Exemptions from registration in the Controlled Goods Program

The Defence Production Act allows for some individuals to be excluded or exempt from registration in the Controlled Goods Program. Find out who may be excluded, who may be exempt, and how to apply.

Who is excluded from registration

To be excluded from registration in the Controlled Goods Program, you must belong to one of the following categories:

• Canadian federal, provincial or territorial government employee
• Canadian federal crown corporation employee
• public officer (as defined by the Criminal Code)
• member of a visiting force (as listed in the Visiting Forces Act)

These individuals, who act in good faith in the course of their duties and employment, must provide proof of their status to the registered person before examining, possessing or transferring controlled goods.

Who is exempt from registration

To be exempt from registration in the Controlled Goods Program, you must belong to one of the following categories:

• United States government official:
  • These officials, who act in good faith in the course of their duties and employment, are not required to apply for a certificate of exemption; however they must provide proof to the registered person of their employment in the United States government before examining, possessing or transferring controlled goods
• employee of an organization registered under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR):
  • These individuals are not required to apply for a certificate of exemption; however they must provide proof to the registered person of their employment with an organization registered under the International Traffic in Arms Regulation before examining, possessing or transferring controlled goods:
    • Guideline for designated officials section 13.1—Individuals registered under International Traffic in Arms Regulations
• temporary workers, international students of, or visitors to, a person registered in the Controlled Goods Program who are required to examine, possess or transfer controlled goods
  • a temporary worker is an officer, director or employee of a registered company who is not a Canadian citizen or permanent resident ordinarily resident in Canada
  • an international student is an individual who is authorized by a study permit or by the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations to engage in studies in Canada and who is not an officer, director or employee of a registered person
  • a visitor is someone other than an international student who is not an officer, director or employee of a registered company nor a Canadian citizen or permanent resident ordinarily resident in Canada

Learn more about exemptions

• Class of exempt individuals (United States)—section 16 of the Controlled Goods Regulations
• Exemption from registration for visitors, temporary workers and international students—sections 17 to 24 of the Controlled Goods Regulations
• Security assessments for temporary workers, international students and visitors—section 19 of the Controlled Goods Regulations

How to apply for exemptions—temporary workers, international students and visitors

The registered person must submit applications for exemption from registration, including supporting documents for temporary workers, international students and visitors to the Controlled Goods Program. Temporary workers, international students and visitors must also consent to a security assessment, which is conducted by the Controlled Goods Program.

Requirements for exemptions of temporary workers and international students

The registered person must complete the request for exemptions for temporary workers and international students by submitting the—Temporary worker or international student application for security assessment and exemption from registration (PDF, 891KB) form including the following supporting documents:

• a copy of the passport (the pages with the photograph and citizenship information only)
• a copy of the work or study permit issued by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
• in the case of an international student, a document from the academic institution where they are studying indicating that the work they are doing for the registered person is integral to those studies
• an original certificate of good conduct (indicating an individual's criminal history for each country they have resided in for the past 5 years for a period of 6 consecutive months or more)
• copies of all identity documents issued to them by the Government of Canada or any province

A request for exemption must be completed and submitted for each temporary worker and international student in the organization who will be required to examine, possess or transfer controlled goods.

Download the Temporary worker or international student application for security assessment and exemption from registration (PDF, 891KB).

Consult the guidelines for temporary worker and international student exemptions: Section 12 of the guideline for designated officials.

Requirements for exemption of visitors

The designated official must complete a visitor application for security assessment and exemption from registration form including obtaining the visitor’s consent to a security assessment and provide the following supporting documentation for each visitor to their organization who will be required to examine, possess or transfer controlled goods:

• a copy of the visitor's passport (the pages with the photograph and citizenship information only)
• a copy of the export permit (if applicable)

Download the visitor application for security assessment and exemption from registration form Visitor exemption application for security assessment and exemption from registration (PDF, 291KB).

Consult the guidelines for visitor exemptions: Section 11 of the guideline for designated officials.

How to submit exemption forms

The designated official must verify the information provided to them by temporary workers, international students and visitors. The registered person must submit completed forms and supporting documentation to the Controlled Goods Program.

Original certificates of good conduct for temporary workers and international students must be mailed to the Controlled Goods Program.

Contact the Controlled Goods Program

Processing times

The registered person must allow sufficient time for processing to ensure the exemption is in place prior to authorizing the examination, possession or transfer of controlled goods.

Once the Controlled Goods Program has received a complete application for exemption, processing times are:

• up to 10 business days for a visitor exemption
• up to 30 business days for a temporary worker exemption or an international student

Approval of exemption—certificate of exemption

When an application for exemption is approved, the Controlled Goods Program will issue a certificate of exemption from registration for that individual. The certificate sets out:

• the period for which the exemption is valid
• any conditions under which the temporary worker, international student or visitor may examine, possess or transfer controlled goods

The registered person is responsible for ensuring that the conditions of the exemption are met, and for the safeguarding of the controlled goods in their possession.

The period of validity of a certificate of exemption from registration is determined by the program and cannot exceed 3 years from the date of the approval of the certificate. Recurring visits are permitted for access to the same site(s) and controlled goods or technology for the period the certificate is valid.

The certificate of exemption is issued to a specific registered company for a specific individual and is not assignable.

Amending, denying, suspending and revoking exemptions

Registered persons must inform the Controlled Goods Program of any change to the information contained in the application for exemption from registration within 5 business days after the day on which the change occurs.

The Controlled Goods Program may deny, suspend, amend or revoke a certificate of exemption.

Guidelines for denials, suspensions, amendments and revocations of exemptions

Keeping records

For temporary workers and international students

The registered person must keep records for 2 years after the individual who is exempt ceases to act in that capacity.

Records of temporary workers/international students—learn more in the guideline for designated officials.

For visitors

The registered person must keep records of all visitors for 2 years after the individual who is exempt ceases to act in that capacity.

Records of visitors—learn more in the guideline for designated officials.