Immigration · Work permits
LMIA exemption codes, searched.
Most work permits need a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). The International Mobility Program (IMP) is the list of situations that don't — each with its own exemption code, entered on the offer of employment. Search IRCC's complete, current list.
111 exemption codes are tracked here, from trade-agreement professionals (T36, CUSMA) to intra-company transfers (C62), spousal open work permits (C41) and the post-graduation work permit (C43).
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How LMIA exemptions work
Most employers hiring a foreign worker must get a positive Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) from Employment and Social Development Canada before the worker can apply for a work permit. The International Mobility Program is IRCC's list of situations that skip this step — usually because of a trade agreement, a broader economic or cultural benefit to Canada, or a reciprocal arrangement with another country. Every IMP work permit application still needs an exemption code, entered by the employer (or the worker, for employer-non-specific permits) on the Offer of Employment or the application itself, so an officer can confirm which exemption applies.
An exemption code is not a program on its own — it's a label for one of dozens of underlying categories, each with its own eligibility rules (who qualifies, what documents prove it, whether the permit is employer-specific or open). This tool searches the code and category list only; it does not evaluate whether you personally qualify for a given category.
Source, last verified 27 September 2026: IRCC — LMIA exemption codes (page last modified 2026-09-23). All 111 codes and category names on this page are transcribed directly from that table.
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between C41 and C43?
C41 is the open work permit for spouses or common-law partners of high-skilled (TEER 0–3) workers. C43 is the code used for post-graduation employment — the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP). They're unrelated categories that happen to be numerically close.
Does an LMIA-exempt work permit mean no paperwork?
No. It means skipping the LMIA step specifically. Most IMP categories still require an employer to submit an Offer of Employment (and pay the associated compliance fee) through the IRCC portal, plus whatever documents prove the specific exemption — a trade-agreement professional still needs to show their qualifying occupation and citizenship, for example.
Is this the complete list of exemption codes?
It's the complete list as published on IRCC's own exemption-codes page as of 23 September 2026 — 111 codes. IRCC updates this table when programs change (new trade agreements, retired pilots), so a very recently added code may not appear yet.
Reference tool only
This is a search aid over IRCC's own published code list, not an eligibility determination. Whether a specific worker or employer qualifies for a given exemption category depends on facts IRCC assesses case by case. Confirm the current code and its full requirements at ircc.canada.ca before relying on it for an application.