Canada Intra Company Transfers

by XIPHIAS_ _Immigration ICCRC&MARA immigration consultant

Companies, who intend to set-up a branch in Canada or already have a branch there, can temporarily transfer qualified employees to Canada as ‘intra-company transferees’ under International Mobility Program (IMP). Intention behind Intra company transfers is to help the company transfer valuable skills, to help better management, to better marketing and sales, to expand the scope of market in Canada while enhancing business opportunities in North America. This program is helpful for the companies as it eases the process of transferring valuable employees to the branches in Canada.

This is one of most favored transfer programs to Canada as it exempts the employees (transferees) to obtain LMIA (Labour Market Impact Assessment). It is also a quicker process and less cumbersome. However, the transferees will require a proper Job offer from the branch in Canada to take up the position.

To be able to invite foreign national employees into Canada, the company needs to have a branch set up in Canada. They need to have a branch address in Canada. If the branch is yet to be set-up, then the company can use counsel’s address. This process of inviting highly qualified foreign skilled professionals in to Canada has nothing to do with Express Entry System.The company must present a proper realistic plan to staff their operations in Canada. The Company will be providing information about finances and it should prove its financial standing to start operations in Canada. Along with that the company will have to provide documental evidence to demonstrate that the company can support the executive relocating to Canada. The company will have to also demonstrate the management’s active role in the running of the branch in Canada.

The foreign national who intends to relocate to Canada will need to prove that he is part of the company for a minimum of 3 years before submission of the application and such engagement should be full-time. This is completely different in comparison with Provincial Nominee Program, which is one of the most sought after relocation programs to Canada. This program will provide a security for the person who relocated to Canada with a job offer in hand. Such an individual should either be an executive or a senior manager or a person of specialized knowledge.

People who apply under “executive” category are those who primarily direct the management of the enterprise or a major section thereof. They will be receiving general instructions from higher level executives.

Senior Manager is a person who will be responsible for the whole or part of the enterprise. He controls, supervises and manages the work and employees therein.

Individuals who apply under a person with specialized knowledge will need to demonstrate specialized knowledge of the enterprise’s product or service at an advanced level or should demonstrate his advanced level of expertise in the enterprise’s process and procedures this includes techniques or systems of management, research and development areas too.

With this program, the employee can earn Canada Permanent Residency in one year of he relocating to Canada.

The documentation that would be required for this program includes a job offer from the parent company. They will obtain a temporary work-permit to relocate to Canada for a period of 5 years which is renewable.

The best way to approach this program is to work with an ICCRC registered immigration firm, which will be fully equipped to assist the company to open a branch in Canada and also help the individual relocate to Canada in the best possible manner. With this program, the individual can relocate to Canada along with his immediate family who will also obtain the same visa as the main applicant. The family which can accompany the main applicant will include legal spouse or partner and children below the age of 18 years.