Professionals and technicians – CPTPP [R204(a) – T52] – Agreements or arrangements – International Mobility Program
This section contains policy, procedures and guidance used by IRCC staff. It is posted on the department’s website as a courtesy to stakeholders.
In these instructions, “officer” refers to employees of both Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada and the Canada Border Services Agency.
The instructions on this page should be reviewed in conjunction with
- Employer-specific work permits – General processing – International Mobility Program
- Conditions and validity period on work permits
The Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) is an international trade agreement between Canada and multiple countries, and as such any work permit applications are assessed under paragraph 204(a) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (IRPR). This regulatory section falls under the International Mobility Program (IMP).
The CPTPP contains provisions for the temporary entry of professionals and technicians.
The CPTPP includes a list of occupations on a country-by-country basis permitted under the professionals and technicians category for citizens of Australia,Brunei, Chile, Japan, Mexico, Peru and Malaysia.
On this page
- Eligibility
- Documentary evidence
- Application assessment
- Country-specific occupations
- Spousal provisions – LMIA exemption code T53
- Final decision
Eligibility
There are differences between the requirements for professionals and for technicians.
Professionals
To qualify as a professional, in addition to the country-specific requirements, the applicant must
- have an IMP offer of employment in an occupation requiring a theoretical and practical application of a body of specialized knowledge
- If the application is received on or before November 15, 2022, it is a National Occupational Classification (NOC) 0, A or B occupation.
- If the application is received on or after November 16, 2022, it is a Training, Education, Experience and Responsibilities (TEER) 0 or 1 occupation.
- have a post-secondary degree of 4 or more years of study and any additional educational requirements as per their specific occupation in the NOC
- have 2 years of paid work experience in the sector of activity of the contract
- be remunerated at a level commensurate with other similarly qualified professionals in the industry and region where the work is performed
- Such remuneration should not include non-monetary elements, such as housing costs and travel expenses.
- The assessment of the level of remuneration should be based on the prevailing wage. Use the Explore Labour Market Information tool for more information.
Technicians
To qualify as a technician, in addition to any country-specific requirements, the applicant must
- have an IMP offer of employment in an occupation requiring a theoretical and practical application of a body of specialized knowledge
- the application is received on or before November 15, 2022, it is a NOC B occupation.
- If the application is received on or after November 16, 2022, it is a TEER 2 or 3 occupation.
- have a post-secondary or technical degree of 2 or more years of study as a minimum entry requirement for the occupation and any other additional educational requirements as per their specific occupation in the NOC
- have 4 years of paid work experience in the sector of activity of the contract
- be remunerated at a level similar to other similarly qualified technicians in the industry in the region of the work
- Such remuneration should not include non-monetary elements, such as housing costs and travel expenses.
- The assessment of the level of remuneration should be based on the prevailing wage. Use the Explore Labour Market Information tool for more information.
Documentary evidence
Professionals and technicians should present documentation that provides the following information:
- an offer of employment submitted by the Canadian enterprise that indicates
- the occupation for which entry is sought
- the province or territory of destination
- details of the position (job description, duration of employment, arrangements regarding payment)
- proof of educational qualifications and any additional credentials required to discharge job duties in Canada (such as licensing or certification)
- if the occupation is regulated by the province or territory, evidence of licensing or certification in their occupation from the applicable Canadian or foreign regulatory body (see Regulated or certified occupations – Processing of work permit applications)
- proof of work experience
Important: The Canadian company must submit an offer of employment and pay the employer compliance fee through the IRCC Employer Portal, 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.
Application assessment
Language requirement
If an officer has concerns about the applicant’s ability to communicate in 1 of the 2 official languages, the officer may ask the applicant to provide evidence to satisfy the officer that the applicant’s language abilities will permit them to perform the specific job for which they were hired and that they understand the health and safety requirements of their workplace.
Officers may request documentary evidence, such as the level of English- or French-language education obtained, correspondence with the intended employer and examples of previous work undertaken in countries where English or French is an official language, to aid them in assessing language ability.
See Assessing language requirements for instructions on how officers can assess language ability.
Note: An applicant whose letter of offer outlines specific official language requirements must satisfy the officer that they meet those requirements.
Length of stay
The initial length of stay is 1 year.
Extensions are allowed if the applicant is able to provide documentation that satisfies the processing officer of their need to have their stay extended.
See Extending work permits under the CPTPP for details on when an application can be extended.
