Comprehensive economic and Trade agreement (CETA)
The Comprehensive Economic and trade Agreement (CETA) facilitates entry to Canada for certain business visitors, investors, intra-company transferees, service providers, and independent professionals.
CETA is a free trade agreement between Canada and the European Union (EU), and its member states.
CETA establishes four situations wherein an EU citizen may be eligible for facilitated access to Canadian work authorization:
- CETA Business Visitors
- CETA Intra-Company Transferees
- CETA Investors
- CETA Contractual Service Suppliers and Independent Professionals
Business Visitors
Business visitors under CETA are eligible for short-term entry to Canada without a work permit or a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). Business visitors are authorized for a maximum of 90 days in any six month period. CETA business visitors may seek multiple entries to Canada for a series of regular visits pertaining to a specific project. Under CETA, there are two categories of business visitors:
- Business visitors for investment purposes:This category refers to employees in managerial or specialist positions who are responsible for setting up an enterprise. Business visitors in this category may not engage in direct transactions with the general public, nor may they receive remuneration from a Canadian source.
- Short-term business visitors:This category refers to business visitors who enter Canada to perform one of the permissible activities listed below. Short-term business visitors cannot engage in selling goods or services to the general public or receive remuneration from a Canadian source.
Intra-company transfers
In order to be eligible for the LMIA-exemption, intra-company transferees must meet the following general criteria:
- Must have been employed by, or partners in, an enterprise located in an EU nation for at least one year
- Must be temporarily transferred to a Canadian enterprise with one of the following relationships to the EU enterprise: subsidiary, parent, branch, or head company.
In addition to the general criteria, intra-company transferees are divided into three categories, each encompassing its own specific requirements:
- Senior Personnel:Equivalent to the “executive capacity” position under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Eligible for a work permit of up to 3 years with a possible extension of a maximum of 18 months.
- Specialists: Equivalent to the “specialized knowledge” positions under NAFTA. Eligible for a work permit of up to three years with a possible extension of a maximum of 18 months.
- Graduate Trainees:Must possess a university degree and be temporarily transferred to an enterprise in Canada for career development or business training. Eligible for a work permit of up to 1 year with no possibility for extension.
Investors
In order to meet the CETA eligibility requirements for investors, an applicant must meet the following criteria:
- Involved with the establishment, development, administration, or operation of an investment in a capacity which is supervisory or executive;
- Must be the investor;
- Must be employed by an enterprise which has committed previously, or is currently committing, a substantial amount of capital in Canada.
Investors will be assessed using the criteria for investors described in the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Investors approved through CETA may be issued LMIA-exempt work permits for a maximum of one year, with possible extensions at the discretion of a visa officer.
Contractual Service Supplies and Independent Professionals
CETA facilitates the entry to Canada of certain service suppliers and independent professionals.
If you need more information about this program, please do not hesitate to get in touch today at info@dhunnaimmigration.ca