Work permits granted through reciprocal employment under the International Mobility Program (IMP) are now governed by revised officer instructions titled “Reciprocal employment general guidelines [R205(b) – C20] – Canadian interests – International Mobility Program.”
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Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) published these updated guidelines on February 20, 2026.
Clarified Reciprocity Requirements
The revised instructions provide clearer direction on how officers should assess reciprocity. Specifically, officers must now consider whether reciprocal opportunities exist for Canadian citizens or permanent residents in the country from which the foreign worker is coming. This clarification makes two important points:
- Reciprocity applies to permanent residents as well as Canadian citizens.
- The reciprocal opportunity must exist in the worker’s specific country of origin—not merely somewhere abroad.
The previous guidance used broader wording, stating only that reciprocity existed “when Canadians have similar reciprocal opportunities abroad.”
Officers are also now instructed to assess whether a job offer helps create or maintain reciprocal employment. This clarification confirms that maintaining existing positions abroad can satisfy reciprocity requirements for new foreign worker applications.
New GCMS Documentation Requirements
The revised instructions introduce a new section on entering notes into the Global Case Management System (GCMS). Applicants and employers should ensure:
- The destination province matches the employment address in the job offer.
- The destination city matches the employment address in the job offer.
- The correct NOC code is listed in the offer of employment.
In addition, officers are reminded that for foreign nationals exempt from travel document requirements (such as U.S. citizens), work permits should be issued for the full duration of the job offer—even if the applicant’s passport expires earlier.
No Formal Agreement Required
Formal reciprocal agreements are not required for this type of work permit.
Canadian employers—including educational institutions—may hire foreign workers under this category if they can demonstrate reciprocal opportunities and the worker meets general admissibility requirements.
Program Scope
The updated instructions do not apply to work permits issued under the International Experience Canada (IEC) program. However, they do apply to permits issued under cultural agreements with Belgium, Brazil, Germany, Italy, Japan, Mexico, France, and China.
Organizational History and Reciprocity
As under the previous guidance, officers are advised to exercise caution when dealing with organizations that have limited history of reciprocity, initially issuing fewer work permits. Organizations with an established track record of reciprocal exchanges over several years may be granted:
- A higher number of work permits, and
- Greater flexibility in assessing reciprocity (for example, over a five-year period).
Refusals and LMIA Option
If an application is refused, officers may suggest that the employer obtain a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) and submit a new work permit application under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP).
The prior version of this guidance was titled “International Mobility Program (IMP): Canadian interests – Reciprocal employment general guidelines R205(b), C20.”
