Intra-Company Transfer to Canada: move key staff to your Canadian office
An intra-company transfer to Canada is an LMIA-exempt work permit. It lets a multinational move an executive, senior manager or specialised-knowledge employee to a Canadian parent, branch, subsidiary or affiliate. This 2026 guide covers the three ICT categories, eligibility and how to apply.
Key takeaways
An intra-company transfer to Canada (ICT) is an LMIA-exempt work permit under the International Mobility Program. It lets a multinational move a qualifying employee into its Canadian parent, branch, subsidiary or affiliate without a labour-market test. The ICT covers three categories: executives, senior managers, and workers with specialised knowledge. The employee usually needs about one year of recent employment with the company abroad, and specialised-knowledge applications are scrutinised closely.
- An intra-company transfer (ICT) is an LMIA-exempt work permit under the International Mobility Program.
- It moves staff in three categories: executives, senior managers and specialised-knowledge workers.
- You need ≥1 year continuous employment with the company in the last 3 years and a qualifying corporate relationship.
- A new-office (start-up) ICT lets a multinational open a Canadian branch, on a first permit of up to one year.
- Maximum stays: seven years (executives/managers) or five years (specialised knowledge); a route toward permanent residence.
What does intra-company transfer mean in Canada?
An intra-company transfer to Canada (ICT, sometimes written intracompany transfer) is an LMIA-exempt work permit that lets a multinational company move a qualifying employee from a foreign office into a related Canadian entity, a parent, branch, subsidiary or affiliate. In plain terms, the ICT is how a global business relocates its own executives, managers and specialised-knowledge staff into a Canadian operation without hiring from the open labour market. It is one of the more common routes we see for staff transferring to Canada on an H-1B from a US office of the same employer. IRCC issues it under three exemption codes, C61, C62 and C63 (C62 for executives and senior managers, C63 for specialised knowledge, C61 to open a new Canadian office; before 15 December 2022 all three were C12).
Is there an ICT visa for Canada?
There is no separate ICT visa: what people call an ICT visa or a Canada work visa for an intra-company transfer is the employer-specific work permit IRCC issues under code C61, C62 or C63, after the Canadian entity files an offer of employment and pays the $230 employer compliance fee (IRCC, checked 13 October 2026). Specialised-knowledge (C63) transferees are usually in a TEER 0, 1 or 2 role; executives and senior managers (C62) are usually in TEER 0 roles.
It sits under the International Mobility Program (IMP), which covers permits that do not require a Labour Market Impact Assessment because they serve a broader Canadian economic interest (source: IRCC program delivery instructions, checked 12 October 2026). Because the intra-company transfer is LMIA-exempt, the Canadian employer skips the labour-market test that the Temporary Foreign Worker Program demands. For global businesses, the ICT is one of the most practical ways to bring leadership and specialised talent into a Canadian operation without the delay of the LMIA process.
Crucially, LMIA-exempt does not mean work-permit-exempt. The Canadian entity still submits an offer of employment through the IRCC Employer Portal and pays the employer compliance fee before the worker applies. What the ICT removes is the labour-market test. There is no need to prove that no Canadian was available, because the worker is being transferred within the same corporate group, not hired off the open market.
The three intra-company transfer categories
Every ICT falls into one of three categories, defined by the role the employee holds and will continue to hold in Canada. The category matters: it sets the evidence IRCC expects and the maximum length of stay. The table below sets out the three categories, who each is for, and the requirements that go with them.
| ICT category | Who it's for | Key requirement & max stay |
|---|---|---|
| Executives | Senior leaders who direct the management of the company or a major component of it | Primarily directs the organisation; minimal supervision. Up to 7 years. |
| Senior managers | Managers who manage the organisation, a department, subdivision or essential function | Supervises professional/managerial staff or manages an essential function. Up to 7 years. |
| Specialised knowledge | Staff with proprietary, advanced knowledge of the company's products, processes or management | Knowledge unusual in the industry + advanced expertise; prevailing wage expected. Up to 5 years. |
Specialised knowledge is scrutinised closely
Who is eligible for an intra-company transfer?
