Sections 204 to 208 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (IRPR) provide the regulatory authority to issue a work permit to a worker who does not require a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). The LMIA exemption codes are listed in the following tables.
Regulation sections:
R204: International agreements
R204(a) Canada-international exemption codes
| Regulation |
LMIA exemption code |
| Non-trade
Unique work situations:
- Airline personnel (operational, technical and ground personnel)
- United States government personnel
|
T11 |
| Trader (FTA) |
T21 |
| Investor (FTA) |
T22 |
| Professional/technician (FTA) |
T23 |
| Intra-company transferee (FTA) |
T24 |
| Spouse (Colombia or Korea FTA) |
T25 |
| GATS professional |
T33 |
| Investor (CETA) |
T46 |
| Contractual service supplier (CETA) |
T47 |
| Independent professional (CETA) |
T43 |
| Intra-corporate (company) transferee (CETA) |
T44 |
| Spouse (CETA) |
T45 |
| Investor (CPTPP) |
T50 |
| Intra-company transferee (CPTPP) |
T51 |
| Professional or technician (CPTPP) |
T52 |
| Spouse (CPTPP) |
T53 |
R204(b) Provincial/territorial-international exemption codes
There are no approved agreements at this time
R204(c) Canada-provincial/territorial exemption codes
| Regulation |
LMIA exemption code |
| Canada-provincial/territorial |
T13 |
| Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program |
C18 |
R205: Canadian interests
R205(a) Significant benefit exemption codes
| Regulation |
LMIA exemption code |
| Significant benefit
Unique work situations:
- Airline personnel (foreign airline security guards)
- Interns with international organizations recognized under the Foreign Missions and International Organizations Act
- Rail grinder operators, rail welders or other specialized track maintenance workers
- Experts on mission, working for a United Nations office in Canada
- Foreign physicians coming to work in Quebec
|
C10 |
| Entrepreneurs
Unique work situations:
- Fishing guides (Canadian lakes)
- Foreign camp owner or director, and outfitters
- Foreign freelance race jockeys
|
C11 |
| Intra-company transferees (including GATS)
Unique work situations
- Airline personnel (station managers)
|
C12 |
| Emergency repair or repair personnel for out-of-warranty equipment |
C13 |
| Television and film production workers |
C14 |
| Francophone mobility |
C16 |
| Live-in caregivers whose permanent residence application is submitted |
A71 |
| Caregivers whose permanent residence application is submitted under the Home Child Care Provider Pilot (HCCPP) or Home Support Worker Pilot (HSWP) (occupation-restricted open work permit) |
C90 |
| Spouses and dependants at age of majority of caregivers whose permanent residence application is submitted under the HCCPP or HSWP |
C91 |
Bridging open work permits (BOWPs)
- Caregivers under the HCCPP or HSWP
|
A75 |
Unique work situations
- Certain Quebec Selection Certificate (CSQ) holders currently in Quebec
|
A75 |
R205(b) Reciprocal employment exemption codes
| Regulation |
LMIA exemption code |
| Reciprocal employment
Unique work situations:
- Fishing guides (border lakes)
- Residential camp counsellors
- United States government personnel (family members)
|
C20 |
| Youth exchange programs |
C21 |
| Academic exchanges (professors, visiting lecturers |
C22 |
| Performing arts |
C23 |
R205(c) Designated by Minister
R205(c)(i) Research exemption codes
| Regulation |
LMIA exemption code |
| Research |
C31 |
| i.1) Educational co-op – post-secondary |
C32 |
| i.2) Educational co-op – secondary level |
C33 |
R205(c)(ii) Competitiveness and public policy exemption codes
| Regulation |
LMIA exemption code |
| Spouses of skilled workers |
C41 |
| Spouses of students |
C42 |
| Post-grad employment |
C43 |
| Post-doctoral Ph.D. fellows and award recipients |
C44 |
| Off-campus employment |
See the instructions concerning students |
| Medical residents and fellows |
C45 |
R205(d) Charitable or religious work exemption code
| Regulation |
LMIA exemption code |
| Religious work |
C50 |
| Charitable work |
C50 |
R206: No other means of support
R206 exemption codes
| Regulation |
LMIA exemption code |
| a. Refugee claimants |
S61 |
| b. Persons under an unenforceable removal order |
S62 |
R207: Permanent residence applicants in Canada
R207 exemption codes
| Regulation |
LMIA exemption code |
Permanent residence applicants in Canada:
- Live-in-caregiver class
- Spouse or common-law partner in Canada class
- Protected persons under subsection A95(2)
- Section A25 exemption (humanitarian and compassionate grounds)
- Family members of the above
|
A70 |
R207.1: Vulnerable workers
R207.1 exemption codes
| Regulation |
LMIA exemption code |
| 1. Vulnerable workers |
A72 |
| 2. Family member of vulnerable worker |
A72 |
R208: Humanitarian reasons
R208 exemption codes
| Regulation |
LMIA exemption code |
| a. Destitute students |
H81 |
| b. Holders of a temporary resident permit valid for a minimum of six months |
H82 |
