International Mobility Program Canada: Work Permits Without an LMIA
The International Mobility Program (IMP) lets Canadian employers hire foreign workers without a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA), and it also covers open work permits. Employers usually pay a compliance fee that starts at CAD 230, and workers then apply for a permit. Pick your route below or Book a Strategy Consultation.
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What is the International Mobility Program?
The International Mobility Program (IMP) is the IRCC program that lets employers hire temporary foreign workers when an LMIA is not required. It supports Canada economic, social and cultural priorities, and it includes both employer-specific permits and open work permits. If a job needs an LMIA, the employer must use the Temporary Foreign Worker Program instead.
IMP compared with the LMIA-based program
| International Mobility Program | Temporary Foreign Worker Program | |
|---|---|---|
| LMIA needed | No | Yes |
| Employer fee | Compliance fee starting at CAD 230, unless exempt | LMIA application with its own processing fee |
| Permit type | Employer-specific LMIA-exempt permits, plus open work permits | Employer-specific permit tied to one LMIA |
| Typical routes | Trade agreements, intra-company transfers, significant benefit, Francophone mobility, IEC, PGWP, spousal and bridging open permits | High-wage and low-wage streams, Global Talent Stream, agricultural and caregiver streams |
| Main purpose | Canada economic, social and cultural priorities | Fill jobs when no Canadian worker is available |
Source: IRCC International Mobility Program pages, 2026.
Where each work permit fits inside the IMP
Trade agreement permits are part of the IMP. They are LMIA-exempt, and the worker usually needs an offer of employment from the employer like other employer-specific IMP permits.
International free trade agreements
Permits for professionals, traders and investors under CUSMA, CETA, CPTPP and bilateral agreements with Chile, Colombia, South Korea, Peru, Panama, Ukraine and the UK. Read the free trade agreement permits guide, or go straight to CUSMA professionals (TN). Guides: CETA, CPTPP, UK, CUSMA traders and investors and other agreements.
Other LMIA-exempt permits
Intra-company transfers, significant benefit, Francophone mobility, research and academic workers, charitable and religious workers, artists and athletes, and the entrepreneur work permit. Start at our LMIA-exempt hub.
Open work permits
Let you work for almost any employer. They include the PGWP, the spousal open work permit and the bridging open work permit. See our open work permits hub.
Reciprocal programs
Agreements with partner countries create working holiday, young professional and co-op placements through International Experience Canada.
Global Skills Strategy
IRCC lists applicants for LMIA-exempt jobs under the IMP. Roles that need an LMIA run through the LMIA-based side, which our Global Talent Stream guide covers.
Which free trade agreement covers your citizenship?
Trade agreement permits depend on your citizenship and your role. Check the table, then match your role in our guide before an employer files the offer of employment.
Trade agreement permits by citizenship
| Agreement | Citizens covered | Worker groups IRCC lists |
|---|---|---|
| CUSMA | United States and Mexico | Professionals, traders, investors and intra-company transferees. See our CUSMA guide |
| CETA | Citizens of European Union member states | Investors, specialists, graduate trainees and specialized knowledge workers |
| CPTPP | Australia, Brunei, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam | Depends on the category. See our trade agreement guide |
| Canada-UK Trade Continuity Agreement | United Kingdom | Investors and specialized knowledge workers |
| Canada-Chile, Canada-Colombia, Canada-Korea, Canada-Peru, Canada-Panama and Canada-Ukraine | Chile, Colombia, South Korea, Peru, Panama and Ukraine, one agreement each | Depends on the agreement. See our trade agreement guide |
| GATS (World Trade Organization) | Broad coverage across member countries | Specialists, specialized knowledge workers, professional development trainees and general service business personnel |
Source: IRCC business people and free trade agreement page, 2026. IRCC has a country selector that shows which agreements cover your citizenship. Some countries are covered by more than one agreement.
Which IMP work permit fits you?
Which IMP route fits your situation?
| Your situation | Route | Our guide |
|---|---|---|
| Professional from the US or Mexico | CUSMA professional (TN) | CUSMA professionals |
| Professional covered by CETA, CPTPP or another trade deal | Free trade agreement permit | Free trade agreements |
| Trader or investor covered by CUSMA, CETA or CPTPP | Free trade agreement permit | Free trade agreements |
| Manager or specialist moving within the same company | Intra-company transfer | Intra-company transfer |
| Work that brings significant benefit to Canada | Significant benefit | Significant benefit |
| Business owner starting a Canadian business | Entrepreneur work permit (C11) | Entrepreneur work permit |
| French-speaking skilled worker outside Quebec | Francophone mobility | Francophone mobility |
| Visiting researcher or academic | Research and academic workers | Research and academic workers |
| Religious or charitable worker | Charitable and religious workers | Charitable and religious workers |
| Performer or athlete | Artists and athletes | Artists and athletes |
| Graduate of a Canadian college or university | PGWP (open work permit) | PGWP |
| Partner of a worker or student | Spousal open work permit | Spousal open work permit |
| Waiting for a PR decision in Canada | Bridging open work permit | Bridging open work permit |
| Young adult from a partner country | International Experience Canada | International Experience Canada |
Four steps for an employer-specific IMP permit
Check the exemption
Match the job and your profile to an IMP route. A wrong exemption is a common reason for refusal.
Employer submits the offer
The employer submits an offer of employment through the IRCC Employer Portal and pays the compliance fee, unless the route is exempt.
Get the offer number
The employer gives you the offer of employment number issued by the portal.
Apply for the permit
You apply online with your offer number, give biometrics and wait for a decision. Open permits skip the employer offer.
Employers: read how to hire a foreign worker and compare IMP with the LMIA route. Workers: see how to extend your permit or what to do if a permit is refused.
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International Mobility Program questions
The International Mobility Program (IMP) is the IRCC program that lets employers hire foreign workers without an LMIA. It supports Canada economic, social and cultural priorities and includes both employer-specific and open work permits.
No. If an LMIA is required for the job, the employer cannot use the IMP and must apply through the Temporary Foreign Worker Program.
Yes. IRCC lists open work permit holders, such as PGWP, spousal and bridging permit holders, among the workers covered by the IMP.
Employers usually pay a compliance fee that starts at CAD 230, unless the route is exempt. A group of three or more performing artists hired at once costs CAD 690.
An IMP permit does not give PR by itself. Skilled Canadian work experience can later count toward the Canadian Experience Class or a provincial program, so plan your route early.
Yes. IEC working holiday, young professional and international co-op placements run through reciprocal agreements under the IMP. See our IEC guide.
Find the right work permit route
Book a Strategy Consultation and a licensed RCIC will match your job, your country and your plans to the right IMP route.
Amir Ismail is a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC R412319) who has been associated with the immigration consulting industry since 1991.
Last updated: October 2026. Source: IRCC.