ICT eligibility rests on three pillars that must all be true at once: the employee, the role, and the relationship between the companies. In broad terms, you may qualify if you have been continuously employed by the company for at least one year in the past three years, you held and will hold a qualifying executive, managerial or specialised-knowledge role, and there is a genuine qualifying relationship between the foreign and Canadian entities that are both actively doing business.
The table below sets out the core ICT requirements. Each must be met, and the most common stumbling block is the corporate relationship: a client, supplier, business partner or unrelated franchise generally does not qualify, even when the companies work together closely.
| ICT requirement | What it means |
|---|---|
| ≥1 year continuous employment | You have worked full-time and continuously for the company for at least one year within the three years before applying. |
| Qualifying role | Your position is executive, senior managerial or specialised-knowledge, and you transfer into a comparable role in Canada. |
| Qualifying corporate relationship | The Canadian entity is a parent, branch, subsidiary or affiliate of your current employer. |
| Genuine, ongoing business | Both the foreign and Canadian entities are actively, regularly and continuously doing business, not shell companies. |
| Temporary intent + employer offer | You intend to work temporarily, and the Canadian entity submits an offer of employment via the Employer Portal and pays the compliance fee. |
What the qualifying relationship means
Start-up and new-office intra-company transfers
The ICT category also covers start-up or new-office transfers, the route a multinational uses to open a Canadian branch by sending an executive, senior manager or specialised-knowledge worker to establish it. This is one of the most valuable, and most demanding, ICT scenarios: there is no established Canadian operation yet, so IRCC asks for stronger up-front evidence that the new office is real and viable.
For a new office, the foreign company must already be a multinational with revenue-generating operations in at least 2 countries; a business that operates only in its home country cannot use C61. You should then expect to show secured physical premises in Canada, a realistic business plan, the financial ability to start operations and pay staff, and evidence that the foreign company will continue to operate. The C61 permit is issued for a maximum of one year, and IRCC expects the transferee to move to the executive or manager (C62) or specialised-knowledge (C63) category for any extension; a further 6 months under C61 is possible only where delays outside the applicant's control, such as late construction permits, held the office back (IRCC program delivery instructions, checked 13 October 2026).
A new-office ICT is a business case, not just a form
How to apply for an intra-company transfer
An ICT can be applied for online through an IRCC account, and in some cases, for visa-exempt nationals, at a port of entry. The exact documents depend on your category and whether the Canadian office is established or new, but the framework below is consistent. The employer steps come first.
- 01
Confirm the qualifying relationship
Verify the Canadian entity is a parent, branch, subsidiary or affiliate of the foreign employer, and gather the ownership/control evidence.
- 02
Identify the right category
Confirm whether the transfer is executive, senior managerial or specialised-knowledge, this drives the evidence and the maximum stay.
- 03
Check the one-year rule
Confirm at least one year of continuous full-time employment with the company in the three years before applying, in a qualifying role.
- 04
Submit the employer offer
The Canadian entity submits an offer of employment through the IRCC Employer Portal and pays the employer compliance fee, no LMIA required.
- 05
Apply for the work permit
The worker applies online to IRCC (or at a port of entry where eligible), with proof of the role, the relationship and, for a new office, premises and a business plan.
- 06
Receive the ICT permit
On approval, the intra-company transfer permit is issued (a maximum of one year for a new office under C61, up to three years initially under C62 or C63), and the employee can begin work for the Canadian entity.
How long does an intra-company transfer last?
An initial ICT can be issued for up to three years, and a new-office transfer (C61) is limited to one year. With extensions, the maximum total stay is seven years for executives and senior managers and five years for specialised-knowledge workers. Processing depends on where the employee applies from: IRCC published 11 weeks for a work permit applied for from India and 6 weeks from the United States (IRCC processing times, updated October 7, 2026), and our processing times tracker carries the other countries.
