The International Mobility Program (IMP) is IRCC’s umbrella framework for work permits that do not require a Labour Market Impact Assessment. LMIA-exempt work permits are available when the reason for hiring a foreign worker falls within one of three broad policy justifications: a reciprocal employment benefit (trade agreements like CUSMA, bilateral youth agreements like IEC), a broader Canadian benefit (intra-company transfers, significant research, cultural exchanges), or situations where requiring an LMIA would be contrary to Canadian interests (emergency situations, or existing court orders).

The absence of an LMIA requirement does not mean the application is simpler — it means the basis for the exemption replaces the labour market test. Employers must submit an Offer of Employment through IRCC’s Employer Portal and pay a $230 compliance fee before the worker can apply. The worker then files a separate work permit application to IRCC. Understanding which exemption code applies to a specific situation — and documenting it correctly — is the central challenge of IMP applications.

Eligibility Requirements

• LMIA-exempt under International Mobility Program (IMP) via trade agreements, reciprocal employment, or Canadian interests
• Main exemption codes: CUSMA/USMCA (C10), Intra-Company Transfer (C12), Significant Benefit (C10-C41), CETA (T23), Mobilité Francophone (C16)
• Employer must submit an offer of employment through IRCC Employer Portal and pay $230 compliance fee
• Worker applies separately to IRCC for the work permit after employer submits offer
• No LMIA recruitment effort required — but employer must qualify under exemption
• Work permit is employer-specific and tied to the job offer (closed work permit)

Common IMP Exemption Categories

The IMP covers a wide range of categories, each with a specific IRCC exemption code. The most commonly used codes include:

Code	Category	Who It Applies To
C10	Significant benefit	Unique cases where hiring the foreign worker is of broad economic, social or cultural benefit to Canada
C12	Intra-company transferees	Executives, managers, and specialised knowledge workers transferring within a multinational
C16	Mobilité Francophone	French-speaking workers outside Quebec (strengthening francophone communities)
C21	Reciprocal employment	Academic or research exchanges where Canadians benefit reciprocally
T23	CETA	EU professionals under the Canada-EU Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement
C10 / CUSMA	CUSMA professionals	US and Mexican citizens in CUSMA-listed professional occupations
A74	Spousal open work permit	Spouses/partners of persons in sponsored PR or skilled worker/student categories

Selecting the wrong exemption code — or filing under an exemption that does not actually apply — is a leading cause of IMP refusals. Officers assess whether the facts of the application match the stated exemption, and mismatches result in refusals even if the worker would have qualified under a different code.

The Employer Compliance Fee and Portal Submission

All IMP employers (with certain limited exceptions such as some religious and academic organisations under specific codes) must submit an Offer of Employment through IRCC’s Employer Portal before the worker applies. The $230 employer compliance fee is paid online at this stage. The IRCC Employer Portal generates a job offer number that the worker must include in their work permit application.

The compliance fee funds IRCC’s employer inspection programme — IRCC conducts random audits of IMP employers to verify that the employment conditions stated in the Offer of Employment are actually being provided. Employers who misrepresent conditions (e.g., stating a higher wage than actually paid, or a different work location) may face fines, bans from the IMP, and compliance orders.

The Offer of Employment must be submitted in advance of the worker’s work permit application. The worker cannot apply before receiving the job offer number, and the offer cannot be backdated.

Open vs. Closed LMIA-Exempt Work Permits

Most IMP work permits are closed — they are tied to a specific employer, position, and location. When circumstances change (the worker wants to change employers, the role changes materially, or the worksite moves to a different province), a new work permit is generally required.

Some IMP categories result in open work permits — notably the spousal open work permit (A74), the Post-Graduation Work Permit (R205), and the Vulnerable Worker Open Work Permit. Open work permits under the IMP allow the holder to work for any eligible Canadian employer without employer restrictions.

Whether the resulting work permit is open or closed depends entirely on the exemption code used — workers cannot request an open permit in categories that produce closed permits. Reviewing the nature of the permit before applying helps avoid surprises.

Processing Times

Processing times for LMIA-exempt work permits vary by category. Most standard IMP categories process in 4–12 weeks for applications submitted outside Canada. Applications submitted from within Canada (inland) can take significantly longer — up to 255 days under current IRCC timelines — though an applicant who files before their current permit expires can maintain implied status and continue working while the new permit processes.

The International Experience Canada (IEC) stream is notably faster — after receiving an Invitation to Apply, the full work permit typically issues in approximately 2–3 months. CUSMA professionals applying at a US or Canadian land border port of entry can receive same-day decisions in many cases.

How VGIS Can Help

Navigating the IMP requires matching a specific set of facts to the right exemption code and building an application package that clearly demonstrates the exemption applies. Dimple Verma, RCIC-IRB #R708308, assists both employers and workers with IMP exemption identification, Employer Portal submissions, and complete work permit applications. Book a paid consultation to determine which IMP category fits your situation.

Fees & Costs

Fee Component	Amount (CAD)
Government Fee	Work permit: $155. Open Work Permit Holder fee (if OWP): $100. Employer Compliance fee: $230 (for employer LMIA-exempt offers via IMP).
Biometrics	$85 individual

Fees current as of 2026. IRCC may update fees periodically — confirm on the official source link below before paying.

Key Documents Required

• Employer offer of employment (submitted through IRCC Employer Portal)
• Proof of exemption category (trade agreement membership, intra-company role, etc.)
• Work permit application (IMM 1295 or online)
• Passport
• Biometrics
• Supporting documents specific to exemption category

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the employer still need to pay the $230 compliance fee if the work permit is an open work permit?

For most IMP open work permits (such as the spousal open work permit or vulnerable worker permit), no employer compliance fee is required because there is no specific employer involved. The $230 employer compliance fee applies to closed (employer-specific) IMP work permits where a named employer submits the Offer of Employment. For open permits, the worker applies directly without an employer portal submission.

Is an LMIA-exempt work permit faster than an LMIA-based work permit?

Typically, yes — because the LMIA stage (which can take 10–60 business days alone) is eliminated. For IMP applicants, the process goes directly to the IRCC work permit stage. However, some IMP work permit applications still take 4–12 weeks, so the speed advantage depends on the specific category and application volume.

Can I change jobs while holding an LMIA-exempt closed work permit?

Not freely. A closed IMP work permit ties you to the named employer on the permit. Changing employers requires a new Offer of Employment through the IRCC Employer Portal, a new $230 compliance fee, and a new work permit application. Workers who want full flexibility to change employers should seek an open work permit if they qualify for one.

What if my exemption category does not fit any of the standard codes?

There are miscellaneous significant-benefit codes (C10 and related) that cover genuinely unique situations that benefit Canada. However, these are assessed on their merits and are not a catch-all for situations that simply do not fit another category. Applications relying on a broad significant-benefit argument should be well-documented and ideally reviewed by an RCIC before filing.

Does working on an IMP work permit count toward Canadian work experience for PR?

Yes. Work performed in Canada under any valid work permit — including IMP-based permits — counts as Canadian work experience. If the work is in a NOC TEER 0–3 occupation and you accumulate at least one year of full-time equivalent experience, it qualifies toward Canadian Experience Class eligibility in Express Entry.

Official Government Source: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/work-canada/permit/temporary/need-permit/work-permit-exemptions.html

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Disclaimer: This page is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or immigration advice. Immigration laws and IRCC policies change frequently. For advice specific to your case, please book a paid consultation with our licensed RCIC-IRB. VG Immigration Services Inc. — Dimple Verma, RCIC-IRB #R708308.