What is the difference between C11 and ICT?
Both permits let you work in Canada to run or grow a business, but they serve different people. The C11 work permit is for owner-operators who start or buy a Canadian business and own at least 51% of it. The Intra-Company Transfer (ICT) work permit is for executives, senior managers and specialized knowledge employees whom an established multinational moves to its Canadian branch, subsidiary or affiliate.
Your choice depends on two questions: who owns the business, and does your company already operate outside Canada? Still deciding how to set up your company? Start with our guide to starting a business in Canada as a foreigner.
C11 work permit
Built for
Founders and investors who start, buy or expand a Canadian business and run it themselves.
Key test
You own at least 51% and your business brings a significant benefit to Canada.
ICT work permit
Built for
Executives, senior managers and specialized knowledge staff of an established multinational.
Key test
At least one year of full-time work for the company in the last three years, plus a real parent, branch, subsidiary or affiliate link to the Canadian entity.
Key takeaway
If you own and control the business, look at C11. If your employer is a multinational that already earns revenue in at least two countries and is moving you to its Canadian entity, look at ICT. Applying under the wrong category is a common reason for refusal.
How do C11 and ICT compare side by side?
Here is how the two permits compare on the points that matter most when you plan a move to Canada.
| Factor | C11 work permit | ICT work permit |
|---|---|---|
| Who it’s for | Founders and investors who own and run the business | Executives, senior managers and specialized knowledge employees |
| Ownership | At least 51% (since May 2025) | Not required |
| Foreign company | Not required | Required: a multinational with revenue-generating operations in at least two countries |
| Prior work for the company | Not required | At least 1 year full-time in the last 3 years |
| Permit length | Up to 18 months | Up to 3 years (1 year when opening a new Canadian office) |
| Maximum stay | No set cap; each renewal is judged on how the business is actually performing | 7 years for executives and managers; 5 years for specialized knowledge |
| Counts toward Canadian Experience Class | No | Yes, for skilled roles (TEER 0 to 3) |
| Spouse open work permit | Possible if your role is TEER 0 or 1 and your permit has 16+ months left | Usually yes for TEER 0 or 1 roles with 16+ months left |
Permit lengths are maximums. The officer decides the actual validity.
Which permit fits your situation?
Most cases come down to who owns the business and where the company already operates. These are the profiles we see most often.
You're launching a startup in Canada
Why
You own and control the new business. ICT is not open to a company setting up its first foreign entity in Canada.
Watch out
Show real Canadian business activity, not just a plan.
You're buying a Canadian company
Why
You will own at least 51% and run it day to day.
Watch out
Your plan must show how the purchase keeps or creates jobs.
Your multinational is opening a Canadian branch
Why
The company already earns revenue in at least two countries and is sending key staff.
Watch out
A new-office permit lasts one year, so the Canadian entity must get running fast.
You're relocating from global headquarters
Why
You are an executive or senior manager moving within the corporate group.
Watch out
You need at least one year of full-time work for the company in the last three years.
What are the eligibility requirements for each permit?
Pick a permit to see what you need to show.
C11 falls under the significant benefit category of the International Mobility Program. You need to show that:
- You own at least 51% of the Canadian business.
- You will run the business in Canada yourself.
- The business brings a significant economic, social or cultural benefit to Canada, such as jobs or new exports.
- You have a credible business plan, relevant experience and enough funds to launch and operate.
- The Canadian business is already operating or clearly in formation, for example with incorporation documents, a lease and a bank account.
Read the full requirements in our C11 work permit guide.
ICT lets a multinational move key staff to a related Canadian entity. You need to show that:
- Your employer is a multinational with revenue-generating operations in at least two countries.
- The Canadian and foreign companies are related as parent, branch, subsidiary or affiliate. Contracts, licensing and franchises do not count.
- You have worked full time for the company for at least one year in the last three years. Part-time work no longer counts.
- You are coming as an executive, senior manager or specialized knowledge employee.
- The Canadian entity has real operations at a commercial address, or a credible plan to start them.
See the full rules in our Intra-Company Transfer program guide and our summary of the new ICT requirements.
How does the application process work?
The steps are similar for both permits. Preparation usually takes longer than IRCC’s review, especially for C11.
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1
Choose the right permit
Match your ownership and corporate structure to C11 or ICT.
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2
Set up the Canadian business
Incorporate or register the Canadian entity and secure commercial premises.
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3
Build your evidence
A business plan and proof of funds for C11; corporate and employment records for ICT.
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4
Submit the offer and application
The offer of employment and $230 compliance fee go through the Employer Portal, then you file the work permit application.
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5
Arrive and start work
Once approved, you enter Canada and begin working in the approved role.
How long does it take?
Processing times depend on where you apply and change often. Check IRCC’s processing times tool before you plan travel. Applicants who qualify for the Global Skills Strategy may get a two-week processing target, and some visa-exempt applicants, including US citizens transferring under CUSMA, can apply at the border.
How much does it cost to expand to Canada with C11 or ICT?
Government fees are the smallest part of the budget. The figures below are benchmarks from our practice, not IRCC requirements. IRCC sets no minimum investment for either permit, but officers look for enough funds to launch and sustain the business.
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Government fees: from $470 per worker
$155 work permit fee, $230 employer compliance fee and $85 biometrics. Family members pay their own fees.
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Legal fees: from $7,500 for C11; $10,000–$15,000 for ICT
Depends on the number of applicants and how complex your corporate structure is.
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Business setup: around $30,000
Incorporation, office space and basic operating infrastructure.
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Operating costs: varies
Payroll, marketing, compliance, equipment and inventory, depending on your business model.
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Investment capital: $250,000+ is typical
In our practice, plans backed by this level of capital are more convincing. It is not an IRCC minimum.
What mistakes lead to a refused C11 or ICT application?