IRCC treats seven years as a strict overall limit for time as an intra-company transferee, even when someone switches between the general ICT codes and a trade-agreement ICT category. Because these caps are firm, the smartest transfers plan a transition to permanent residence well before the limit, so your status never lapses. We map that timeline with you from the start.
What does an intra-company transfer to Canada cost?
The government fees for an intra-company transfer to Canada are a $230 employer compliance fee, paid by the Canadian entity with the offer of employment, a $155 work permit fee and $85 biometrics per person, capped at $170 for a family applying together (IRCC fee list, checked 13 October 2026).
| Fee | Amount (CAD) | Who pays | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Employer compliance fee | $230 | Canadian employer | Paid with the offer of employment; refunded if the work permit is refused |
| Work permit processing fee | $155 | Transferee | Per person |
| Biometrics | $85 per person, $170 per family | Transferee | Where biometrics are required |
| LMIA fee | None | Not applicable | The ICT is LMIA-exempt |
C11 vs intra-company transfer: which permit fits?
The difference between C11 and an intra-company transfer is who is moving: an ICT moves an existing employee of a multinational into a related Canadian company, while the C11 work permit is for an owner who controls at least 51 percent of the Canadian business they will run (IRCC program delivery instructions, checked 13 October 2026).
| Point | Intra-company transfer (C61, C62, C63) | C11 entrepreneur or self-employed |
|---|---|---|
| Who applies | An employee of a multinational with 1 year of continuous full-time work in a similar role in the last 3 years | An owner who controls at least 51 percent of the business |
| Business needed | A related Canadian parent, branch, subsidiary or affiliate, or a new one under C61 | A Canadian business the owner starts or buys and runs |
| Usual length | Up to 3 years initially (1 year under C61); 7 years total for executives and managers, 5 for specialised knowledge | Normally no more than 18 months |
| LMIA | Not required | Not required |
A part-owner with less than 51 percent who is coming to work in the business applies as an employee instead, which means an LMIA-based permit or another International Mobility Program category, such as an ICT where the company is a multinational and the one-year rule is met.
From intra-company transfer to permanent residence
For many transferees, the intra-company transfer to Canada is a first step toward staying permanently. The skilled Canadian work experience it builds can make you eligible for the Express Entry Canadian Experience Class, or support a Provincial Nominee Program nomination outside Quebec. Executives and senior managers in particular often have strong profiles for permanent residence once they have Canadian experience on file.
The ICT does not grant permanent residence on its own, and the two are assessed separately, but planned well, a transfer is an excellent runway to PR. If your spouse comes with you, they may also qualify for an open work permit, subject to the 2025 eligibility rules. Working under a licensed RCIC (CICC #R706497), our team plans this sequencing from day one, entirely online, by video call and secure document sharing. Prefer to handle the legwork yourself? Our lower-cost File Review gives your own intra-company transfer to Canada application an expert check before you submit.
Frequently asked questions
Is an intra-company transfer LMIA-exempt?
Yes. An intra-company transfer (ICT) is LMIA-exempt; it falls under the International Mobility Program rather than the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, so the Canadian employer does not need a Labour Market Impact Assessment. However, LMIA-exempt does not mean work-permit-exempt: the Canadian entity still has to submit an offer of employment through the Employer Portal and pay the employer compliance fee before the worker applies. The exemption reflects the broader economic benefit of letting multinationals move key staff into Canada.
How long does an ICT work permit last?
An initial intra-company transfer permit can be issued for up to three years, and a permit to establish a brand-new Canadian office (code C61) is limited to one year, extendable under that code by 6 months only where delays were outside the applicant's control. With extensions, executives and senior managers can stay for a maximum of seven years, while specialised-knowledge workers are capped at five years, and IRCC treats seven years as a strict overall limit for any ICT. We track these limits so you plan a transition to permanent residence well before they bite.
