This comprehensive directory of LMIA exemption codes reflects updates as of May 2024. While we maintain this resource with the utmost attention to accuracy, immigration policies and codes are subject to periodic updates by Canadian immigration authorities.
For precise guidance tailored to your specific situation, we recommend consulting with our experienced Canadian immigration professionals who maintain real-time knowledge of the latest regulatory changes.
Last verified: 2024 Source: Canadian Immigration Authorities Updated by: Canadian Currents Immigration
Work permit exemptions
Individuals in the following categories are typically exempt from requiring a work permit in Canada.
- R186(a)—Business visitors
- R186(b)—Foreign representatives and
- R186(c)—Family members of foreign representatives
- R186(d)—Military personnel
- R186(e)—Foreign government officers
- R186(f)—On-campus employment
- R186(g)—Performing artists
- R186(h)—Athletes and team members
- R186(i)—News reporters, media crews
- R186(j)—Public speakers
- R186(k)—Convention organizers
- R186(l)—Religious leaders
- R186(m)—Judges, referees and similar officials
- R186(n)—Examiners and evaluators
- R186(o)—Expert witnesses or investigators
- R186(p)—Health care students
- R186(q)—Civil aviation inspector
- R186(r)—Aviation accident or incident inspector
- R186(s)—Crew (international transportation)
- R186(t)—Emergency service providers
- R186(u)—Implied status
- R186(v)—Off-campus work
- R186(w)—Off-campus work (transition to post-graduation status)
- R186(x)—Registered Indians
- Assessing farm work
- Public Policy: Short-term work permit exemption
- Public Policy: 120-day work permit exemption for researchers
Category: International Agreements/International Arrangements – R204(a) exemption codes
| Type of LMIA Exemption | LMIA exemption code |
| Non-trade agreements covering airline personnel (ground, technical and operational) and US government personnel | T11 |
| Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) Traders | T34 |
| CUSMA Investors | T35 |
| CUSMA Professionals | T36 |
| CUSMA Intra-company transferee executives/senior managers | T37 |
| CUSMA Intra-company transferee with specialized knowledge | T38 |
| Colombia Traders | F10 |
| Colombia Investors | F11 |
| Colombia Professionals/Technicians | F12 |
| Colombia Intra-company transferee executives/senior managers | F13 |
| Colombia Management trainees | F14 |
| Colombia Intra-company transferee with specialized knowledge | F15 |
| Colombia Spouses | T25 |
| Chile Traders | F20 |
| Chile Investors | F21 |
| Chile Professionals | F22 |
| Chile Intra-company transferee executives/senior managers | F23 |
| Chile Intra-company transferee with specialized knowledge | F24 |
| South Korea Traders | F30 |
| South Korea Investors | F31 |
| South Korea Contract service suppliers/independent professionals | F32 |
| South Korea Intra-company transferee executives/senior managers | F33 |
| South Korea Intra-company transferee management trainees | F34 |
| South Korea Intra-company transferee with specialized knowledge | F35 |
| South Korea Spouses | F36 |
| Panama Professionals or technicians | F42 |
| Peru Traders | F50 |
| Peru Investors | F51 |
| Peru Professionals or technicians | F52 |
| Peru Intra-company transferee executives/senior managers | F53 |
| Peru Intra-company transferee management trainees | F54 |
| South Korea Intra-company transferee with specialized knowledge | F55 |
| GATS Professionals | T33 |
| EU Traders | T46 |
| EU Contractual service suppliers | T47 |
| EU Engineering technologists/scientific technologists | T48 |
| EU Independent professionals | T43 |
| EU Intra-company transferee executive/senior manager | T44 |
| EU Intra-company transferee Graduate trainee | T42 |
| EU Intra-company transferee with specialized knowledge | T41 |
| EU Spouses of intra-company transferees (T44, T42, T41) | T45 |
| CPTPP Investors | T50 |
| CPTPP Intra-company transferee executive/senior manager | T51 |
| CPTPP Intra-company transferee management trainee | T54 |
| CPTPP Intra-company transferee with specialized knowledge | T55 |
| CPTPP Intra-company transferee professional/technician | T52 |
| CPTPP Spouses | T53 |
| UK Independent professionals | F60 |
| UK Intra-company transferee executive/senior manager | F61 |
| UK Intra-company transferee management trainee | F62 |
| UK Intra-company transferee with specialized knowledge | F63 |
| UK Spouses of intra-company transferees (F61, F62, F63) | F64 |
| UK Investors | F65 |
| UK Contractual service suppliers | F66 |
| UK Engineering/scientific technologists | F67 |
Category: Public Policy – A25.2 exemption codes
| Type of LMIA Exemption | LMIA exemption code |
| Special measures for Hong Kong residents coming to Canada | R01 (in Canada)R02 (outside Canada) |
| Open work permits for applicants for the temporary to permanent resident pathway | R01 (in Canada)R02 (outside Canada) |
Category: Canada-provincial/territorial exemption codes – R204(c)
| Type of LMIA Exemption | LMIA exemption code |
| Canada-provincial/territorial, e.g.Nominated for permanent residence by a provinceSignificant investment projectsExceptional or unforeseen events (e.g. natural disaster) | T13 |
| Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program | C18 |
| Quebec investors holding ‘notice of intent to select’ | T10 |
Category: Canadian interests – significant benefit exemption codes – R205(a)
| Type of LMIA Exemption | LMIA exemption code |
