IMP T37 Work Permit: CUSMA Executive Intra-Company Transferees

The IMP T37 Work Permit allows American and Mexican citizens to transfer to a Canadian branch of their current employer. Specifically, this code applies strictly to executives and senior managers. This LMIA-exempt work permit simplifies the immigration process for multinational companies. It operates under the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA). As a result, businesses can efficiently move key leadership staff to Canada without a Labour Market Impact Assessment.

Eligibility requirements for IMP T37 Work Permit

To qualify for the IMP T37 Work Permit, you must meet strict rules. You must be a citizen of the United States or Mexico. Also, you must currently work as an executive or senior manager. You must be transferring to a Canadian enterprise. This enterprise must have a qualifying corporate relationship with your foreign employer. For example, it can be a parent company, a subsidiary, a branch, or an affiliate. Finally, you must have worked continuously for the foreign company. This employment must be in a similar full-time role outside Canada for at least one year within the last three years.

Additionally, you have options for where you apply. U.S. and Mexican citizens are exempt from the requirement for temporary resident visas. Therefore, you may apply directly at a Canadian port of entry. You may also apply from within Canada if you already hold a valid temporary resident status.

To prove your eligibility, you and your employer must prepare practical documents:

• Proof of citizenship: A valid U.S. or Mexican passport.
• Proof of current employment: Evidence that you currently work for the foreign enterprise.
• Proof of experience: Evidence of one year of continuous, full-time employment abroad in the last three years.
• Corporate relationship proof: Evidence that the business operates actively in both Canada and the U.S. or Mexico.
• Employer Portal submission: An offer of employment submitted through the IRCC Employer Portal.
• Letter of introduction: A detailed letter from your employer outlining your role.

Your employer’s letter of introduction must provide deep details. It must state your current executive position, title, and exact place in the organization. It must also include your detailed job description. Furthermore, it must outline your proposed position in Canada with the same level of detail. Lastly, the letter must clearly describe the exact relationship between the foreign enterprise and the Canadian branch.

Assessment Criteria

When reviewing your application, immigration officers carefully assess your role and the company. They want to ensure your job offer is completely genuine. They also verify that the Canadian business actually needs a senior executive.

In practice, officers review your job duties against the National Occupational Classification (NOC). Your role must clearly align with TEER 0 or 1. Officers will check if you actually direct the company or a major department. You must exercise strong discretion over the daily operations of your department. In short, officers look for an essential function. This means your role is vital to achieving the enterprise’s broad goals.

However, there are strict exclusions. Lower-level management roles do not qualify for this exemption. Officers will refuse applicants who hold managerial-sounding titles but actually perform lower-level supervisory tasks. Importantly, an executive does not perform the day-to-day tasks of manufacturing a product or directly delivering a service.

Common pitfalls and required evidence include:

• Managerial titles without executive duties: Having a fancy title is not enough. Your daily duties must be truly executive.
• Supervising non-professionals: First-line supervisors do not qualify as senior managers unless they specifically supervise other professionals.
• Company size limits: The Canadian enterprise must be large enough to justify an executive position.
• Professional overlap: For example, an architect who starts a business and hires an assistant is not automatically an executive. They must perform high-level managerial duties rather than purely architectural work.
• Required documents: Prepare detailed job descriptions, organizational charts, and proof of business investment.

Potential Duration of IMP T37 Work Permit

The IMP T37 Work Permit offers a generous timeframe for executives. Initially, officers can issue this work permit for up to 3 years. After that, two-year renewals are allowable.

However, your total cumulative period of stay cannot exceed seven years. Once you reach this absolute limit, you must complete one full year of employment outside Canada before reapplying. Interestingly, you can switch between intra-company transferee categories without leaving Canada. However, your time spent in Canada remains cumulative. If you work in Canada for three years under a different category, that time counts against your maximum seven-year limit as an executive.

There is a strict exception for establishing new businesses. If you are transferring to establish a new branch or affiliate, the rules change. The initial permit is limited to a maximum of one year. Also, any subsequent renewal for a start-up branch is strictly limited to 6 months.

What about family members of the main applicant

The specific operational instructions for the IMP T37 Work Permit do not outline direct benefits for family members. The policy focuses entirely on the primary executive applicant.

As a result, spouses and dependents do not automatically receive status through this specific CUSMA code. Instead, they must apply for their own temporary resident status. Depending on broader Canadian immigration rules, a spouse might qualify for an open work permit. Similarly, children might qualify for visitor records or study permits. You must submit separate applications for these family members based on general eligibility criteria.

Check Your Eligibility Instantly

Knowing your options is the first step toward your move. We have designed a self-assessment tool to simplify the complex International Mobility Program. You simply answer a few questions about your background and job offer. The AI then determines if you meet the criteria for an LMIA-Exempt Permit.

Book a consultation session

Navigating CUSMA work permits requires careful planning. Eligibility strictly depends on your specific facts and documents. Do not risk a refusal over a simple mistake. Book a consultation session with Al Parsai. He is a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant with more than 15 years of experience. He will review your case and guide your next steps.

Book your session here: https://www.settler.ca/book/

Bring to your consult:

• Your current detailed resume.
• A comprehensive job description for your proposed Canadian role.
• Organizational charts for both the foreign and Canadian companies.
• Information about the corporate relationship between the businesses.
• Any past immigration refusals or applications.

Dates

• Article written: 2026/03/20
• IRCC PDI last updated: 2025-01-03

Sources

• https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/corporate/publications-manuals/operational-bulletins-manuals/temporary-residents/foreign-workers/international-free-trade-agreements/cusma/intra-company-transferees.html