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Canada has introduced stricter eligibility requirements for foreign nationals applying for reciprocal employment work permits under the C20 exemption, limiting access to workers who are already employed by an overseas company before seeking to work in Canada. The updated policy removes the previous option that allowed new hires to apply for the permit before officially starting employment with a foreign employer.
The C20 exemption allows eligible foreign workers to obtain a Canadian work permit without a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) under reciprocal employment arrangements that create similar opportunities for Canadian citizens abroad. Immigration authorities said the revised rules are intended to ensure applicants have an existing employment relationship with a qualifying overseas organisation before they become eligible for the permit.
The policy change is expected to affect multinational companies and foreign professionals planning international transfers, particularly new recruits who had intended to begin their overseas employment only after arriving in Canada. Immigration experts say the revised requirements could make workforce planning more complex for employers while narrowing eligibility for some prospective foreign workers.
