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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