You're a dancer, actor, orchestral musician or opera singer or someone in a related job
You may be eligible for an employer-specific work permit(opens in a new tab) if
- your employer is
- a Canadian non-profit performing arts company or organization
- receiving federal funding, and
- showing that reciprocal opportunities exist for Canadians and permanent residents abroad in the same discipline
- you’re a performer or worker in a job related to
- dance
- opera
- orchestral music
- live theatre
If you don’t meet these conditions
To work in Canada as a performing artist, you need to apply for a work permit with a Labour Market Impact Assessment.
You also need to meet the general eligibility requirements(opens in a new tab) for a work permit.
Before you submit your work permit application, your employer must do all of the following:
- submit an offer of employment to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
- pay a $230 employer compliance fee
- provide you with an offer of employment number
Type of work permit
When you complete your work permit application, select “Exemption from Labour Market Impact Assessment” as the type of work permit in the “Details of intended work in Canada” section.
Faster processing
If your job is classified under Training, Education, Experience and Responsibilities (TEER) category 0 or 1 of the National Occupational Classification (NOC) system, you’re eligible for 2-week application processing.