA exemption code: December 15, 2022 and after
Francophone mobility	C16	C16
Spouses or common-law partners of high-skilled workers (TEER 0 through 3)	C41	C41 C41 For applications received by IRCC on or after January 21, 2025, if the principal foreign national is not transitioning to permanent residence
Spouses or common-law partners of full-time students	C42	C42
Post-grad employment – PGWP	C43	C43
Post-doctoral Ph.D. fellows	C44	C44
Medical or dental residents and medical research fellows	C45	C45
Dependent children of a high-skilled worker (TEER 0 to 3)		C46
Spouses or common-law partners of a low-skilled workers (TEER 4 or 5)		C47
Dependent children of a low-skilled worker (TEER 4 or 5)		C48
Family members of economic class permanent residence applicants	C41	C49
Academic award recipients	C44	C52
Innovation Stream pilot		C88

R205(d) Charitable or religious work exemption codes
Act	LMIA exemption code: December 14 and before	LMIA exemption code: December 15, 2022 and after
Religious work	C50	C50
Charitable work	C50	C51

R206: No other means of support

R206 exemption codes
Regulation	LMIA exemption code
a. Refugee claimants	S61
b. Persons under an unenforceable removal order	S62

R207: Permanent residence applicants in Canada

R207 exemption codes
Regulation	LMIA exemption code
Permanent residence applicants in Canada: Live-in-caregiver class (LCP) Spouse or common-law partner in Canada class (after eligibility passed) Protected persons under subsection A95(2) Section A25 exemption (humanitarian and compassionate grounds) Family members of the above	A70

R207.1: Vulnerable workers

R207.1 exemption codes
Regulation	LMIA exemption code
1. Vulnerable workers	A72
2. Family members of vulnerable workers	A72

R208: Humanitarian reasons

R208 exemption codes
Regulation	LMIA exemption code
a. Destitute students	H81
b. Holders of a temporary resident permit valid for a minimum of 6 months	H82

International Mobility Workers Unit (IMWU): Port of entry (POE) assistance

The IMWU supports Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) officers with enquiries related to LMIA exemptions and work permit exemptions and provides opinions to employers seeking to hire foreign nationals from visa-exempt countries currently outside of Canada.

The IMWU is available during business hours. Enquiries sent outside business hours will be answered the next business day.

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Date modified:: 2025-02-03

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