NAFTA Work Permit

Nationals of U.S., Mexico, and Chile can obtain a NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement) or CCFTA (Canada Chile Free Trade Agreement) permit to work temporarily in Canada.

The most popular categories of NAFTA/CCFTA are:

• Intra-company Transferees
• Professionals

Intra-company Transferees are employed by an enterprise in a managerial or executive capacity, or in one which involves specialized knowledge, and are being transferred to the Canadian enterprise, parent, branch, subsidiary, or affiliate (or opening an office in Canada), to provide services in the same capacity.

An employment authorization issued at the time of entry has a maximum of three years for intra-company transferees. For individuals opening an office or to be employed in a new office, the duration is one year. All permits can be extended up to two years. The total period of stay for a person employed in an executive or managerial capacity may not exceed seven years (five years for person employed in a position requiring specialized knowledge).

Professionals are business persons who enter Canada to provide pre-arrangement professional services. A professional is either a salaried employee of a Canadian enterprise, a contractor for a Canadian employer, or a contractor between an American, Mexican, Chilean employer and a Canadian enterprise. You need to be in a profession from the list below.

On initial entry, the professional should be given status for a maximum of one year. Extensions can be issued for a duration of up to one year. There is no time "cap" on extensions but you must demonstrate that the employment is still "temporary".

If you would like to obtain a NAFTA Work Permit, please fill out a NAFTA Work Permit Free Assessment