The update clarifies existing routes; it does not create a new program
IRCC’s September 21 program-delivery notice says the instructions were revised for readability and additional clarity. It specifically identifies corrections to pre-arranged-employment information and improved eligibility wording for the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), Canada-United Kingdom Trade Continuity Agreement (CUKTCA) and Canada-Korea Free Trade Agreement (CKFTA).
The notice does not announce a new work-permit stream, expand the listed occupations or remove the need to qualify under the applicable agreement. 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 establish the nationality or status required by the relevant agreement, 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 occur. The Canadian assignment must be pre-arranged and supported by a genuine contract and the required employer filing.
The evidence should clearly identify the contracting parties, services, profession, Canadian work location, position, payment terms and duration. It should also document the applicant’s education, relevant experience and professional authorization, together with the Employer Portal offer where required. A business relationship or job title alone does not prove eligibility.
CETA and CUKTCA distinguish suppliers from independent professionals
Under the current CETA instructions, a contractual service supplier must be an EU citizen employed by an EU-headquartered enterprise with no Canadian establishment, normally with at least one year of prior employment and three years of professional experience in the relevant sector. An independent professional must be established as self-employed outside Canada, contract directly with the Canadian service consumer and normally have at least six years of relevant professional experience. The current exemption codes are T47 for contractual suppliers and T43 for independent professionals.
The CUKTCA instructions use a similar distinction for UK citizens. The contractual-supplier code is F66 and the independent-professional code is F60. Under both CETA and CUKTCA, the published maximum for these categories is generally 12 months within a 24-month period, including cumulative use across qualifying assignments.
CKFTA has its own profession and qualification test
For the Canada-Korea agreement, the applicant must be a citizen or permanent resident of South Korea, work in an eligible profession listed for the agreement, hold the required degree or certification, and have pre-arranged professional-level services for a Canadian client. The current category is identified under exemption code F32.
Applicants and Canadian organizations should use the instructions for the agreement that actually applies. Requirements and codes are not interchangeable, and a contract that fits one agreement may not satisfy another.
Practical filing point
Before the worker applies, compare the contract, Employer Portal offer, work location, occupation, duties, remuneration, duration and supporting credentials line by line. Any difference should be resolved or explained rather than left for an officer to infer.
This update is a clarification of program-delivery instructions, not a guarantee of approval. Officers still assess the precise agreement, temporary purpose, admissibility, documents and all other work-permit requirements in the individual case.
This article is not legal advice. Immigration rules and program instructions can change, and the result depends on the facts of each case.