Hire a foreign academic – Exemptions
2. Exemptions
Under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA), universities and colleges in Canada can hire certain types of foreign academics without requiring an Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) labour market impact assessment, and/or without the foreign academic requiring a work permit.
Positions exempt from work permits and ESDC Labour Market Impact Assessment
Foreign workers who do not need an Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) work permit or an ESDC labour market impact assessment include:
- Academic consultants and examiners
- Graduate assistants
- Self-funded researchers
Entry to Canada
These academics can apply as visitors directly at a IRCC visa office or at a Canadian Port of Entry, in the case of citizens of the United States, St. Pierre et Miquelon and Greenland.
Positions exempt from ESDC Labour Market Impact Assessments
Foreign workers who need an IRCC work permit, but do not require an ESDC labour market impact assessment include:
- Post-doctoral fellows
- Research award recipients
- Eminent individuals, for example leaders in various fields
- Guest lecturers
- Visiting professors
- Citizens of the U.S. and Mexico appointed as professors under the university, college and seminary levels of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)
- Citizens of Chile appointed as professors under the Canada Chile Free Trade Agreement (CCFTA)
Entry to Canada
These academics can apply for a work permit directly at an IRCC visa office or at a Canadian Port of Entry, in the case of citizens of the United States, St. Pierre et Miquelon and Greenland.
Canada Research Chairs (CRC) Program
In 2000, the Government of Canada in cooperation with post-secondary institutions established the CRC program. The program aims to create and provide research funding for 2,000 Chairs positions for Canadian and foreign academics in key academic fields. The intent of the CRC program is to give Canada a competitive edge in attracting, recruiting, and retaining academics who are world leaders in their respective fields of expertise.
Types of Chairs
- Seven-year renewable Chairs for experienced researchers considered world leaders in their fields
- Five-year Chairs, renewed once, for researchers with potential to lead in their fields
Learn more about the Canada Research Chairs Program