Canadian employers may hire highly skilled workers from Colombia through Canada-Colombia Free Trade Agreement.
Work permits issued under this agreement are exempt from the Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA), which significantly reduces the time needed for the worker to start work in Canada.
Similarly to other free trade agreements that Canada has signed with countries in the Americas, Canada-Columbia Free Trade Agreement (Canada-Colombia FTA) is modeled on NAFTA . Furthermore, the agreement borrows from the Canada-Peru FTA.
Canada Columbia FTA
Special Hiring Program
How Can Canada-Colombia Free Trade Agreement Help My Business?
The NAFTA influence is represented by the overall structure of eligible persons.
Among these are:
- Business Visitors
- Professionals/Technicians
- Intra-Company Transferees
- Trades/Investors.
For the purpose of hiring a Colombian national by a Canadian employer, the suitable categories are primarily: Professionals/Technicians and Intra-Company Transferees.
Professionals & Technicians
Professionals
Professionals/Technicians are those Colombian nationals who are offered a salaried employment in Canada in one of the permitted positions.
Alternatively, Canadian employers may hire a Colombian national through a contract with the applicant’s employer in Colombia.
As in the Canada-Peru FTA, Professional position are determined negatively (i.e. Negative List). In other words, only the positions that are not on the list are eligible for a Canada-Colombia FTA work permit.
The Negative List applicable to Colombians is identical to the one in the Canada-Peru FTA. For the complete ‘negative list’ and qualification requirements for Professionals refer to Canada-Peru FTA Work Permit by clicking here. or see below
Technicians
Technician positions must meet the same requirements as professionals in terms of the nature of the employment contract. However, the list of eligible positions is determined positively. In other words, only the positions stated on so called ‘Positive List’ are eligible for a work permit. Also, in this case, the Colombian Positive list is identical to the one in the Canada-Peru FTA. For the Positive List, click here. or see below
Negative List – Professionals Not Covered
All Health, Education, and Social Services occupations and related occupations:
- Managers in Health, Education, Social & Community Services
- Physicians, Dentists, Optometrists, Chiropractors, Other Health Professions
- Pharmacists, Dietitians & Nutritionists
- Therapy & Assessment Professionals
- Nurse Supervisors & Registered Nurses
- Psychologists/Social Workers
- University Professors & Assistants
- College & Other Vocational Instructors
- Secondary/Elementary School Teachers & Counsellors
All Professional occupations related to Cultural Industries, including:
- Managers in Libraries, Archives, Museums and Art Galleries
- Managers in Publishing, Motion Pictures, Broadcasting and Performing Arts
- Pharmacists, Dietitians & Nutritionists
Other Professional occupations
- Recreation, Sports and Fitness Program and Service Directors
- Managers in Telecommunication Carriers
- Managers in Postal and Courier Services
- Managers in Manufacturing
- Managers in Utilities
- Managers in Construction and Transportation
- Judges, Lawyers and Notaries except Foreign Legal Consultants
Positive List – Technicians that are covered
- Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians
- Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians
- Industrial Engineering and Manufacturing Technologists and Technicians
- Construction Inspectors and Estimators
- Electrical and Electronics engineering Technologists and Technicians (includes electronic service technicians)
- Electricians (includes industrial electricians)
- Plumbers
- Industrial Instrument Technicians and Mechanics
- Aircraft Instrument, Electrical and Avionics Mechanics, Technicians and Inspectors
- Underground Production and Development Miners
- Oil and Gas Well Drillers, Servicers and Testers
- Graphic Designers and Illustrators
- Interior Designers
- Chefs
- Computer and Information System Technicians
- International Purchasing and Selling Agents
Supervisors in the following:
- Machinists and Related Technicians that are covered Occupations
- Printing and Related Occupations
- Mining and Quarrying
- Oil and Gas Drilling and Service
- Mineral and Metal Processing
- Petroleum, Gas and Chemical Processing and Utilities
- Food, Beverage and Tobacco Processing
- Plastic and Rubber Products Manufacturing
- Forest Products Processing
- Textile Processing
Contractors and Supervisors in the following:
- Electrical Trades and Telecommunications Occupations
- Pipefitting Trades
- Metal Forming
- Shaping and Erecting Trades
- Carpentry Trades
- Mechanic Trades
- Heavy Construction Equipment Crews
- Other Construction Trades
- Installers, Repairers and Servicers
- Machinists and Related Technicians that are covered Occupations