Expanding Scope: Intra-Company Transfers to Canada
Intra-Company Transfers (ICT) is a Canadian immigration program that allows multinational corporations to transfer key personnel from their foreign operations to their Canadian operations. The ICT program is aimed at facilitating the transfer of foreign workers with specialized knowledge, managerial, or executive experience to Canada.
Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) manages the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP), under which the ICT program falls. The TFWP is designed to help Canadian employers fill gaps in their workforce by hiring foreign workers temporarily. The ICT program is specifically for companies that want to transfer foreign workers to Canada for a limited period to work for their Canadian branch, subsidiary, or affiliate.
Who is eligible for the ICT program?
The ICT program is designed for multinational companies that have a Canadian branch, subsidiary, or affiliate. To qualify for the program, the company must be doing business in Canada, and the foreign worker must have been employed with the company outside of Canada for a minimum of six months. The program is available to managers, executives, and specialized knowledge workers.
Managers are defined as individuals who manage a part of the organization, manage other managers or manage a function. Executives are defined as individuals who direct the management of the organization or a major component or function of the organization. Specialized knowledge workers are defined as individuals who have specialized knowledge of the company’s products, services, research, equipment, techniques or management.
What are the requirements for the ICT program?
The ICT program has several requirements that must be met before a foreign worker can be transferred to Canada. The requirements include:
- A valid job offer: The Canadian branch, subsidiary, or affiliate of the multinational corporation must offer the foreign worker a job in Canada.
- Proof of employment: The foreign worker must have been employed with the company outside of Canada for at least six months.
- The employer must provide a transfer plan: The Canadian branch, subsidiary, or affiliate of the multinational corporation must provide a transfer plan that details the work that the foreign worker will do in Canada and how the company will benefit from the transfer.
- Language proficiency: As of January 2022, all foreign workers who come to Canada under the ICT program will be required to demonstrate a minimum proficiency in English or French.
What are the benefits of the ICT program?
The ICT program provides several benefits to both multinational corporations and Canadian businesses. These benefits include:
- Access to specialized knowledge: The ICT program allows Canadian businesses to access specialized knowledge and experience that may not be available in Canada.
- Increased competitiveness:The transfer of key personnel can help Canadian businesses compete globally by improving their operations and providing access to new markets.
- Improved collaboration: The ICT program can promote collaboration and the sharing of best practices between the Canadian branch, subsidiary, or affiliate and the foreign operations of the multinational corporation.
- Increased investment: The transfer of key personnel can lead to increased investment in Canada by multinational corporations.
Intra-Company Transfers (ICT) is a Canadian immigration program that allows companies to transfer their foreign employees to Canada. This program is aimed at facilitating the transfer of key personnel within multinational corporations from their foreign operations to their Canadian operations. The ICT program is governed by the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP), which is managed by Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC).