Canada offers several business immigration pathways within its immigration framework. The Intra-Company Transfer (ICT) program is particularly beneficial for foreign business owners aiming to expand their operations into Canada. Here, you’ll discover comprehensive information about the ICT program, covering its requirements, benefits, application process, and opportunities for transitioning to permanent residency.
The Intra-Company Transfer (ICT) is a pathway within the International Mobility Program designed for qualified foreign business owners seeking to transfer their businesses to Canada and obtain a work permit. This program enables eligible applicants to acquire an ICT Work Permit and, ultimately, pursue permanent residence (PR). Additionally, in many cases, the principal applicant’s spouse can obtain an open work permit, while their children can apply for study permits.
The Intra-Company Transfer (ICT) program aims to attract established companies globally to expand their operations into Canada. This program benefits three categories of individuals:
- Business owners, entrepreneurs, and shareholders of successful companies currently in executive roles, intending to perform similar duties in Canada.
- Senior managers and functional managers working in foreign companies, planning to assume similar roles in Canada.
- Key employees with advanced specialized knowledge, possessing unique or uncommon expertise.
To obtain a work permit under the ICT program, individuals in these roles must also meet specific additional requirements outlined below.
Entrepreneurs with successful businesses abroad can apply for an ICT Work Permit (WP) to expand their business into Canada. However, they must fulfill several additional requirements to secure the work permit under the ICT program:
- The home company must have been operational for at least 12 months (ideally 3 years) before expanding to Canada.
- The home company must be financially stable and capable of supporting operations in Canada.
- The applicant must have worked with the home company for at least 12 months in the past three years before the immigration application.
- The home company must be related to the Canadian company as a parent, subsidiary, or affiliate.
- The Canadian operations must be viable and lead to job creation for Canadians.
For initial expansions of foreign companies into Canada, immigration officers will assess:
- The presence of a sound business plan showing the viability of Canadian operations, revenue generation, and employee compensation.
- The potential for job creation for Canadians.
- Whether the company requires executives or managers in Canada.
For first-time ICT applications in Canada, companies must demonstrate that expanding to Canada is beneficial and likely to succeed, including presenting a robust business case and explaining the rationale for expansion alongside meeting basic ICT eligibility criteria.
The Canadian government does not stipulate any specific minimum investment amounts for companies expanding into Canada. However, companies are expected to be financially stable and have sufficient capital to support their new operations in Canada and hire local employees.
Based on our experience, companies should showcase robust gross sales exceeding $250,000 annually and possess liquid funds of at least $100,000 to cover initial operational expenses for the first year. Additionally, applicants should demonstrate access to additional funds or assets to sustain the Canadian business if it does not become self-sufficient by the end of the first year.
3-4 Months is the average processing time for ICT Work Permit (WP) applications generally to follow standard timelines, which can be verified on the IRCC’s website specific to each applicant’s country.
After completing 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 employment role, they could receive an additional 50 or 200 points for having arranged employment (job offer) from their own business in Canada.
This typically leads to a substantial increase in their Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score, making them more likely to be selected under the Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) category of the Express Entry stream and receive an invitation to apply for PR from immigration authorities.
ITC & Free Trade Agreenents
Numerous countries have international agreements with Canada, providing special benefits for Treaty ICT applications. Nationals of the following countries can leverage Treaty ICT regulations: United States (CUSMA), Mexico (CUSMA), Chile, Colombia, Peru, Korea, European Union (CETA), Australia (CPTPP), Japan (CPTPP), Mexico (CPTPP), and New Zealand (CPTPP).