IMP offer of employment
When assessing if the work permit application meets the requirements for a CPTPP professional or technician, officers should review the offer of employment that appears under the Employment Details tab in the Global Case Management System (GCMS) for information provided by the employer or the matching fields on the IMM 5802 form (if the employer was authorized to use it).
| Field | Considerations |
|---|---|
| Requirements Exemptions Met |
Information in this field outlines how the job and the foreign national meet the regulatory and trade agreement requirements, including that the applicant
|
| Duration | 1 year maximum duration |
| Duties and Job Requirements | These are the activities that the foreign national will be performing. Do they align with the occupation? Are there specific requirements that align with the professional or technician category of the applicant? Does the employer require more than the minimum amount of paid work experience? |
| Wages |
Is the remuneration similar to other similarly qualified professionals or technicians in the industry in the region where the work is performed (in other words, the prevailing wage)? |
| Minimum Education Requirements |
Do the educational requirements outlined in the offer of employment align with the minimum education requirements of the professional or technician category? Are there additional or alternative requirements for this occupation defined in the NOC? |
| Other Training Required | The employer may indicate specialty training as a requirement. |
| Provincial/Federal Certification, Licensing or Registration |
The employer should list any specific certification, licensing or registration required in Canada. Documented evidence should be provided with the application if the occupation is regulated by the province or territory; however, some occupations may require the foreign national to write an exam after they enter Canada, for example, for a licence from a regulated body or a first aid certificate. |
Refer to Employer-specific work permits – General processing – International Mobility Program for further guidance.
Country-specific occupations
Australia
Professionals
Canadian educational requirements for Australian professionals should be deemed to be met whenever an Australian professional has met the Australian equivalent educational qualification. This is generally a 3-year bachelor’s degree. Australian professionals also require a letter provided by the Canadian client or employer, indicating that the Australian professional’s qualifications are acceptable in Canada.
Note: A bachelor’s degree in Australia can be obtained after 3 years of study.
All TEER 0 and 1 occupations (NOC 0 or A for applications received on or before November 15, 2022) are permitted, except the following:
- health, education and social services occupations and related occupations
- judges and notaries
- managers in postal and courier services
- managers of telecommunications carriers
- occupations related to cultural industries
- recreation, sports and fitness program and service directors
Technicians
The following occupations that are listed as TEER 2 and 3 (NOC B for applications received on or before November 15, 2022) are permitted:
- aircraft instrument, electrical and avionics mechanics, technicians and inspectors
- architectural technologists and technicians
- civil engineering technologists and technicians
- computer and information systems technicians (occupations include elements of TEER 1/ NOC A)
- construction inspectors and estimators
- drafting technologists and technicians
- electrical and electronics engineering technologists and technicians
- electricians
- engineering inspectors, testers and regulatory officers
- graphic designers and illustrators
- industrial designers
- industrial engineering technologists and technicians
- industrial instrument technicians and mechanics
- interior designers
- international purchasing and selling agents
- land survey technologists and technicians
- mechanical engineering technologists and technicians
- oil and gas well drillers, servicers and testers
- plumbers
- technical occupations in geomatics and meteorology
- supervisors in the following areas:
- food, beverage and tobacco processing fields
- forest products processing field
- machinists and related occupations
- mineral and metal processing
- mining and quarrying
- oil and gas drilling and service
- petroleum, gas and chemical processing and utilities
- plastic and rubber products manufacturing
- printing and related occupations
- textile processing
- Contractors and supervisors in the following areas:
- carpentry trades
- electrical trades and telecommunications occupations
- heavy construction equipment crews
- installers, repairers and servicers
- mechanic trades
- metal forming
- other construction trades
- pipefitting trades
- shaping and erecting trades
Brunei
Professionals
Only highly specialized services and core services categories in the energy sector are permitted
Petroleum Engineers
Chile
Professionals
All TEER 0 and 1 occupations are permitted, except the following:
- health, education and social services occupations and related occupations
