# ICT Visa

Source: https://www.savoryandpartners.com/programs/business-migration/canada/ict · Updated: 2026-09-17

Obtain Canada ICT Visa. Contact Savory & Partners' expert consultants now to learn more about the Canada ICT Visa.

## Canada ICT Visa Requirements

Canada’s Intra-Company Transferee (ICT) route operates under the International Mobility Program and allows qualifying multinational enterprises to transfer eligible executives, senior managers or specialised-knowledge employees to a related Canadian entity without a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). The route provides an employer-specific temporary work permit; permanent residence requires separate eligibility under a Canadian immigration program.

## Main Applicant Requirements

- Be employed by a qualifying foreign enterprise
- Transfer to a related Canadian parent, subsidiary, branch or affiliate
- Hold an executive, senior managerial or specialised-knowledge position
- Have a qualifying employer-specific offer of employment from the Canadian entity
- Meet Canada’s general work-permit and admissibility requirements

## Accompanying Family

- Spouse or common-law partner
- Dependent children, subject to IRCC definitions and individual immigration requirements

## Canada ICT Visa Benefits

## Potential Pathway to Permanent Residence

Canadian work experience may support eligibility for a separate permanent residence pathway, provided the applicant meets that program’s requirements. ICT status does not automatically convert to permanent residence.

## Health & Education

Provincial or territorial healthcare coverage and schooling rules vary. Accompanying family members may qualify subject to local eligibility and their immigration status.

## Include Your Family

You can add dependents including spouse or partner and children younger than 22.

## Transfer Key Employees

Eligible executives, senior managers and specialised-knowledge employees may be transferred from a qualifying foreign enterprise to its related Canadian operation.

## Business Opportunities

Establish or expand qualifying business operations in Canada through the related Canadian entity.

## Investment Options:

There is no prescribed minimum investment or net-worth threshold for the ICT work permit. The Canadian operation and proposed employment must satisfy the applicable ICT and work-permit requirements.

| Item | Amount |
| --- | --- |
| Minimum Investment | No prescribed minimum |

## Additional Fees

| Item | Amount |
| --- | --- |
| Work permit processing fee | C$155 |
| Employer Compliance Fee | C$230 |
| Biometrics Fee | C$85 per person; maximum C$170 per family applying together |
| Spouse Open Work Permit Fee | C$255 total, if eligible (C$155 work permit fee + C$100 open work permit holder fee) |

## Application Process For Canada ICT Visa

ICT work-permit processing times vary by country, application circumstances and IRCC processing volumes. Eligible high-skilled LMIA-exempt applicants may qualify for priority processing under the Global Skills Strategy, but processing targets are not guaranteed.

1. Assess the applicant, foreign company, Canadian entity and qualifying corporate relationship for ICT eligibility.
2. The Canadian employer submits the LMIA-exempt offer of employment through the Employer Portal and pays the employer compliance fee where applicable.
3. Prepare evidence of the corporate relationship, the applicant’s foreign employment, proposed Canadian role and supporting business documentation.
4. Submit the employer-specific ICT work-permit application to IRCC with the applicable fees and supporting documents.
5. Complete biometrics, a medical examination or additional document requests if required while IRCC assesses the application.
6. If an outside-Canada application is approved, IRCC issues a port-of-entry letter of introduction. The work permit is issued on entry once the border officer confirms eligibility and admissibility.

## Application Process

Varies by application

## Visa-free Countries for Canada ICT Visa

Visa-free destinations: 

Canadian ICT residency primarily grants you the right to live and work in Canada.

### Visa-free access

- Canada

## Client Success Stories

### Business Expansion in the UK

**The Challenge**

A Palestinian business owner based in Dubai approached us with a key challenge: He was thriving in the UAE but had big dreams of expanding his business into Europe, starting with the UK. The problem? As a majority shareholder in his company, he didn’t qualify for the sole representative visa—the usual pathway for this kind of situation.

To make matters worse, the sole representative visa program was discontinued just as he came to us in May 2022. Still, our client was determined to make it work, and we knew we had to find a solution.

**Our Solution**

After hearing his story and understanding his goals, we recommended the UK Expansion Worker Visa. This visa is perfect for senior managers or specialists who want to set up a branch of their company in the UK. It wasn’t going to be easy, but we saw his potential and got to work.

**Here’s what we did: **we helped him collect all the right evidence to prove that his business in the UAE was not only thriving but ready to take on the UK market. We showed the authorities past and upcoming projects with UK clients, making it clear that a UK branch wasn’t just a nice idea—it was a necessity.

**The Result**

Thanks to the solid case we built, our client got the visa. Now, he’s setting up his UK branch and taking his business to the next level. But that’s not all. This visa also opens the door for him to apply for indefinite leave to remain (ILR) after five years.

And because he’s eyeing even bigger opportunities across Europe, we’re also helping him acquire a Caribbean passport. With that, he’ll have visa-free access to over 150 countries—making his global expansion dreams a reality.

_Why Choose the UK Expansion Worker Visa?_

The UK Expansion Worker Visa lets you stay in the UK for one of two durations—whichever comes first:

- **12 months** from the start date of the job listed on your certificate of sponsorship, or
- The duration specified on your certificate of sponsorship, **plus an extra 14 days**.

If you need more time, you can extend it for another 12 months, up to a total of two years under this visa.

## Download brochure

- Length: 4 pages
- Language: English & Arabic
- size: 1 mb

**Content**
- Canada Country profile
- Benefits of the program
- Investment requirements
- Investment process

## About ICT Visa

- CAPITAL: Ottawa
- TOTAL AREA: 9,984,670 km²
- POPULATION: 42,512,000
- LANGUAGE(S): English & French
- CURRENCY: Canadian Dollar (CAD)
- EXCHANGE RATE: C$1 = $0.73
- GDP – PER CAPITA (2025): $53,560
- GDP – TOTAL (2025): $2.23 trillion

### About Canada

Canada is known for its stunning natural landscapes, multicultural cities, and high quality of life. It has a stable political environment, a strong economy, and a robust legal framework for business and investment. Canada offers a welcoming environment for immigrants and is renowned for its diversity and inclusive society. The country has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, providing a variety of outdoor recreational opportunities year-round.

Canada experiences four distinct seasons, providing a wide range of recreational activities year-round. From skiing and snowboarding in the winter to hiking, fishing, and camping in the summer, Canada offers a plethora of outdoor activities.

Canada has strong global ties and is a member of several international organisations, including the United Nations, NATO, G7, G20, and the Commonwealth of Nations. Its strategic location and well-developed transportation infrastructure make it a hub for international trade and travel.

Canada's friendly immigration policies, high quality of life, and economic opportunities make it an attractive destination for individuals and families looking to relocate and build a prosperous future.

### Where is Canada?

Canada has a vast geography that occupies much of the continent of North America, sharing a land border with the contiguous United States to the south and the U.S. state of Alaska to the northwest. This North American country stretches from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west; to the north lies the Arctic Ocean.