Most refusals we see come from choosing the wrong permit or from thin evidence. Watch for these four.
Using ICT to open your first foreign office
Why it hurts
IRCC will not treat a company as a multinational if Canada is its first foreign entity.
What works instead
Use C11 if you own the business, or expand to a second country first.
Applying for C11 with a minority stake
Why it hurts
Since May 2025, C11 requires at least 51% ownership.
What works instead
Restructure ownership before you apply, or consider another pathway.
A Canadian entity that exists only on paper
Why it hurts
Virtual offices, home addresses and shell companies fail under both permits.
What works instead
Show a commercial lease, a bank account, contracts or hiring plans.
Counting on C11 work for the Canadian Experience Class
Why it hurts
Self-employed C11 work does not count toward the Canadian Experience Class.
What works instead
Plan your PR route, such as a provincial entrepreneur stream, from day one.
Can C11 or ICT lead to permanent residence?
Neither permit gives you permanent residence directly. How you use your work permit years shapes your PR options. Senior managers with Canadian experience should also look at the Express Entry senior managers category.
From an ICT permit
PR route
Skilled work on an ICT counts toward the Canadian Experience Class. Senior managers with 12 months of Canadian experience may also qualify for the senior managers category IRCC announced in February 2026.
Plan ahead
Keep your permit valid while you build at least 12 months of full-time Canadian experience.
From a C11 permit
PR route
C11 self-employment does not count toward the Canadian Experience Class. Most owners move to PR through a provincial entrepreneur or business stream.
Plan ahead
Choose your province early and track the business results it will want to see.
Bringing your family
Your spouse can get an open work permit if your job is TEER 0 or 1 and your permit has at least 16 months left when they apply. Since January 21, 2025, dependent children no longer get open work permits, but they can study in Canada.
C11 vs ICT: frequently asked questions
The difference comes down to ownership and corporate structure.
A C11 work permit is for foreign nationals who start, buy or take over a Canadian business and run it themselves. You must own at least 51% of the business (a rule IRCC set in May 2025) and show that your work will bring a significant benefit to Canada, such as jobs or economic growth. You are the owner, not an employee.
An Intra-Company Transfer (ICT) work permit is for employees of a multinational who are moving to a related Canadian branch, subsidiary or affiliate. It is issued under code C61 (opening a new Canadian office), C62 (executives and senior managers) or C63 (specialized knowledge). Since IRCC’s October 2024 update, the foreign company must already have revenue-generating operations in at least two countries. You are a transferee, not an independent owner.
It depends on your profile. Both permits are LMIA-exempt under the International Mobility Program, and processing times vary by where you apply. Check IRCC’s processing times tool for current estimates.
ICT often moves faster in practice. US and Mexican citizens can use the CUSMA intra-company transferee rules and may be able to apply at a port of entry. Applicants who qualify for the Global Skills Strategy can get a two-week processing target.
C11 needs more paperwork: a detailed business plan, proof of ownership, financial projections and a significant benefit case. That preparation can add weeks before you file.
IRCC has also cut new temporary resident arrivals. The 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan targets 170,000 International Mobility Program arrivals a year, so build in a buffer either way.
Neither is better. The right one depends on your situation. C11 fits independent entrepreneurs who own and run a Canadian business. ICT fits executives, managers and specialists moving within a multinational. If you could qualify for both, ICT offers a longer permit and its work counts toward the Canadian Experience Class. If you want to own and run your own business, C11 is the right path. Applying under the wrong one usually leads to a refusal.
Not directly, but it is a strong stepping stone. Skilled work on an ICT permit counts as Canadian work experience, which can qualify you for the Canadian Experience Class through Express Entry. Senior managers with at least 12 months of Canadian experience may also qualify for the Express Entry senior managers category IRCC announced in February 2026. Some provinces also nominate skilled workers already working there. PR does not happen automatically when your permit ends, so plan for it early.
You don’t need a fully incorporated company before you apply, but a foreign business record and a business plan alone are not enough. IRCC expects concrete evidence of a Canadian business that is operating or in formation, such as incorporation documents, a lease, a credible business plan and proof of funds. The significant benefit test looks at the Canadian business, not the foreign one. Weak Canadian business evidence is one of the most common reasons C11 applications are refused.
Yes, but they serve different expansion models. ICT is built for structured multinational expansion: an established company posts key people to a Canadian branch, subsidiary or affiliate. C11 supports owner-led expansion: a foreign entrepreneur relocates to Canada to build or grow a business directly. To send several employees to a Canadian operation, ICT is the better fit. For a founder moving to run and scale a Canadian venture personally, C11 is the right tool.
Yes, but it is a new application, not a transfer. To move from ICT to C11, you must file a full C11 application showing at least 51% ownership of a qualifying Canadian business and a significant benefit. Your ICT history does not carry over.
The reverse is less common. If your Canadian business becomes part of a multinational group, you may qualify for ICT if you meet the role and company requirements.
Apply from inside Canada before your current permit expires. You then have maintained status and can keep working under your current permit’s conditions while IRCC decides. New conditions apply once the new permit is approved.
Get your business structure and documents in order, and get legal advice before you file. A misstep can leave a gap in your work authorization.
Key takeaways: C11 vs ICT
Read next: our C11 work permit guide, our Intra-Company Transfer program guide, the new ICT requirements and the CUSMA work permit guide.
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C11 is for owner-operators who own at least 51% of the Canadian business.
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ICT is for executives, managers and specialists of established multinationals.
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A company that operates in only one country can’t use ICT to open in Canada.
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C11 permits last up to 18 months; ICT permits can last up to 3 years at a time.
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ICT work counts toward the Canadian Experience Class; C11 self-employment does not.
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Neither permit leads to PR on its own, so plan your PR route early.
