Canada-European Union (EU) Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) – Engineering technologists and scientific technologists (work permit required/LMIA exemption code T48)

The Canada-European Union (EU) Comprehensive Economic Trade Agreement (CETA) covers 2 types of technologists: engineering and scientific. Both are subject to the same criteria as contractual service suppliers and independent professionals, with the exception of the education credentials outlined below.

CETA includes a list of service sectors (set out in Annex 10-C) applicable to engineering and scientific technologists.

A table has been created to demonstrate equivalency between Annex 10-C and Canada’s National Occupational Classification (NOC) codes, and to highlight those occupations where Canada has made commitments to facilitate temporary entry for engineering and scientific technologists.

On this page

• General criteria for engineering and scientific technologists
• Specific criteria for engineering and scientific technologists
• Work permit issuance in the Global Case Management System (GCMS)

General criteria for engineering and scientific technologists

Applicants in both categories of technologists must provide

• proof of citizenship of a European Union member state
• a copy of a signed contract between the service provider and the Canadian service consumer
• documentation that provides the following information:
  • the profession for which entry is sought
  • their province or territory of destination
  • details of the position (job description, duration of employment, arrangements as to payment)
  • the educational qualification specific to the type of technologist (outlined below)
• evidence that the applicant has the necessary professional qualifications required to practise an activity pursuant to the laws or requirements in the province or territory where the service is supplied

Note: In both cases, the Canadian company needs to submit an offer of employment through the IRCC Employer Portal. They must also pay the $230 employer compliance fee, as it is the Canadian company that is creating the need for the temporary worker to enter Canada. The offer of employment does not establish the standard employee–employer relationship as normally understood in the labour force; however, the company submitting the offer of employment is responsible for the conditions outlined in the regulations for the International Mobility Program, and may be subject to the employer compliance regime.

In addition to the general criteria listed above, a contractual service supplier applying as an engineering technologist or scientific technologist must also

• be engaged in the supply of a service on a temporary basis as an employee of an enterprise that has obtained a service contract
• have been an employee of the EU-headquartered enterprise for at least 1 year prior to application
• possess 3 years of professional experience in the sector of activity that is the subject of the contract at the date of submission of an application for entry into Canada
• not receive remuneration for the provision of services other than the remuneration paid by the enterprise employing the contractual service suppliers during their stay in Canada

In addition to the general criteria listed above, an independent professional applying as an engineering technologist or scientific technologist must also

• be engaged in the supply of a service on a temporary basis as a self-employed person
• possess at least 6 years of professional experience in the sector of activity that is the subject of the contract as of the date of submission of an application for entry into Canada

Specific criteria for engineering and scientific technologists

Engineering technologists must possess the following education credentials:

• a 3-year post-secondary degree from an officially recognized institution in engineering technology, which shall be considered equivalent to a university degree

Scientific technologists must possess the following education credentials:

• a 3-year post-secondary degree from an officially recognized institution in the discipline of agriculture, architecture, biology, chemistry, physics, forestry, geology, geophysics, mining or energy, which shall be considered equivalent to a university degree

Length of stay: A cumulative period of no more than 12 months in any 24-month period or for the duration of the contract, whichever is less. Extensions are possible at the officer’s discretion while not exceeding the 24-month period. For more information, see

• Extending CETA work permits

Work permit issuance in the Global Case Management System (GCMS)

Under the “Application” screen, officers must enter the following:

• Case Type: 52

Based on fields in the “Offer of Employment” section, officers should enter the following under the “Application” screen:

• Province of Destination: address of physical job location
  • If there is more than one location, officers should enter the primary location in the “Province of Destination” field and the secondary location in the “Remarks” field.
• City of Destination: address of physical job location
  • If there is more than one location, officers should enter the primary location in the “City of Destination” field and the secondary location in the “Remarks” field.

Note: The city and province of destination entered by the applicant should match the address of employment in the Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) exempt offer of employment. This information is under the “Employment Details – LMIA Exempt” tab.

The following fields will be auto-populated from the LMIA-exempt offer of employment:

• LMIA Exemption Code: T48
• NOC: National Occupational Classification (NOC) code
• Intended Occupation: job title
• Employer: business operating name

Note: If the employer is authorized to use an IMM 5802 form instead of completing the offer of employment through the Employer Portal, please see Employer-specific work permits with Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) exemptions (International Mobility Program).