Several occupations and situations allow foreign workers to work in Canada without a work permit. 

A person who can work without a permit may need to have a Temporary Residency Visa or an eTA (Electronic Travel Authorization) to enter Canada temporarily.  

Moreover, applicants should be ready to provide immigration officials with documentation that supports their intended status in Canada. The specific documents required will vary depending on the individual case. Commonly, a letter of support from a parent company or an invitation letter from a Canadian company can strengthen the chances of approval for entry into Canada.

​Occupations that do not require a work permit are as follows:

• ​Athletes and team members
• Aviation accident or incident inspector
• Business visitor
• Civil aviation inspector
• Clergy
• Convention organizers
• Crew
• Emergency service providers
• Examiners and evaluators
• Expert witnesses or investigators
• Foreign government officers
• Foreign representatives and Family members of foreign representatives
• Health care students
• Implied status
• Judges, referees and similar officials
• Military personnel
• News reporters, media crews
• On-campus employment and some Off-campus work
• Performing artists
• Public speakers

Athletes and Team Members

Professional and amateur athletes can travel to Canada to participate in sports activities or events, either individually or as part of a team. Similarly, foreign coaches, trainers, and other essential team members may also be eligible to travel to Canada to take part in such events.

Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) provides the following examples of individuals who may qualify for this exemption:​

• Amateur players on Canadian teams
• Foreign pet owners entering their own animals in a show
• Jockeys racing horses from foreign-based stables
• Race car drivers
• Individuals attending professional team tryouts
• Foreign team members participating in a competition in Canada
• Grooms or team support members
• Full or part-time coaches and trainers

The spouses of professional athletes are eligible for a LMIA exempt work permit for their time in Canada.

Business Visitors

See options in Business Visitor Visas

​Aviation Accident or Incident Inspector

​Accredited representatives and advisors assisting in the investigation of an aviation accident or incident may do this without getting a work permit. However, the investigation should be conducted under the authority of the Canadian Transportation Accident Investigation and Safety Board Act.

Civil Aviation Inspectors

Flight operations and cabin safety inspectors employed by a recognized aeronautical authority may inspect commercial international flights without needing a work permit. Inspectors must present valid documentation proving their employment with the authority.

Clergy

Individuals working in Canada to preach, lead religious services, or provide spiritual guidance may do so without a work permit. This exemption applies to ordained ministers, laypersons, or religious order members. The worker does not need to share the beliefs of the religious community they will serve. The primary duties should involve a religious objective, such as offering religious instruction or promoting a specific faith.

Applicants seeking entry under this exemption must provide documentation verifying:

• The authenticity of the employment offer.
• Their qualifications and experience to minister to a congregation.

Individuals conducting charitable or religious work in Canada still require a work permit; however, this permit is exempt from the Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) process.

Convention Organizers

This category applies to individuals who come to Canada to organize conventions or conferences, including administrative support staff. These events can be corporate meetings, trade shows, exhibitions, etc. However, hands-on service providers like audio-visual specialists are excluded. Convention organizers hired to work at Canadian events require a work permit, as Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) defines a “Canadian event” as one organized by an entity located and actively operating in Canada.

Individuals attending conferences and meetings as participants are considered business visitors and are not required to obtain a work permit.

Crew

Crew members working on foreign-owned, non-Canadian registered transportation primarily engaged in international travel do not need a work permit. They may work in operational, maintenance, or passenger service roles. Since the regulations regarding crew work on different transportation modes can vary, it is essential to verify eligibility for a work permit exemption before traveling to Canada.

Emergency Service Providers

Emergency service workers entering Canada to provide aid during emergencies, such as natural disasters or commercial accidents, may do so without a work permit. This includes doctors, medical teams, appraisers, and foreign insurance adjusters. Canada has specific agreements with the U.S. to facilitate the movement of emergency aid workers across the border.

Examiners and Evaluators

Foreign professors or researchers who need to come to Canada to evaluate theses or projects conducted by their students may do so without obtaining a work permit.

Expert Witnesses or Investigators

Individuals entering Canada to conduct surveys or analyses for legal purposes or to testify as expert witnesses before a court or regulatory body may do so without a work permit.

Foreign Government Officers

Through international agreements, Canada allows foreign government employees to work for federal or provincial departments without requiring a work permit. Foreign officers working at the executive level must have a contract from Canada’s Public Service Commission (PSC). Those at lower levels need a formal agreement letter for assignments lasting over three months.

Family members of foreign government officers typically receive an open work permit or are exempt from requiring a work permit while in Canada.

Foreign Representatives and Their Family Members

Foreign representatives, along with their personal staff and family members, are eligible to work in Canada without a work permit, provided they are accredited by the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT). This includes diplomatic representatives to United Nations offices in Canada. Family members must receive a “no objection letter” from DFAIT to be eligible for work without a permit.

Health Care Students

Foreign health care students studying abroad may participate in clinical clerkships or short-term practicums in Canada without needing a work permit. This includes students in fields such as medicine, nursing, medical technology, and physical or occupational therapy. These practicums must be unpaid and last no more than four months. Students who are compensated or who stay for longer than four months require a work permit.

Judges, Referees, and Similar Officials

Judges, referees, and other officials may come to Canada to participate in international amateur sports, arts, agricultural, or cultural events and competitions. Amateur sports competitions must be organized by international organizations and hosted by Canadian entities. Individuals involved in professional sports competitions must secure a positive LMIA and work permit.

Military Personnel

Military and civilian personnel in Canada under the Visiting Forces Act can work and study without a work permit. Their families are also covered by this exemption. However, military personnel are exempt from passport, temporary resident visa, and foreign national medical examination requirements, although civilians and family members must still obtain these documents, if necessary.

News Reporters and Media Crews

News reporters and their crews coming to Canada to cover events do not require a work permit, as long as they work for non-Canadian companies. However, managerial or clerical staff are excluded unless they are covering special events lasting six months or less. Media crews producing travelogues, documentaries, etc., may need work permits, depending on the discretion of the Canadian visa officer reviewing the application.

Performing Artists

​Many foreign performing artists may work in Canada without a work permit. However, some types of performers/performances require a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) and Work Permit.

​Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC, formerly CIC) has outlined some common performers/performances and their immigration requirements:

In addition to the scenarios already mentioned, certain performers may be permitted to work in Canada without a work permit under specific sub-categories. These include:

• Film producers (business visitors)
• Film and recording studio users (business visitors)
• Individuals making guest appearances on Canadian TV and radio broadcasts (Guest speakers)

Guest artists invited to perform with a Canadian group may be exempt from the work permit requirement, provided their engagement is “time-limited.” Typically, this time limit is no longer than two weeks, though some flexibility is allowed. However, guest artists who are invited for a longer period, such as for a performance season, will require a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) and a work permit.

To qualify for this exemption, performing artists must not be entering into an ongoing employment relationship in Canada. This means they cannot be a long-term employee of a Canadian organization, individual, or establishment.

Public Speakers

Guest speakers, commercial speakers, and seminar leaders can also present in Canada without the need for a work permit. For this exemption, a “seminar” is defined as a small, intensive course of study lasting no more than five days.

Commercial speakers in this category will typically have a personal stake in the event, such as renting commercial space, advertising the event, and charging admission. However, commercial speakers hired by a Canadian organization must obtain an LMIA and a work permit for their work in Canada.