Important New Policy Guidance For Intra-Company Transfer Work Permits

On October 3, 2024, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) released significant policy updates for work permit applications filed under the International Mobility Program (IMP), and specifically, the Intra-Company Transfer (ICT) categories. The updated guidance sets out revised and more restrictive requirements for businesses and foreign workers to qualify for an ICT work permit.

It is important to note that the legislative basis for the ICT categories is found under Regulation 204(a) and Regulation 205(a) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (IRPR):

• R204(a) applies where Canada has an international free trade agreement with another country, which includes an intra-company transfer provision (for example, the Canada United States Mexico Agreement).