Program delivery update: Canada-UK Trade Continuity Agreement (Canada-UK TCA)

December 29, 2020

As of January 1, 2021, nationals from the United Kingdom (UK) are no longer to be processed under the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA). Applications received up to and including on December 31, 2020, however, should be processed under CETA.

The instructions for processing UK nationals under the Canada-UK TCA will be effective following ratification of the agreement, which is expected to occur in early 2021. The instructions will provide guidance on the labour mobility provisions of the trade agreement between Canada and the UK. 

During the gap period from January 1 to ratification, UK nationals will have to have a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) or meet the requirements of an LMIA-exempt work permit category.

A message about the new procedures has been added to all of the CETA instructions to ensure proper processing.

Updated instructions

• Canada-European Union (EU) Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA)
  • Business visitors and business visitors for investment purposes (work permit exempt under R186(a)/R187)
  • Investors (work permit required/LMIA exemption code T46)
  • Contractual service suppliers and independent professionals (work permit required/LMIA exemption codes T47 and T43)
  • Intra-corporate (company) transferees (work permit required/LMIA exemption code T44) and spouses (open work permit/LMIA exemption code T45)
  • Engineering technologists and scientific technologists (work permit required/LMIA exemption code T48)