- occupations related to cultural industries
- recreation, sports and fitness program and service directors
- managers of telecommunications carriers
- managers in postal and courier services
- judges, lawyers and notaries, except for foreign legal consultants
Technicians
The following occupations that are listed as TEER 2 and 3 are permitted:
- aircraft instrument, electrical and avionics mechanics, technicians and inspectors
- civil engineering technologists and technicians
- computer and information systems technicians (occupation includes elements of TEER 1)
- construction inspectors and estimators
- electrical and electronics engineering technologists and technicians
- electricians
- engineering inspectors, testers and regulatory officers
- graphic designers and illustrators
- industrial engineering technologists and technicians
- industrial instrument technicians and mechanics
- interior designers
- international purchasing and selling agents
- mechanical engineering technologists and technicians
- oil and gas well drillers, services and testers
- plumbers
- supervisors in the following areas:
- food, beverage and tobacco processing
- forest products processing
- machinists and related occupations
- mineral and metal processing
- mining and quarrying
- oil and gas drilling and service
- petroleum, gas and chemical processing and utilities
- plastic and rubber products manufacturing
- printing and related occupations
- textile processing
- supervisors and contractors in the following areas:
- carpentry trades
- electrical trades and telecommunications occupations
- heavy construction equipment crews
- installers, repairers and servicers
- mechanic trades
- metal forming
- other construction trades
- pipefitting trades
- shaping and erecting trades
Japan
Professionals
All TEER 0 and 1 (NOC 0 or A for applications received on or before November 15, 2022) occupations are permitted, except the following:
- health, education and social services occupations and related occupations
- judges, lawyers and notaries, except foreign legal consultants
- managers in postal and courier services
- managers of telecommunications carriers
- occupations related to cultural industries
- recreation, sports and fitness program and service directors
- researchers, except those intending to work at an academic entity in Canada
Technicians
A Japanese associate’s degree, the equivalent of such a degree or a higher level of education is required.
The following occupations that are listed as TEER 2 and 3 (NOC B for applications received on or before November 15, 2022) are permitted:
- aircraft instrument, electrical and avionics mechanics, technicians and inspectors
- architectural technologists and technicians
- civil engineering technologists and technicians
- computer and information systems technicians (occupations include elements of TEER 1/ NOC A)
- construction inspectors and estimators
- drafting technologists and technicians
- electrical and electronics engineering technologists and technicians
- engineering inspectors, testers and regulatory officers
- graphic designers and illustrators
- industrial designers
- industrial engineering technologists and technicians
- industrial instrument technicians and mechanics
- interior designers
- international purchasing and selling agents
- land survey technologists and technicians
- mechanical engineering technologists and technicians
- oil and gas well drillers, servicers and testers (excluding operators)
- technical occupations in geomatics and meteorology
- supervisors in the following areas:
- carpentry trades
- electrical trades and telecommunications occupations
- food, beverage and tobacco processing
- forest products processing
- heavy construction equipment crews
- installers, repairers and servicers
- machinists and related occupations
- mechanic trades
- metal forming
- mineral and metal processing
- mining and quarrying
- oil and gas drilling and service
- other construction trades
- petroleum, gas and chemical processing and utilities
- pipefitting trades
- plastic and rubber products manufacturing
- printing and related occupations
- shaping and erecting trades
- textile processing
Malaysia
Professionals
All of the following TEER 0 and 1 (NOC 0 or A for applications received on or before November 15, 2022) occupations are permitted:
- actuaries
- aerospace engineers
- architects
- architecture managers
- chemical engineers
- civil engineers
- computer and information systems managers
- computer engineers
- computer programmers and interactive media developers
- database analysts and data administrators
- electrical and electronics engineers
- financial analysts
- financial auditors and accountants
- geological engineers
- industrial and manufacturing engineers
- information systems analysts and consultants
- landscape architects
- mechanical engineers
- metallurgical and materials engineers
- mining engineers
- other professional engineers
- petroleum engineers
- software engineers
- urban and land use planners
- veterinarians
- web designers and developers
Technicians
There are no provisions under the CPTPP to facilitate the entry into Canada of Malaysian citizens as technicians.
