USA to Canada intra-company transfer
Transferring from a US employer to a Canadian branch or affiliate: qualifying corporate relationship, executive, managerial and specialized knowledge roles, documents, family and long-term planning.
An intra-company transfer lets a multinational employer move an existing employee to a Canadian parent, branch, subsidiary or affiliate on a work permit that is exempt from the Labour Market Impact Assessment. The employee normally must have worked for the related company abroad in a full-time, continuous position for a qualifying period, and must be entering an executive, senior managerial or specialized knowledge role. The Canadian entity must be real and operating, or a genuine start-up with credible plans. The permit is temporary, and approval is never guaranteed.
Key facts
| Who applies | Existing employees of a multinational employer, of any nationality |
|---|---|
| Corporate relationship | Parent, subsidiary, branch or affiliate — must be documented |
| Roles covered | Executive, senior managerial, and specialized knowledge |
| LMIA | Exempt under the significant benefit provisions where criteria are met |
| Prior employment | Continuous full-time employment abroad with the related entity |
| Status | Temporary and role-specific; extensions have limits |
Who may qualify?
- Executives and senior managers moving to lead or establish a Canadian operation
- Employees with genuinely specialized knowledge of the company's products, services or processes
- Staff of US employers opening a Canadian office or affiliate
- Employees of any citizenship, including those in the US on H-1B or L-1 status
- Families relocating together, where a spouse may be eligible for an open work permit
Eligibility requirements
- A documented qualifying relationship between the US and Canadian entities
- Continuous full-time employment with the related company abroad for the required period
- A Canadian position at executive, senior managerial or specialized knowledge level
- Evidence that the Canadian entity is operating, or credible start-up documentation
- A detailed support letter setting out the role, duration and business rationale
How it works: step by step
- 1
Confirm the corporate relationship
Ownership and control between the two entities must be evidenced, not merely asserted.
- 2
Define the Canadian role precisely
Specialized knowledge and managerial claims are assessed against the actual duties described.
- 3
Prepare the employer package
Support letter, organisational charts, financials and business plans where the entity is new.
- 4
File the work permit application
Apply online or, where eligible, at the port of entry with the full package.
- 5
Plan the family and longer term
Consider spouse work authorisation, schooling, and whether permanent residence should run in parallel.
Expert insight
The transfers that succeed are the ones where the paperwork already existed before the immigration question arose: real organisational charts, real payroll, a Canadian entity with a reason to exist. Where an employer is opening its first Canadian office, we plan the evidence months ahead. And we tell every transferee the same thing about permanent residence — Canadian work experience only helps once it has actually been completed and meets the requirements of the program you intend to use.
Alternative pathways
Frequently asked questions
Immigration programs, fees and processing times change frequently. This page is general information, not immigration advice. Verify current requirements with official Government of Canada sources or speak with our RCIC.