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Canada has reversed a recent restriction on reciprocal employment work permits under the C20 LMIA-exempt category. On July 29, 2026 Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) published an update stating that foreign nationals had to be currently employed by the company abroad to qualify for a C20 work permit. The instructions also stated that workers whose employment was set to begin only after arriving in Canada could not be issued a permit under C20.
On August 6, IRCC confirmed that the restrictive wording had been published accidently because of a version-control issue and did not reflect the intended policy. IRCC later corrected its instructions and removed the requirement that workers must be currently employed by the company abroad.
C20 permits are issued through Canada’s International Mobility Program and are exempt from the Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) requirement. They apply where hiring a foreign national in Canada helps create or maintain similar employment opportunities abroad for Canadian citizens or permanent residents. C20 permits are commonly used by multinational corporations, academic institutions, international non-profits and governmental organizations.
Therefore, the July restriction is no longer part of the current C20 instructions. Applicants must still satisfy the applicable C20 requirements and demonstrate genuine reciprocal employment opportunities.
Read to know more: British Columbia Invites Entrepreneurs in Latest Provincial Immigration Draw
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