Intra-Company Transfers to Canada

Canada has a special immigration program for international companies who are willing to transfer their employees from offices in abroad to their Canadian locations so that they also have high-quality as well as reliable services in Canada. These employees become well aware from the challenges that the company had faced before. This process is known as the Intra-Company Transfer (ICT). The ICT work permit program helps businesses to grow in Canada by allowing them to bring skilled workers from their global team. This guide will efficiently explain you the requirements and benefits of the ICT work permit for Canada.

What is an Intra-Company Transfer Work Permit?

An intra-company transfer work permit (ICT) lets employees of global companies to work in Canada for a short time. The worker must already be part of a branch, affiliate, or related company connected to the Canadian business. This transfer helps businesses bring skilled workers to support growth or development efforts in Canada.

Who is Eligible for an ICT Work Permit in Canada?

The Intra-Company Transfer (ICT) program is designed to help successful companies from around the world expand their operations into Canada. It offers opportunities for three specific groups of individuals:

• Entrepreneurs, business owners, and company shareholders who are currently in executive roles and want to continue similar work in Canada.
• Functional managers and senior managers who work for a foreign company and plan to take on the similar position at the Canadian branch.
• Employees with specialized knowledge who possess expertise that is unique or uncommon to the company.

Individuals in these roles must meet additional criteria to be eligible for a work permit under the ICT program.

General Requirements for the Employee

Executive Capacity

Specialized knowledge is advanced expertise specific to a company’s products, services, or processes. It includes unique knowledge that is hard to duplicate and skills gained through recent experience with the company. Employees with this knowledge are vital for improving productivity, driving innovation, and keeping the company competitive.

Managerial Capacity

Managerial capacity refers to roles where individuals manage teams, departments, or critical functions within a company. Managers are responsible for supervising staff, handling daily operations, and making key decisions, including hiring, firing, and promotions. Even if no employees report directly to them, they must operate at a senior level within the organization, ensuring smooth operations and goal achievement.

Specialized Knowledge

Specialized knowledge is a unique and advanced expertise specific to a company’s products, services, or processes. It includes proprietary knowledge that cannot easily be duplicated and skills gained through significant, recent experience with the company. Employees with such knowledge are essential for improving productivity, supporting innovation, and ensuring the company remains competitive in its industry.

General Requirements for the Multinational Company

To apply for an ICT work permit, the company must meet the following criteria:

• It should be a multinational company with offices in both the home country and Canada.
• The company must prove that the transfer is necessary for its Canadian operation.
• There should be a qualifying relationship between the foreign company and the Canadian entity, such as being a parent company, subsidiary, affiliate, or branch of the same business.

Intra-Company Transfer Work Permits for New Businesses

Foreign businesses planning to start a company in Canada can use the Intra-Company Transfer (ICT) program to relocate key employees for initial operations. To apply for ICT new venture visa, businesses must prove they can establish themselves in Canada. This includes:

• Showing the ability to cover start-up expenses and pay employees.
• Creating a realistic business plan for hiring staff and operating in Canada.
• Providing proof of securing or working to secure physical office space.

For transferring managers or executives, the company must prove it can support these roles.

For transferring workers with specialized knowledge, the company needs to show it will operate in Canada and that work will be overseen by Canadian management.

The Intra-Company Transfer Start-Up program provides a temporary work permit for 1-year, which may be extended if the company remains active and maintains the qualifying relationship. Additionally, the Canadian operations are required to have staff members in place to support ongoing business activities.

Processing time for Intra-Company Transfer

The normal processing time for an application is 2 to 10 weeks. People from visa-free countries can use priority processing to get their visa in 2 weeks. This time does not include biometric processing.

How CWC Can Help?

CWC is the perfect option for helping businesses as well as individuals with intra-company transfer work permits. We provide the best guidance to help you with the ICT process because our goal is to make your process as smooth as possible, we help you from preparing documents to following Canadian immigration rules so that you do not have any problem. It does not matter how big your business is, we offer custom support for you, manage applications, help with visa renewals, and look into permanent residency options. Plus, we offer a Free assessment to help you get started smoothly and confidently.