TEMPORARY WORKER APPLICATIONS

MEDIA CREWS

NEWS REPORTERS:

Under subsection R186(i) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA), news reporters and their crews coming to Canada for the purpose of reporting on events in Canada do not require work permits. Journalists working for print, broadcast or internet news service providers (journals, newspapers, magazines, TV shows, etc.) are eligible, provided the company is not Canadian. Employees of a foreign news company who are resident correspondents are included, (Managerial and clerical personnel are NOT included and must apply for work permits).

MEDIA CREWS PRODUCING TRAVELOGUES AND TOURISM PROMOTIONAL MATERIAL:

Foreign media crews entering Canada to produce travelogues and tourism promotional material may be exempt from the requirement to obtain a work permit. These crews (including print, video, film and broadcast journalists, as well as technicians such as camera operators) may enter Canada under R186(a) Business Visitor provided that the following conditions are met:  

1)  the employer of the media crew is a foreign media entity (not Canadian),

2)  there is a significant international component to the work, (e.g. the program will be broadcast/viewed principally in the domestic or other international markets primarily outside Canada), and

3)  the principal source of remuneration for the worker and the source of the company's revenues are from non-Canadian sources.

Foreign media crews who meet these criteria and do not require temporary resident visas, may travel to Canada without applying to the Canadian High Commission for a work permit. They should provide evidence that they meet the above criteria to officials at Canadian port of entry and state that they wish to enter Canada as business visitors under R186(a)  

If the conditions outlined above are not met, a work permit will be required. A labour market opinion (LMO) may also be required. You can find more about LMOs and how your prospective employer can apply for them here.

FILM PRODUCERS:

The producer of a documentary or film entirely funded from outside Canada is exempt from the need for a work permit. Therefore, there is no need to present an application or pay the processing fee. Please note that this only applies if the producer is not performing a dual role, i.e. producer/director etc. If that is the case, a work permit would be required.

Please see the document checklist on the forms page (link) for a list of documents you must submit with an application for a work permit.

If you are not sure whether you require a work permit, please complete our questionnaire (link)