The update clarifies existing routes; it does not create a new program
IRCC's September 21, 2026 program delivery notice says the instructions were revised to be easier to read and to add clarity. It identifies two changes: a correction to the pre-arranged employment section, and improved wording of the eligibility criteria. The notice covers three sets of instructions under R204(a), one for each of the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), the Canada-United Kingdom Trade Continuity Agreement (CUKTCA) and the Canada-Korea Free Trade Agreement (CKFTA).
The notice does not announce a new work permit stream or remove the need to qualify under the agreement that applies. These are employer-specific, LMIA-exempt International Mobility Program routes for defined temporary service assignments.
The contract and the professional's status must match the agreement
Applicants must show the nationality or status that the agreement requires, a qualifying service or profession, the required education or professional credentials, and any licence or certification needed in the province or territory where the work will be done. The Canadian assignment must be pre-arranged with a Canadian client, and the employer submits an offer of employment through the IRCC Employer Portal.
The evidence should clearly identify the parties, the services, the profession, the work location, the position, the payment terms and the duration, and it should match the Employer Portal offer. A business relationship or a job title alone does not prove eligibility.
CETA and CUKTCA distinguish suppliers from independent professionals
| Agreement | Contractual service supplier | Independent professional |
|---|---|---|
| CETA (EU citizens) | Exemption code T47. Employed by an EU-headquartered enterprise with no establishment in Canada, for at least one year immediately before applying, with at least three years of professional experience in the sector. | Exemption code T43. Self-employed in an EU member state with no Canadian establishment, with a direct contract with a Canadian service consumer and at least six years of professional experience in the sector. |
| CUKTCA (UK citizens) | Exemption code F66. UK-headquartered employer, at least one year of employment with it immediately before applying, and at least three years of professional experience in the sector. | Exemption code F60. Self-employed sole proprietor in the UK, with at least six years of professional experience in the sector. |
Under both CETA and CUKTCA, the applicant must also hold a university degree or equivalent qualification, and any professional qualification or licence needed in the province or territory. Under both agreements, the limit is a cumulative period of no more than 12 months in any 24-month period, or the length of the contract if shorter.
CKFTA has its own rules
The Canada-Korea agreement has its own profession list, qualification test and exemption code. The requirements and codes are not interchangeable between agreements, and a contract that fits one agreement may not satisfy another. Applicants and Canadian organizations should use the instructions for the agreement that applies.
Practical filing point
Before the worker applies, compare the contract, the Employer Portal offer, the work location, the occupation, the duties, the pay, the duration and the supporting credentials line by line. Resolve or explain any difference rather than leaving an officer to infer it.
This update clarifies program delivery instructions. It does not guarantee approval. Officers still assess the specific agreement, the temporary purpose, admissibility, the documents and all other work permit requirements in each case.
Official sources
- IRCC: September 21 update, contractual service suppliers and independent professionals
- IRCC: CETA, contractual service suppliers and independent professionals
- IRCC: CUKTCA, contractual service suppliers and independent professionals
- IRCC: CKFTA, contractual service suppliers and independent professionals