Canada has introduced stricter eligibility requirements for foreign nationals seeking reciprocal employment work permits under the C20 exemption, restricting access for workers who are not already employed by an overseas company.
As reported by the Economic Times on Sunday, the updated guidelines issued by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada on July 29, 2026, state that applicants must have an existing employment relationship with a foreign company before they can qualify for a C20 work permit.
Under the revised rules, foreign workers whose employment is expected to begin only after arriving in Canada will no longer qualify under the exemption.
The new IRCC guidance states: “A foreign national must be currently employed by the company abroad” to qualify for a reciprocal employment work permit.
IRCC explained that the C20 exemption is intended to support the exchange of knowledge, skills, and experience between foreign workers and Canadian employers.
The agency said workers
This post was originally published on this site.
