x
(403) 452-9515
Ackah Business Immigration Law – Personal and Corporate Immigration
Contact us

Contact Information

1 (403) 452-9515

1 (800) 932-1190

Book a Consultation

More Options...

CETA: Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement

Canada and EU Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement - CETA

On September 21, 2017, the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) came into effect between Canada and the European Union (EU). The free trade agreement between Canada and EU member states eliminates many of the tariffs between the two members and brings with it increased opportunities for businesses and professionals to engage in business. While CETA came into effect on September 21, 2017, many of the EU member states are yet to ratify the agreement in their countries.

CETA is meant to facilitate entry for business professionals who are citizens of Canada and EU member states by removing the requirement for a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) to be obtained before the person can legally work in Canada. New LMIA exemption codes have been created to apply to business visitors from EU member states. These exemptions will be granted under the International Mobility Program (IMP).

Applications can be processed at a Canadian port-of-entry or be applied from within Canada if they meet the requirements set out in section 199 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations.

Business Visitors

For short-term business visitors, the maximum length of stay for investment purposes is 90 days in any six-month period, unless otherwise eligible for longer durations.

All CETA business visitors may seek entry to Canada for a number of regular visits related to a specific project. These visits may take place over a period of weeks or months. Consideration is given pursuant a Visitor Record to facilitate entry and to reduce requests for additional information.

The list of eligible activities for business visitors is different under CETA than it is under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). They include the activities listed below:

  • Meetings and consultations
  • Research and design
  • Marketing research
  • Training and seminars
  • Trade fairs and exhibitions
  • Sales
  • Purchasing
  • After-sales or after-lease service
  • Commercial transactions
  • Tourism personnel
  • Translation and interpretation

Restrictions on Business Visitor Eligibility under CETA

Short-term business visitors cannot:

  • Engage in selling a good or service to the general public
  • Receive remuneration directly or indirectly from a source in Canada
  • Be engaged in the supply of a service, except as provided in Annex 10-D

Intra-Company Transfers

CETA sets conditions whereby people may be transferred to work in Canada within the same affiliated Canada company. The provisions in CETA for Intra-Company transfers remain largely similar to the existing Intra-Company transfer program, however, CETA adds graduate trainees to the list of excepted roles.

Under CETA, all intra-company transferees must:

  • Have been employed by an enterprise of, or have been partners in an enterprise of, an EU member state for at least one year; and
  • Be temporarily transferred to an enterprise (that may be a subsidiary, branch or head company of the enterprise) in Canada.

Graduate trainee applicants must also:

  • Possess a university degree; and
  • Be temporarily transferred to an enterprise in Canada for career development purposes or to obtain training in business techniques or methods

Investors

CETA provides provisions that allow eligible investors to stay in Canada for up to one year, with the possibility of extending their stay at the discretion of an officer.

The investor provisions of CETA apply to applicants who:

  • Will establish, develop or administer the operation of an investment in a capacity that is supervisory or executive;
  • Are the investor; and
  • Are employed by an enterprise that has committed or in the process of committing a substantial amount of capital.

Contractual Service Suppliers and Independent Professionals

Under CETA, applicants in both categories may stay in Canada for a cumulative period of not more than 12 months in any 24-month period or for the duration of the contract, whichever is less:

Applicants in both categories of professionals must be:

  • Citizens of a European Union member state;
  • Engaged in the temporary supply of a service for a period not exceeding 12 months (if longer than 12 months, the commitments in CETA will only apply for the initial 12 months of the contract); and
  • Contracted to provide a service in accordance with the Annex 10-E concordance table.

They must also possess:

  • A university degree or a qualification demonstrating knowledge of an equivalent level; and
  • Professional qualifications if required to practice an activity pursuant to the laws or requirements in the province or territory where the service is supplied.

For more information on CETA please click here.

Canada Extends Policy For Visitors to Get Work Permit With A Valid Job Offer

BOOK YOUR FREE CASE EVALUATIONEffective February 28, 2023 any foreign national who is a visitor in Canada and receives a job offer while in Canada can now apply for and receive ...

Read More

Know Your Rights While Working in Canada Under the International Mobility Program

BOOK YOUR FREE CASE EVALUATIONThe Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) allows an employer to hire foreign workers to fill temporary labour and skill shortages. Immigration, ...

Read More

Calgary, Vancouver and Toronto AGAIN Ranked in the Top 10 Most Liveable Cities In the World

BOOK YOUR FREE CASE EVALUATION Are you recruiting skilled workers to move to Canada? If so, you may want to show them the Economist list of the most liveable cities in the world! The ...

Read More

New Regulations to Protect Temporary Foreign Workers Launch September 26

Book Your Free Case Evaluation New regulations to improve temporary foreign worker protections hired under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) path and the International ...

Read More

Nearshoring and Global Parking: Why US Employers Should Look to Canada

As companies expand their global workforce and try to recover from the pandemic economy, getting visa approvals has become increasingly difficult and frustrating. The immigration ...

Read More

Canadian Citizenship Through Marriage or Homeownership?

Canada immigration lawyer Evelyn Ackah spoke to Financial Advisor Gerry Scott of Snowbirds Wealth Management about the Canada Spousal Open Work Permit, and whether citizenship ...

Read More

Featured Resource

Sign Up For Our Newsletter

Thank you for your interest in receiving our Monthly Immigration Newsletter. Please take a moment to complete the form below to confirm your registration. Next Steps ...

View Resource

Boyden is a global search firm with 75 offices in major markets around the world. When we need to bring an international executive to Canada we trust Evelyn and her team. They are our preferred provider and I trust them to get the job done. I would recommend Evelyn and her team to any organization that is looking to recruit international executives.

Morgan Campbell
Managing Partner, Boyden Canada

View All Testimonials