Pathways · IMP streams
Beyond LMIA — work-permit streams that skip the queue.
The International Mobility Program is a set of work-permit categories that bypass the LMIA when specific criteria are met. No labour-market test, no advertising, lower fee. The catch is knowing which stream fits your hire. Upforce screens every candidate against all of them and connects you with our network of licensed immigration partners (RCICs), who handle the IRCC filing on the one that applies.
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$230
Federal employer compliance fee — no LMIA fee
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6–12
Weeks total for most qualifying streams
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0
Weeks of mandatory advertising required
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90
Day replacement guarantee on every placement
What it is
One program, many LMIA-exempt doors.
The International Mobility Program (IMP) is the federal framework for work permits that do not require a Labour Market Impact Assessment. Instead of a labour-market test, each stream has its own eligibility rule — a trade agreement, a company relationship, a clear benefit to Canada — that justifies the exemption.
For employers, the IMP is where speed lives. When a hire qualifies, you skip the mandatory advertising and the $1,000 ESDC fee that an LMIA requires, and the timeline compresses to weeks. The hard part is matching the candidate to the right stream — Upforce does that screening during sourcing, before any filing.
Stream by stream
The IMP streams that matter to Alberta employers.
Each stream below carries its own IRCC exemption code and its own eligibility test. We confirm which one your hire fits before you commit.
- C-16
Mobilité Francophone
For French-speaking workers hired outside Quebec. The most common and predictable exemption — it has its own dedicated pathway.
- T13
CUSMA professional
For eligible US and Mexican professionals under the Canada–US–Mexico Agreement. Often the fastest IMP route when the candidate and occupation qualify.
- T23
Intra-company transfer
Move an existing employee from your overseas office to Canada — executives, managers, and specialized-knowledge staff at a related entity.
- C-10
Significant benefit
A discretionary category for hires that bring a clear social, cultural, or economic benefit to Canada. Narrower and case-specific.
- C-12
Reciprocal employment
For arrangements where Canadians get reciprocal opportunities abroad — including some exchange and youth-mobility frameworks.
- IEC
International Experience Canada
Youth-mobility and working-holiday arrangements with partner countries — open work permits that can fill seasonal and entry roles fast.
When IMP makes sense
Reach for an IMP stream when one of these is true.
If none apply, the LMIA route is usually the answer — and we will tell you so plainly.
Strong IMP signals
- Your candidate is French-speaking (C-16)
- Your candidate is a US or Mexican professional (CUSMA)
- You are relocating an existing overseas employee (intra-company)
- Speed matters and the role fits a clear exemption
What IMP gives you
- No mandatory Canadian advertising
- No $1,000 ESDC labour-market fee
- A $230 employer compliance fee instead
- A timeline measured in weeks, not months
How fast we move
Five steps from your hiring need to candidate arrival.
- 01
Discovery
30-minute call to scope the role and screen for IMP fit
Day 1
- 02
Proposal
Written proposal naming the stream, timeline, and pricing
4 hours
- 03
Sourcing
Partner-office sourcing against the eligible stream
2–4 weeks
- 04
Immigration filing
Handled by our RCIC partner — employer-side and candidate-side
2–6 weeks
- 05
Arrival
Landing, check-in, and on-site ramp-up
1–2 weeks
A note on compliance
We handle recruitment. Our licensed RCIC partners handle the immigration.
Upforce is an Alberta-licensed recruitment agency, not an immigration firm — we do not file immigration applications or give immigration advice. We screen candidates against IMP eligibility, then connect you and your candidate with our network of licensed Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants (RCICs), registered with the Collège des consultants en immigration et en citoyenneté, who handle all the immigration filing and advice — employer-side and candidate-side, including confirming which stream a candidate qualifies for.
Workers never pay Upforce. Required by Alberta law. Our fee is paid by the employer. See our compliance page for the full framework.
IMP FAQ
What employers ask about IMP streams.
- How do I know which IMP stream applies to my hire?
- It depends on the candidate's nationality, the role, and your company structure. A US or Mexican professional may fit CUSMA (T13); an existing employee abroad may fit an intra-company transfer (T23); a French-speaking hire fits Mobilité Francophone (C-16). Upforce screens the candidate against every stream during sourcing and names the right one in the written proposal.
- What is the difference between C-10 and C-16?
- Both are LMIA-exempt codes under the IMP. C-16 (Mobilité Francophone) is specifically for French-speaking workers hired outside Quebec. C-10 ("significant benefit") is a broader, discretionary category for hires that bring a clear social or economic benefit to Canada. C-16 is far more common and more predictable, which is why it has its own dedicated pathway.
- Can an IMP work permit lead to permanent residence?
- Yes. Canadian work experience gained on an IMP permit counts toward Express Entry and provincial nominee programs like the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program. The work-permit-first, PR-second sequence is exactly what our permanent residence pathway covers. PR filings are handled candidate-side by our network of licensed RCIC partners.
- Do IMP streams require advertising like an LMIA?
- No. The whole point of an IMP exemption is that it bypasses the LMIA — so there is no mandatory Canadian advertising and no $1,000 ESDC fee. The employer compliance fee is $230. That is what makes qualifying streams faster and cheaper than the LMIA route.
- How long does an IMP stream take?
- It varies by stream, but most qualifying IMP hires land in 6–12 weeks total — faster than an LMIA because there is no labour-market test. CUSMA professionals can be especially quick. We give you a stream-specific written timeline at proposal.
Not sure if your hire qualifies for an exemption?
Tell us the role and the candidate profile. We reply within 4 business hours with a written proposal naming the exact IMP stream — or telling you plainly that LMIA is the route.