International Mobility Program
Overview
The International Mobility Program (IMP) is the umbrella program covering all LMIA-exempt work authorisations in Canada. Unlike the TFWP (which requires a positive LMIA from ESDC), IMP work permits are issued directly by IRCC under regulatory exemptions or international agreement obligations. The IMP covers a wide range of categories — including international trade agreement workers (CUSMA, CETA), intra-company transferees, significant benefit workers (artists, researchers, athletes), reciprocal employment, open work permits for spouses/partners, and the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP).
IMP work permits are employer-specific or open depending on the category. Open work permits authorise the holder to work for any employer in Canada in any occupation (with some exceptions). Employer-specific IMP permits restrict the holder to the named employer, position, and location on the permit.
Eligibility
Major IMP categories
International agreements (T-codes)
- CUSMA/USMCA — business visitors, traders, investors, intra-company transferees, professionals (see CUSMA Chapter 16)
- CETA (Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement with EU) — professionals, contractual service suppliers, intra-company transferees
- CPTPP (Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership) — similar categories for member countries
Significant benefit (C-codes)
- C10 — significant benefit to Canada (broad residual category)
- C11 — entrepreneur/self-employed persons of significant benefit
- C12 — charitable and religious workers
- C13 — intra-company transfers (executive, managerial, specialised knowledge)
Open work permits
- PGWP — open work permit for graduates of eligible Canadian DLIs
- Spousal/partner OWP — open work permits for spouses and common-law partners of: (a) skilled workers on valid work permits (TEER 0/1/2), (b) international students enrolled in master's, PhD, or certain professional programs
- Bridging open work permit (BOWP) — for workers who have applied for PR under an economic class and hold expiring work permits
- Refugee claimant OWP — for persons who have filed an inland refugee claim
Reciprocal employment
- International Experience Canada (IEC) working holiday, young professionals, and international co-op streams — bilateral reciprocal employment agreements
Selection criteria
Application process
Employer compliance fee
Unlike the TFWP (where employers pay LMIA fees to ESDC), most IMP categories require the employer to pay a Compliance Fee of $230 (as of 2025) to IRCC for each employer-specific IMP work permit. Open work permits do not require this fee. IRCC uses the employer compliance fee to fund inspections of employer compliance with IMP conditions.
Application process
IMP work permit applications are submitted by the foreign national to IRCC (not by the employer). For employer-specific IMP positions, the employer provides a job offer through the IRCC Employer Portal (as a prerequisite in most cases). For open work permits, the applicant provides evidence of eligibility (e.g., graduation documentation for PGWP; spousal relationship documents for spousal OWP).
See the LMIA exemptions concept page for the full C-code and T-code breakdown.