Work in Canada temporarily – fee exemptions

Features

In most cases, workers and employers must pay fees before we can issue a work permit. Check the fee list for the most up-to-date application fees.

In rare situations, you or your employer may be exempt from certain fees. Check the tables below to see the fee exemptions for certain types of:

If your situation isn’t described below, it means you and your employer are not exempt from paying fees.

Fee exemptions for employer-specific work permits

The employer is responsible for the employer compliance fee.

Type of worker Exempt from work permit processing fee Employer is exempt from employer compliance fee
Workers participating in the Fulbright Program (Canada-U.S.) Yes Yes
Workers at Roosevelt Campobello International Park Yes Yes
US Government Personnel working in Canada on official US Government business Yes N/AFootnote *
Someone working under a cultural agreement between Canada and Belgium, Brazil, People’s Republic of China, France, Germany, Italy, Japan or Mexico Yes Yes
Family members of military personnel who are working under a reciprocal agreement Yes Yes
Family members of accredited foreign missions workers Yes Yes
Workers at International Development Research Centre (IDRC) Yes Yes
Sponsored distinguished scientists or post-doctoral fellows at Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd (AECL) Yes Yes
Sponsored distinguished scientists or scholars at National Research Council of Canada (NRC) or Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) Yes Yes
Research Chair holders, such as Canada Research Chair (CRC) and Canada Excellence Research chair positions (CERC) Yes Yes
Charitable or religious workers and organizations (only if the worker will not be paid for their work) Yes Yes

Fee exemptions for open work permits

Type of worker Exempt from work permit processing fee Exempt from open work permit fee
Refugee claimants who need to work to support themselves Yes Yes
Failed refugee claimants who are waiting for the removal order to be enforced and need to support themselves No Yes
Persons who have applied for permanent residence on humanitarian and compassionate grounds No Yes
Family members of permanent residence applicants under humanitarian and compassionate grounds Yes Yes
Protected persons (permanent resident applicants in Canada) Yes Yes
Family members of protected persons Yes Yes
Individuals who have an unenforceable removal order who need to support themselves No Yes
Destitute students Yes Yes
Temporary Resident Permit holders No Yes
Victims of family violence who hold a temporary resident permit for at least 180 days Yes Yes
Vulnerable workers Yes Yes
Live-in caregivers who have met the work requirement of 3900 hours (or 2 years) and have applied or are applying for permanent residence No Yes
Family members of someone in the Live-in Caregiver Class in Canada who have applied for permanent residence and whose application has been approved in principle No Yes
Family members of U.S. Government personnel who are working in Canada on official US Government business Yes Yes
Family members of military personnel who are working under a reciprocal agreement Yes Yes
Family members of accredited foreign missions workers Yes Yes

Fee exemptions for co-op work permits

Type of worker Exempt from work permit processing fee Exempt from open work permit fee
Participants in a postsecondary academic, vocational or professional training program offered by a designated learning institution in Canada Yes Yes
Participants in a secondary program requiring work (includes vocational training programs offered by a designated learning institution in Quebec) Yes Yes

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