Welcome to the Guberman // Appleby Immigration Update. We hope you find the information provided relevant to your immigration needs. Our objective is to highlight recent updates in immigration that are of interest to our readers. If you have questions about how these changes impact you, we invite you to contact our Canadian immigration lawyers for tailored guidance.
Today’s topic:
Temporary and Work Permit Options for Companie Investing in Canada
The Canada Investment Summit takes place in Toronto on September 14 and 15, 2026, hosted by the Prime Minister of Canada in partnership with CPP Investments and PSP Investments. The goal of the summit is to encourage $1 trillion in total investment in Canada over five years. For foreign companies, whether opening a new Canadian office, acquiring or facilitating the expansion of an existing Canadian business, or scaling up an operation that is already in Canada, due diligence includes strategies to bring executives, professionals and employees into Canada to execute and work on these projects.
Business Visitor Limitations
Foreign investors and company personnel can enter Canada as business visitors to attend meetings, negotiate a transaction, tour a facility, or attend the Summit (or any conference or trade show). Business visitor status does not permit entry into the Canadian labour market. To run the business or be employed at the Canadian business, a work permit is required.
Work Permit Options
Where the investing company already operates outside Canada and is opening or expanding a Canadian affiliate, branch or subsidiary, an intra-company transfer work permit is typically the preferred course of action. Executives, senior managers or specialized knowledge employees who have been working for a related company abroad for at least one year can apply for a work permit to transfer to the Canadian entity. In certain instances, there is also an opportunity to apply for a start-up intra-company transfer.
When there is no existing corporate relationship or perhaps the individual who needs to come to Canada is a new hire, other work permit options may include a Significant Benefit to Canada application, a Reciprocity application or an application as a Professional, Investor, or Trader under the many Free Trade Agreements. Canada has Free Trade Agreements with the US, Mexico, Colombia, Chile, Korea, Panama, Peru, all EU countries, the UK, Ukraine, Australia, Brunei, Japan, New Zealand and Malaysia. A Significant Benefit to Canada work permit application is intended for temporary foreign workers who will create significant economic, social, or cultural benefits in Canada. It is for individuals with a strong track record in their field and documented successes. A Reciprocity work permit application may be viable if the international investing company already has an operation in Canada that routinely sends Canadians or Permanent Residents to work abroad.
In some instances, it may be necessary to apply for a Labour Market Impact Assessment prior to applying for a work permit. For foreign nationals with specialized talent or for those working in select information technology roles, the Global Talent Stream offers two options. Global Talent Stream (Category B) is available to workers in a list of 22 occupations where the Canadian government has identified a shortage of Canadian workers. Global Talent Stream (Category A) focuses on temporary foreign workers who have unique and specialized talents and have been referred through a designated partner.
Applications under either category may benefit from a more expeditious processing standard. Aside from the Global Talent Stream, standard Labour Market Impact Assessment applications require a rigorous and highly specific advertising protocol for 30 days to demonstrate that there are no Canadians or permanent residents who can fill the role. In either category, once the LMIA is approved, then a work permit application can be filed at a Canadian Consulate or the port of entry, for citizens of visa-exempt countries.
For citizens of French-speaking countries whose first language is French and for foreign nationals with strong French language skills, there is also a work permit category for Francophones that is a very efficient work permit tool.
Strategic Planning
Work permits are not issued instantaneously, and every category has specific criteria. International companies that are investing in Canada and intend to send foreign nationals into the country to run the business here, need to be mindful of immigration requirements from the outset. Immigration planning goes hand-in-hand with financing, real estate, and corporate structuring. Immigration considerations cannot be an afterthought.
// CONTACT US
We welcome you to contact us directly to discuss the above. Please contact one of our Toronto immigration lawyers, by reaching out to our general line 416 548 7100 or via email info@gaimmlaw.com. Our immigration lawyers are always available to discuss any of your specific Canadian or US immigration queries either virtually or in person. We look forward to hearing from you.
