Canada is an attractive choice for American citizens looking for work abroad, offering an active job market consisting of healthcare, tourism, public service, technology and manufacturing sectors.
Some Americans may be eligible to work in Canada without needing a work permit, depending on their occupation and situation. Examples include intra-company transferees, professionals under USMCA agreements and working holiday travelers.
1. Intra-Company Transfers
One of the more prevalent ways in which an American can work in Canada is as an intra-company transferee, meaning their current company transfers them to another office within Canada for expansion or specific requirements. Companies can get help navigating this process from an experienced immigration professional familiar with Canadian laws and regulations.
Employers that bring employees into Canada on intra-company transfers may not require visas if certain criteria are met, including having a valid job offer from an eligible Canadian employer and meeting skill requirements for the position in question. Furthermore, at least the prevailing wage must be provided according to type of position as determined by Canada's Ministry of Employment and Social Development.
The Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA), commonly known as NAFTA 2.0 or USMCA, has altered some rules pertaining to transfers. CUSMA makes bringing in skilled trade professionals easier by exempting them from having to submit an LMIA. For eligibility reasons, such individuals must have been working continuously for their employer in the U.S. for at least three years and will be coming into Canada to fill a management, executive, or specialized knowledge position that cannot be filled by Canadian citizens or permanent residents.
Family members of intra-company transferees may be eligible to work temporarily in Canada as well, especially if their spouse and/or children hold open work permits or study permits in Canada. After four years as Canadian permanent residents, these family members could even become eligible for permanent residency status.
Montreal boasts an active job market filled with opportunities in healthcare, tourism, government services, technology and manufacturing - perfect for an American looking for new experiences! Take a closer look at all this vibrant Canadian city has to offer if you're in search of an adventure.
2. Traders and Investors
Many traders and investors feel drawn to work abroad for various reasons - perhaps due to limited opportunity in their home country, political climate not aligning with their values, or simply feeling ready for a change. Canada is an attractive option as a place for anyone wanting a fresh start financially: with strong banking systems, robust tech industries and legislated parental leave policies. Plus it boasts friendly people and stunning scenery!
Americans can work legally in Canada without needing a work visa as long as their position or role falls into one of the categories below. These include:
Traders that work within an organization that conducts significant trading between Canada and the US.
An E-2 visa allows traders to be employed by US businesses for up to five years at a time and may be extended indefinitely. Their spouse and children can also obtain employment authorization so the family unit remains together while conducting the business operation in America.
Canadian citizens looking to invest in US businesses through an E-2 visa have several options available to them, whether an existing enterprise or brand-new start-ups. To qualify, investments must be substantial rather than simply passive. Furthermore, businesses must operate as businesses rather than being holding companies or property management firms.
When applying for a temporary worker visa in Canada, traders or investors must first submit a Labour Market Impact Assessment. Some assessments can be expedited quickly for foreign workers in skilled trades or those earning among the top 10% of Canadian wages; these fast-track programs offer American expatriates more predictable and less risky routes into Canadian employment than the traditional application process.
3. Young Professionals
Young professionals in Canada will find plenty of employment opportunities. Montreal boasts a bustling job market filled with electronics, pharmaceuticals, software engineering, aerospace tourism and manufacturing jobs; Ottawa serves as Canada's political center and offers numerous professions suited to young professionals; both cities boast friendly locals known for being polite and personable and offering their residents quality of life amenities.
Young professionals are turning north because their career prospects appear more favorable. Instead of simply punching timecards, these young professionals seek meaningful work with flexible schedules that allow for family and social activities. Their goal is to see their contributions contributing to the success of their employer and they see this work as being part of an overarching goal that contributes to its success.
Many young professionals are taking part in International Experience Canada (IEC) programs, which grant work permits for an extended period. One such IEC program, the Young Professionals program, allows people from over 20 different nations to reside and work in Canada for up to two years - providing practical experience while learning more about this country.
Work permit programs in Canada are highly competitive and utilize a point system to rank applicants. Applicants with top scores can apply for permanent residency status; otherwise they could opt to join one of several Federal Skilled Worker Programs that could eventually lead them down the path toward citizenship after four years.
Most work permit programs require applicants to possess specific skill sets in order to qualify, since the programs aim to fill specialized employment gaps that Canadian workers cannot fill. Employers must demonstrate they attempted to hire Canadian workers first before hiring foreign workers - thus justifying why immigration advisors can help your company with applications and prepare it accordingly.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) administers some of these programs while others, like Young Professionals program and International Co-Op Program are run by provincial governments or organizations. To make sure you're on the right path when it comes to applying for these programs, have an immigration consultant analyze your eligibility before beginning application procedures.
4. Business Visitors
Americans can work in Canada without needing a work visa from Canada in certain situations, often known as business visitors or foreign nationals engaging in business activities there without entering into Canada's labour market or, alternatively, working for any Canadian employers.
American employees working for Canadian airlines as cabin safety inspectors to monitor international flights entering or leaving Canada may qualify for this exemption, while foreign individuals traveling to Canada in connection with contracts to provide after-sales support services as part of a sales or lease agreement are also exempt.
Under the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA), previously North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), and Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), US citizens employed by foreign parent companies that operate in Canada do not need a work permit for employment purposes. This exemption applies whether their parent company operates branches, subsidiaries, or affiliates there.
CUSMA also allows US citizens working in certain highly skilled professions targeted by Canada's Labour Market Impact Assessment program to obtain work permits under CUSMA. Employers seeking approval to hire foreign workers must submit an LMIA application, with either positive or neutral results for approval before being granted permission to employ such workers in Canada and work as skilled professionals.
One way Americans can work in Canada without needing a visa is if they enroll in the Working Holidays program as part of International Experience Canada (IEC), which allows young people to work, study, and travel around Canada for up to 12 months without incurring visa costs. The Working Holidays program is open to US citizens enrolled full-time postsecondary studies or who have finished their final year of studies and meet certain other criteria.