| Unique work situations – General: Airline personnel (foreign airline security guards)Interns with international organizations recognized under the Foreign Missions and International Organizations ActRail grinder operators, rail welders or other specialized track maintenance workers. Experts on a mission, working for a United Nations office in CanadaForeign physicians coming to work in Quebec Caribbean agricultural liaison officers | C10 |
| Unique work situations – Entrepreneurs/self-employed business owners: Fishing guides (Canadian lakes)Foreign camp owner or director, and outfittersForeign freelance race jockeys | C11 |
| Provincial business candidates/Quebec self-employed with a Quebec Selection Certificate (QSC) | C60 |
| Intra-company transferees to an existing business in Canada – executives, senior or functional managers and Airline personnel (station managers) | C62 |
| Intra-company transferees with specialized knowledge | C63 |
| Intra-company transferees starting a branch or affiliate in Canada | C61 |
| Emergency repair personnel for out-of-warranty equipment | C13 |
| Essential workers for the production of TV or film | C14 |
| Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot | C15 |
| Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot – Spouses | C17 |
| Francophone mobility | C16 |
| Live-in caregivers with a submitted permanent residence application | A71 |
| Caregivers who have submitted a permanent residence application under the Home Child Care Provider Pilot or Home Support Worker Pilot | C90 |
| Spouses and adult dependants of caregivers who have submitted a perment residence application under the Home Child Care Provider Pilot or Home Support Worker Pilot | C91 |
| Certain Quebec Selection Certificate (CSQ) holders who are currently located in Quebec | A73 |
| Spouses and adult dependants of caregivers who have submitted a permanent residence application under the Home Child Care Provider Pilot or Home Support Worker Pilot | A74 |
| Bridging open work permits (BOWP) | A75 |
| Public policy for a spouse or common-law partner in Canada or family class applicants | A75 |
| Quebec Selection Certificate (QSC) holders who are currently located outside Quebec | A76 |
| Start-up business class (SUV) permanent resident visa applicants | A77 |
Category: Canadian interests – reciprocal employment exemption codes – R205(b)
| Type of LMIA Exemption | LMIA exemption code |
| Fishing guides (border lakes) AND United States government personnel (family members) | C20 |
| Residential summer camp counsellors | C24 |
| Coaches and athletes | C26 |
| International Experience Canada Program | C21 |
| Academic exchanges (professors, visiting lecturers) | C22 |
| Performing arts | C23 |
Category: Canadian interests – research exemption codes – R205(c)(i)
| Type of LMIA Exemption | LMIA exemption code |
| Research | C31 |
| Educational co-op – post-secondary level | C32 |
| Educational co-op – secondary level | C33 |
Category: Canadian interests – competitiveness and public policy exemption codes – R205(c)(ii)
| Type of LMIA Exemption | LMIA exemption code |
| Spouses/common-law partners of high-skilled workers (TEER levels 0-3) | C41 |
| Spouses/common-law partners of full-time students | C42 |
| Post-grad employment (PGWP) | C43 |
| Post-doctoral Ph.D. fellows | C44 |
| Medical/dental residents and medical research fellows | C45 |
| Dependent children of a high-skilled worker (TEER levels 0-3) | C46 |
| Spouses/common-law partners of low-skilled workers (TEER levels 4 and 5) | C47 |
| Dependent children of a low-skilled worker (TEER levels 4 and 5) | C48 |
| Family members of economic class permanent residence applicants | C49 |
| Academic award recipients | C52 |
| Innovation stream pilot | C88 |
Category: Canadian interests – charitable or religious work exemption codes – R205(d)
| Type of LMIA Exemption | LMIA exemption code |
| Religious work | C50 |
| Charitable work | C51 |
| Educational co-op – secondary level | C33 |
Category: No other means of support – R206 exemption codes
| Type of LMIA Exemption | LMIA exemption code |
| Refugee claimants | S61 |
| Persons under an unenforceable removal order | S62 |
Category: Permanent residence applicants in Canada – R207 exemption codes
| Type of LMIA Exemption | LMIA exemption code |
| Live-in caregiver class (LCP) Spouse/common-law partner in Canada class (eligibility passed) Protected persons under subsection A95(2) Section A25 exemption on humanitarian and compassionate groundsFamily members of any of the above | A70 |
Category: Vulnerable workers – R207.1 exemption codes
| Type of LMIA Exemption | LMIA exemption code |
| Vulnerable workers | A72 |
| Family members of vulnerable workers | A72 |
Category: Humanitarian reasons – R208 exemption codes
| Type of LMIA Exemption | LMIA exemption code |
| Destitute students | H81 |
| Holders of a temporary resident permit which is valid for at least six months | H82 |
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Call (778) 331-1164 [toll free 1 (844) 715-0940] to get routed to the best office for you or contact us online to schedule an appointment.
We also have a dedicated intake form to help you get the ball rolling. Our intake team will review your specific case and advise you on the next steps to take as well as what to expect moving forward.
Our offices are generally open 8:30 a.m.—4:30 p.m., Mon—Fri.
Alfonso Chen
FAMILY LAWYER
Alfonso is a lawyer of our Vancouver office who provides services in both English and Mandarin. Prior to joining our firm, he worked at a full-service law firm for over four years, where he helped clients with a wide variety of family law matters, from drafting prenuptial agreements to negotiating terms for and drafting separation agreements to representing clients for divorces.
