Last Updated on August 5, 2015

No Permit Required (R186)

Officers would need to note that a foreign national could work in Canada without having a work permit. This is permissible if the foreign national:

• Is a business visitor to Canada as specified in the definitions outlined in section 187
• Is a foreign representative, who has the proper accreditations provided by the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade and,
• Is in Canada for carrying out official duties as a diplomatic agent, consular officer, representative or official of a country other than Canada, of the United Nations or any of its agencies or of any international organisation of which Canada is a member
• Is a family member of a foreign representative in Canada who has the accreditation of diplomatic status issued by the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade and,
• If the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade has specified in writing that it does not have any objections to the foreign national working in Canada
• Is a member of the armed forces of a country that the authorities have regarded as a designated state for the purposes of the Visiting Forces Act
• This would typically include any person whom the authorities have designated as a civilian component of those armed forces
• Is an officer of a foreign government, sent under an exchange agreement between Canada and one or more countries for taking up duties with a specified federal or provincial agency
• This would also include foreign nationals who are cross-border maritime law enforcement officers designated by the United States under the Framework Agreement on Integrated Cross-Border Maritime Law Enforcement Operations between the Government of Canada and the Government of the United States signed on May 26, 2009
• This would also include foreign nationals who are in-flight security officers employed by foreign governments with which Canada has put in place an arrangement with respect to commercial passenger aircraft security
• Is a full-time student on the campus of the university or college at which the foreign national is a full-time student, for the duration for which the foreign national holds a study permit to study at that particular university or college
• Is a performing artist (whether appearing alone or in a group in an artistic performance) or is a member of the staff of such a performing artist or group, who is integral to the artistic performance if:
• The foreign national is part of a foreign production or group, or is a guest artist in a Canadian production or group, performing a time-limited engagement and,
• The foreign national is not in an employment relationship with the organisation or business in Canada that has contracted the foreign national for any services
• It is worth noting that this is not applicable for a performance that is primarily for a film production or a television or radio broadcast
• Is a participant in sports activities or events in Canada, either as an individual participant or as a member of a foreign-based team or a Canadian amateur team
• Is an employee of a foreign news company for the purpose of reporting on events in Canada
• Is a guest speaker for the sole purpose of making a speech or delivering a paper at a dinner, graduation, convention or any other similar function
• This is also applicable if the foreign national is a commercial speaker or a seminar leader delivering a seminar that lasts no longer than five days
• Is a member of the executive or a committee that is organising a convention or a meeting in Canada
• This is also applicable if the foreign national is a member of the administrative support staff of such a committee
• Is a person who is responsible for assisting a congregation or group in the achievement of its spiritual goals and whose main duties comprise preaching doctrine, performing functions related to the gatherings of the congregation or group or to provide spiritual counselling
• Is a judge, referee or a similar official at an international amateur sports competition, an international cultural or artistic event or competition or an animal or agricultural competition
• Is an examiner or an evaluator of research proposals or university projects, programs or theses
• Is an expert who conducts surveys or analyses that people use as evidence before a federal or provincial regulatory body, a tribunal or a court of law or as an expert witness before such a body, tribunal or a court of law
• Is a student in a health-related field for the primary purpose of acquiring training, especially if the foreign national has written approval from the body that regulates that specific field
• This is also applicable if the foreign national is a medical elective or a clinical clerk at a medical teaching institution in Canada
• Is a civil aviation inspector of a national aeronautical authority conducting inspections of the flight operation procedures or cabin safety of a commercial air carrier operating international flights
• Is an accredited representative or adviser participating in an aviation accident or incident investigation conducted under the Canadian Transportation Accident Investigation and Safety Board Act
• Is a member of a crew, employed by a foreign company aboard a means of transportation that:
• Is foreign owned and not registered in Canada and,
• Is engaged primarily in international transportation
• Is a provider of emergency services, including medical services, for the protection or preservation of life or property
• Has remained in Canada after the expiry of their work permit and has continued to comply with the conditions specified in the expired work permit (other than the expiry date) and is awaiting a decision from the authorities on an application made by them under the provisions specified  under subsection 201 (1)
• Is a holder of a study permit and,
• Is a full-time student enrolled at a designated learning institution as defined in section 211.1
• Is enrolled in a program that is a post-secondary academic, vocational or professional training program, or a vocational training program at the secondary level offered in Quebec, in each case for a duration of six months or more, the completion of which would provide the individual with a degree, a diploma or a certificate and,
• Works no more than 20 hours per week during a regular academic session, even if the individual has the permission to engage in full-time work during a regularly scheduled break between academic sessions or,
• Is the holder of a study permit who has completed the program of study and,
• Has met the following requirements:
• Is a holder of a study permit and,
• Is a full-time student enrolled at a designated learning institution as defined in section 211.1
• Is enrolled in a program that is a post-secondary academic, vocational or professional training program, or a vocational training program at the secondary level offered in Quebec, in each case for a duration of six months or more, the completion of which would provide the individual with a degree, a diploma or a certificate and,
• Works no more than 20 hours per week during a regular academic session, even if the individual has the permission to engage in full-time work during a regularly scheduled break between academic sessions and,
• Has applied for a work permit prior to the expiry of that study permit and the authorities have not yet taken a decision in respect of the foreign national’s application

Source: Citizenship and Immigration