Business Immigration

Intra Company Transfer

What is Intra Company Transfer(ICT)

The Canada Intra-Company Transfer (ICT) program facilitates the temporary relocation of key personnel within multinational corporations to their Canadian branches, subsidiaries, or affiliates. This program is designed to support the transfer of skilled employees and entrepreneurs, enabling companies to leverage global talent and expand their operations in Canada.

Who can apply to ICT program?

Employees of Multinational Corporations

Employees must be currently employed by the multinational corporation seeking to transfer them to Canada.
They should have a documented employment history with the company, demonstrating their commitment and contribution.
Job roles should align with managerial, executive, or specialized knowledge positions critical to the company’s Canadian operations.

Entrepreneurs

Entrepreneurs who own successful businesses in their home countries can also apply for the ICT program.
They should demonstrate substantial ownership and active involvement in their businesses.
Entrepreneurs seeking to expand their business operations to Canada can utilize the ICT program to establish a presence in the country or oversee Canadian operations.

Intra Company Transfer Requirements

The foreign national is currently employed by a multi-national enterprise outside Canada, and seeking entry to work in a parent, subsidiary, branch, or affiliate of that enterprise in Canada;
The foreign national has been employed (via payroll or by contract) continuously (full-time, not accumulated part-time) by the enterprise outside Canada, in a similar full-time position, for at least one year within the three-year period immediately preceding the date of initial application;
The applicant’s position in an executive or managerial capacity or one involving specialized knowledge (i.e. position, title, place in the organization, job description);
in the case of “specialized knowledge”, evidence that the person has such knowledge and that the position in Canada requires such knowledge;
outline of the position in Canada (namely, position, title, place in the organization, job description);
indication of intended duration of stay; and
description of the relationship between the enterprise in Canada and the enterprise in the foreign country (the officer may request tangible proof to establish the relationship between the Canadian and foreign organization wishing to make the transfer).

ICT Work Permit Duration

ICT work permits typically have a validity of 1 to 2 years, although there are variations based on factors such as the employer’s status and the individual’s nationality.

For instance, employees of start-up companies may receive a 1-year permit, while nationals from certain visa-exempt countries may qualify for a 3-year permit. Extensions are possible, with specialized knowledge workers eligible for up to 5 years and executives/managers for up to 7 years.

However, newly established companies may only receive 1-year permits initially. Some individuals may secure permits through exemptions like the C12 rule, although an LMIA may be required in certain cases.

Canada ICT to PR Transition

Following one year of full-time employment with the Canadian company, the foreign national may qualify to apply for Permanent Residency (PR) through the Express Entry program.

Depending on their job role, they may be entitled to receive either 50 or 200 additional points for arranged employment (a job offer) from their Canadian business.

This typically leads to a substantial boost in their Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score, potentially resulting in selection under the Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) category of the Express Entry stream and an invitation to apply for PR from immigration authorities.

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