Mexico
Professionals
All TEER 0 and 1 (NOC 0 or A for applications received on or before November 15, 2022) occupations are permitted, except the following:
- health, education and social services occupations and related occupations
- judges, lawyers and notaries, except foreign legal consultants
- managers in postal and courier services
- managers of telecommunications carriers
- occupations related to cultural industries
- recreation, sports and fitness program and service directors
Technicians
The following occupations that are listed as TEER 2 and 3 (NOC B for applications received on or before November 15, 2022) are permitted:
- civil engineering technologists and technicians
- computer and information systems technicians (occupations include elements of TEER 1/ NOC A)
- construction inspectors and estimators
- electrical and electronics engineering technologists and technicians
- electricians
- engineering inspectors, testers and regulatory officers
- graphic designers and illustrators
- industrial engineering technologists and technicians
- industrial instrument technicians and mechanics
- interior designers
- mechanical engineering technologists and technicians
- contractors and supervisors in the following areas:
- electrical trades and telecommunications occupations
- heavy construction equipment crews
- installers, repairers and servicers
- other construction trades
Peru
Professionals
All TEER 0 and 1 (NOC 0 or A for applications received on or before November 15, 2022) occupations are permitted, except the following:
- health, education and social services occupations and related occupations
- judges, lawyers and notaries, except foreign legal consultants
- managers in postal and courier services
- managers of telecommunications carriers
- occupations related to cultural industries
- recreation, sports and fitness program and service directors
Technicians
The following occupations that are listed as TEER 2 and 3 (NOC B for applications received on or before November 15, 2022) are permitted:
- civil engineering technologists and technicians
- construction inspectors and estimators
- engineering inspectors, testers and regulatory officers
- industrial engineering technologists and technicians
- mechanical engineering technologists and technicians
- supervisors in the following areas:
- food, beverage and tobacco processing
- forest products processing
- machinists and related occupations
- mineral and metal processing
- mining and quarrying
- oil and gas drilling and service
- petroleum, gas and chemical processing and utilities
- plastic and rubber products manufacturing
- printing and related occupations
- textile processing
- contractors and supervisors in the following areas:
- aircraft instrument, electrical and avionics mechanics, technicians and inspectors
- architectural technologists and technicians
- carpentry trades
- computer and information systems technicians (occupations include elements of TEER 1/ NOC A)
- drafting technologists and technicians
- electrical and electronics engineering technologists and technicians
- electrical trades and telecommunications occupations
- electricians
- graphic designers and illustrators
- heavy construction equipment crews
- industrial designers
- industrial instrument technicians and mechanics
- installers, repairers and servicers
- interior designers
- international purchasing and selling agents
- land survey technologists and technicians
- mechanic trades
- metal forming
- oil and gas well drillers, servicers and testers
- other construction trades
- pipefitting trades
- plumbers
- shaping and erecting trades
- technical occupations in geomatics and meteorology
Spousal provisions – Administrative code T53
Spousal eligibility is based on the citizenship or permanent resident status of the principal applicant and their occupational level.
Professionals
An open work permit may be issued to the spouse of a professional if the principal applicant is either of the following:
- a citizen of Australia, Brunei, Chile, Japan or Mexico
- a permanent resident of Australia
Technicians
An open work permit may be issued to the spouse of a technician if the principal applicant is either of the following:
- a citizen of Australia, Chile, Japan or Mexico
- a permanent resident of Australia
Note: The open work permit should have a validity that matches the principal applicant’s work permit. The spouse or common-law partner’s work permit may be issued at a port of entry (POE).
Final decision
Approval
The work permit will be issued under the authority of paragraph R204(a).
In GCMS, under the Application screen, officers should enter the information below in the specified fields.
| Field | Selection or input |
|---|---|
| Case type | 52 |
| Province of destination | The province of destination entered by the applicant should match the address of employment in the IMP offer of employment. This information is under the Employment Details – LMIA-exempt tab. |
| City of destination | The city of destination entered by the applicant should match the address of employment in the IMP offer of employment. This information is under the Employment Details – LMIA-exempt tab. |
| Exemption code |
T52 This code is auto-populated from the IMP offer of employment. This code should only be changed in specific circumstances. For further instruction, see Changes between the offer of employment and the work permit application. |
| NOC | The NOC code is auto-populated from the IMP offer of employment. |
| Intended occupation |
Job title This is auto-populated from the IMP offer of employment. |
| LMIA/LMIA-exempt # |
“A” number from the work permit application. This number is auto-populated from the work permit application, and it is what is used to “match” in the Portal. If the work permit application was submitted on paper, the officer must manually enter the number. |
| Employer | Business operating name |
| Duration |
Officers may issue a work permit that is valid for the duration of the offer of employment or until the expiry of the travel document, whichever is earlier. Refer to Validity period for work permits |
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 – General processing – International Mobility Program.
Refusal
If an officer is not satisfied that all the requirements of R200, including the assessment under R204(a), are met, they must record their reasons and outline the rationale underlying the decision as well as the facts and elements considered. They must also provide an explanation for the decision in a case note.
Refusal reasons should clearly indicate which criteria or what requirement of R200 was not met and explain how the conclusion was reached. For assistance, officers can follow the steps in Decision making: Standard of review and process for making a reasonable decision.
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