The Canada Intra–Company Transferee (ICT) immigration program is designed for employees of foreign companies that have a branch in Canada. This policy allows international companies to expand their business operations in Canada and transfer qualified employees to work there. If you want to learn more about what the Intra policy is, let Phan Immigration guide you through the following details.
What is the Canada Intra–Company Transferee (ICT) Immigration Program?
ICT (Intra–Company Transferee) is an excellent option for business owners who want to expand their operations into Canada. This is a Federal immigration program that allows entrepreneurs to establish a subsidiary or branch in Canada. Applicants receive a one-year Work Permit, which can be renewed multiple times (up to 7 years) if the company maintains good operations and a strong connection with its Canadian branch.
The ICT program enables multinational companies to transfer highly skilled employees, individuals with specialized knowledge, or senior executives to easily expand and manage their Canadian branch. The main purpose of the Intra-Company Transferee program is to promote international investment and help foreign companies operate effectively in Canada.
Advantages of the ICT program:
- No requirement for a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA).
- Faster application processing compared to other programs—only about 3–4 months from submission to receiving the Work Permit.
- Spouses and children of the applicant can accompany them to Canada.
- No minimum investment requirement.
- No need to prove personal assets.
- Applicants are not required to reside permanently in Canada.
- Opportunity to transition to Permanent Residency (PR) through Federal or Provincial programs.
In addition to the ICT pathway, you may also consider the Canada Start-up Visa immigration program if you own an innovative business project and want to both expand your business and obtain Permanent Residency (PR).
Advantages of the Canada Intra–Company Transferee (ICT) immigration program
The ICT program not only supports businesses in expanding their markets but also offers significant benefits for investors and employees who choose Canada as their immigration destination:
- No requirement for a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA).
- Applications are processed faster compared to other programs — usually within 3–4 months to obtain a Work Permit.
- Spouses and children of the transferee can also accompany them to Canada.
- No minimum investment required.
- No need to prove personal assets.
- Applicants are not obligated to permanently reside or work in Canada.
- Possibility to apply for Permanent Residency (PR) through Federal or Provincial programs.
Eligibility requirements for the ICT program
Unlike Canada’s investment immigration programs, the Intra–Company Transferee (ICT) immigration program outlines participation conditions for three groups: the parent company in Vietnam, the Canadian entity, and the investor or business representative. The details are as follows:
Requirements for the parent company in Vietnam
The parent company in Vietnam must meet the following criteria for employees to qualify under the ICT program:
- Must be legally operating in Vietnam, fully licensed, and compliant with tax obligations.
- Must have been established for at least one year; the longer the operating history, the stronger the application.
- Must maintain a clear corporate relationship with the subsidiary or branch in Canada.
- Must demonstrate sufficient financial capacity to support business operations in Canada.
Criteria for the Canadian entity
The subsidiary or branch in Canada must fulfill at least the following requirements:
- Be a branch, subsidiary, or affiliated company with a clear corporate relationship to the parent company in Vietnam.
- Have a clear business development strategy for operating in Canada.
- Be a legally registered and operating business in Canada.
- Provide justification for the necessity of transferring the employee.
- Employ at least 1 staff member.
- Have at least 100,000 CAD (~1,788,775,000 VND) to manage and sustain the Canadian operations.
In addition to ICT, entrepreneurs may also consider the CPTPP – T50 business immigration pathway, which leverages the trade advantages of the CPTPP agreement while expanding business opportunities in Canada.
Requirements for investors or business representatives
For investors or business representatives being transferred to a branch in Canada, the following criteria must be met:
- Must have at least a high school diploma.
- Must be in good health.
- Must have no criminal record.
- Must have served as a senior manager, executive, or an equivalent position for at least one year at the parent company in Vietnam within the last three years.
- Must assume an equivalent position at the subsidiary or branch in Canada.
The steps for application review under the Intra-Company Transferee (ICT) program
To apply for permanent residence through the Intra-Company Transferee stream, applicants must go through the following 6 steps:
Step 1: Initial file assessment and review
This step determines whether the company and the employees to be transferred meet the requirements of the ICT program. Both the business owner and employees must provide documents and evidence proving their eligibility for the ICT Visa.
Step 2: Establishing a subsidiary or branch in Canada
Before applying for an ICT work permit, the business must complete the establishment of a branch or subsidiary in Canada. This proves to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) that you already have a legitimate business entity in Canada to receive and employ foreign workers.
This process includes the following main tasks:
- Business registration: Complete all legal procedures to register the company under federal or provincial regulations.
- Office setup: Rent or purchase a physical office in Canada. Virtual offices are usually not accepted.
- Opening a bank account: Open a dedicated corporate bank account in Canada to demonstrate financial capacity and support business operations.
- Business plan preparation: Draft a detailed and realistic business plan that clearly outlines development strategy, products/services, and the necessity of personnel transfer.
Step 3: Submit the Work Permit application
After establishing a subsidiary or branch, the applicant must submit an ICT Work Permit application with a one-year validity to IRCC in order to manage the business in Canada. The application must include supporting documents such as:
- The relationship between the parent company and the subsidiary/branch.
- The applicant’s work experience.
- The position to be held in Canada.
- Salary and working conditions.
Additionally, the applicant may also apply for work or study permits for their spouse and children.
Step 4: Operate the business in Canada
The applicant must go to the business location in Canada to manage operations in accordance with the approved business plan. After 12 months, the applicant may extend the Work Permit if the following criteria are met:
- The business is still operating in the home country.
- The business has a representative office in Canada (virtual offices are not accepted).
- The Canadian branch employs at least one Canadian citizen or permanent resident.
After successfully operating the branch, you can apply for PR through ICT or other Canadian investment programs such as the Entrepreneur PNP, thereby diversifying your permanent residency opportunities.
Step 5: Submit the permanent residency (PR) application
After a period of working in Canada, the applicant may submit an application for permanent residency through suitable immigration programs. In addition to the applicant’s documents for PR, the business branch in Canada must meet the following criteria:
- Still in active operation, offering specific products or services and having customers.
- Possess all valid licenses and permits required for business.
- Have a physical office in Canada.
- Employ at least one Canadian citizen or permanent resident.
Step 6: Apply for Canadian citizenship
After becoming a permanent resident and having lived and worked at the Canadian branch for a certain period, the applicant can apply for citizenship. The applicant may obtain citizenship if they meet the following criteria:
- Hold permanent resident status.
- Have lived in Canada for at least 1,095 days within the last 5 years.
- Have filed personal income taxes in at least 3 of the last 5 years.
- Have basic English or French proficiency.
- Pass the citizenship test.
The above provides an overview of the Canada Intra-Company Transferee (ICT) immigration program. Although this policy supports employees of foreign companies, it comes with strict requirements and a complex process. If you need guidance on the procedures and documentation for applying for an ICT Visa, please contact Phan Immigration for detailed consultation.
In addition, at Phan Immigration, we also provide support for other attractive Canadian immigration programs tailored to your specific needs.