Who qualifies for an intra-company transfer to Canada?
To qualify, you must have worked continuously for the multinational for at least one year in the last three years, in a role that is an executive, senior managerial or specialised-knowledge position, and you must be transferring into a comparable role at a Canadian parent, branch, subsidiary or affiliate. There must be a genuine qualifying relationship between the foreign and Canadian companies, and both entities must be actively doing business. We confirm all three pillars before you apply.
What counts as specialised knowledge for an ICT?
Specialised knowledge means proprietary knowledge of the company's products, services, research, techniques or management that is unusual and different from that generally found in the industry, combined with advanced expertise gained through significant experience with the organisation. IRCC sets a mandatory wage floor for the category: the Canadian role must pay at least the Job Bank prevailing wage for the occupation and region. Simply being a skilled or senior employee is not enough; the knowledge must be genuinely specialised and difficult to find in the Canadian labour market.
Can I use an intra-company transfer to open a Canadian branch?
Yes, the ICT category includes start-up or new-office transfers, designed to let a multinational send an executive, senior manager or specialised-knowledge worker to establish a Canadian parent, branch, subsidiary or affiliate. For a new office, the foreign company must already be a multinational with revenue-generating operations in at least 2 countries, and IRCC expects evidence of secured physical premises, a realistic business plan, the financial ability to start operations and pay staff, and proof the foreign company will continue operating. The C61 permit is limited to one year, and an extension under C61 is approved only for delays outside the applicant's control, for up to 6 more months.
Does an intra-company transfer lead to permanent residence?
It can. An ICT is a temporary work permit, but the skilled Canadian work experience it builds can help you qualify for permanent residence, most commonly through the Express Entry Canadian Experience Class, or through a Provincial Nominee Program. Executives and senior managers may also have other PR avenues. The ICT does not grant PR by itself, and we never guarantee an outcome; what we do is plan the transfer so it builds toward the permanent residence you want.
What is the difference between a parent, branch, subsidiary and affiliate?
These describe the qualifying relationship the ICT requires between the foreign and Canadian companies. A parent controls another entity; a branch is an operating division of the same company in another country; a subsidiary is an entity the parent controls through majority ownership; and an affiliate is one of two entities owned and controlled by the same parent or group. The transfer must be between two such related entities; a mere business partner, client or franchise is generally not enough.
Do I need a job offer or LMIA for an intra-company transfer?
You do not need an LMIA, and you do not need a separate job offer in the TFWP sense. Instead, the Canadian entity submits an offer of employment for you through the IRCC Employer Portal and pays the compliance fee, confirming the qualifying relationship and your transferring role. Your eligibility rests on your year of qualifying employment, your position category and the corporate relationship, not on a labour-market test.
What are the main intra-company transfer requirements in Canada?
The core intra-company transfer requirements are three pillars: at least one year of continuous full-time employment with the company in the past three years, a qualifying executive, senior managerial or specialised-knowledge role you transfer into in Canada, and a genuine qualifying relationship between a parent, branch, subsidiary or affiliate. Both entities must be actively doing business, and the Canadian employer must submit an offer through the Employer Portal.
Where an intra-company transfer can lead
A transfer is rarely the destination. We help you turn Canadian experience into permanent residence.
Canadian Experience Class
Skilled work on an ICT can make you eligible for PR through the Express Entry CEC stream.
Learn moreProvincial nominees
A nomination outside Quebec can support PR for transferees with Canadian experience.
Learn moreOpen work permits
See how a spouse joining you may qualify for an open work permit under the 2025 rules.
Learn morePlanning an intra-company transfer to Canada?
Get started with a licensed RCIC and get an honest read on your qualifying relationship, the right ICT category and your path to PR.
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Licensed RCIC Nicola Wightman, CICC licence R706497.Verify on the CICC public register (opens in a new tab)