Executive Summary
The CUSMA work permit lets eligible U.S. and Mexican citizens work in Canada without a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). It comes from Chapter 16 of the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA, called USMCA in the U.S.), which replaced NAFTA on July 1, 2020.
There are four categories: professionals in one of 63 listed occupations, intra-company transferees, traders and investors. Professionals need a pre-arranged job with a Canadian employer and the degree or credential set for their occupation. Their permits can be issued for up to 3 years and extended.
U.S. citizens can usually apply at the border and get a decision the same day. Mexican citizens must apply online before they travel. For professionals and transferees, the Canadian employer first submits the job offer through IRCC’s Employer Portal and pays a $230 compliance fee.
2026 update: the United States declined to confirm a 16-year renewal at the July 2026 joint review. CUSMA stays in force until at least 2036, and its work permit rules have not changed.
Are You the Worker or the Employer?
The same permit, two different to-do lists. Find your side, then use the sections below.
I’m a U.S. or Mexican professional
What you need
U.S. or Mexican citizenship, an occupation on the CUSMA list, the matching degree or credential, and a written job offer from a Canadian employer.
Where to focus
The four eligibility tests, the 63-occupation list, and the document checklist below.
I’m a Canadian employer
What you do
Confirm the role fits a CUSMA category, submit the offer of employment in IRCC’s Employer Portal, pay the $230 compliance fee, and send your hire the offer number.
Worth knowing
No LMIA and no advertising requirement. IRCC can still inspect you to confirm you paid the wage and provided the job you offered.
CUSMA Work Permit Overview
The essentials in one place. Choose a tab.
- Citizens of the United States or Mexico. Permanent residents of those countries do not qualify.
- Professionals in one of 63 listed occupations with a Canadian job offer
- Executives, senior managers and specialized-knowledge staff moving to a Canadian branch, parent, subsidiary or affiliate
- Traders and investors carrying on substantial cross-border trade or a substantial investment in Canada
- A valid passport proving U.S. or Mexican citizenship
- A role that fits one CUSMA category
- Pre-arranged work with a Canadian employer. Professionals cannot be self-employed in Canada.
- The degree, licenciatura or alternate credential listed for your occupation, plus a licence if the profession is regulated
- The employer’s offer of employment number from the Employer Portal
- Work permit: $155 per person
- Biometrics: $85 for Mexican citizens. U.S. citizens are exempt.
- Employer compliance fee: $230, paid by the employer
- Spouse’s open work permit, if eligible: $155 + $100
- At the border (U.S. citizens): usually decided the same day
- Online: depends on where you live. Check IRCC’s processing-times tool before you set a start date.
- Permit length: professionals and transferees up to 3 years at first; traders and investors usually up to 1 year at first
- The permit ties you to one employer and one role
- Mexican citizens cannot apply at the border
- Officers read the credential list strictly. A job title alone is not enough.
- Your permit cannot run past your passport’s expiry date
- CUSMA entry is temporary. Each renewal must still show temporary intent.
What Is the CUSMA (Formerly NAFTA) Work Permit?
CUSMA is the trade agreement between Canada, the United States and Mexico. It took effect on July 1, 2020 and replaced NAFTA. Chapter 16 lets certain business people from the three countries enter each other’s markets temporarily, with fewer barriers.
In Canada, that means a work permit that is exempt from the LMIA. An LMIA is the labour market test most employers need before hiring a foreign worker. Under CUSMA the employer skips it, and IRCC issues the permit under section 204(a) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations, which covers international agreements.
Business visitors are different. A U.S. or Mexican citizen coming for meetings, sales calls or after-sales service, without entering the Canadian labour market, does not need a work permit at all. See our guide to business travel to Canada.
Helpful Tip: LMIA-exempt does not mean rule-free. Employers must still pay the wage and provide the job and conditions they described in the offer of employment, and IRCC can inspect them for up to six years.
The Four CUSMA Work Permit Categories
Each category has its own test. Pick the one that matches what the person will actually do in Canada, not the job title.
Professionals
Key requirements
An occupation on the CUSMA list (Appendix 2), the degree or credential set for it, and pre-arranged work with a Canadian employer.
Permit length
Up to 3 years, renewable in blocks of up to 3 years. No self-employment in Canada.
Intra-company transferees
Key requirements
At least 1 year of continuous full-time work for the company in the last 3 years, moving to a Canadian branch, parent, subsidiary or affiliate as an executive, senior manager or specialized-knowledge worker.
Permit length
Up to 3 years at first (1 year to open a new office). Total stay capped at 7 years for executives and managers, 5 years for specialized knowledge.
Traders
Key requirements
Substantial trade in goods or services, mostly between Canada and the U.S. or Mexico, in a supervisory or executive role or one needing essential skills.
Permit length
Usually up to 1 year at first, with extensions while you still qualify.
Investors
Key requirements
A substantial investment in a Canadian enterprise that you, or your U.S. or Mexican company, have made or are actively making, and a role directing or developing it.
Permit length
Usually up to 1 year at first. IRCC encourages investors to apply before arriving.
Comparing a transfer with other options? Read C11 vs ICT: which work permit is right for you. Planning a transfer from the U.S., UK or India? See ICT work permit processing times for the U.S., UK and India.
Eligibility: The Four Tests for CUSMA Professionals
Professionals are the largest CUSMA category. You must pass all four tests. Miss one and the officer will refuse the permit at the border or the visa office.
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Citizenship
You must be a citizen of the United States or Mexico. A U.S. green card or Mexican residency is not enough.
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A listed occupation
The job must match one of the 63 occupations in Appendix 2 of Chapter 16, and your real duties must fit that occupation.
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Pre-arranged work in Canada
A job offer or contract with a Canadian enterprise, either directly or through your U.S. or Mexican employer. You cannot work for a business you substantially own or control.
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The right credentials
The degree, licenciatura or alternate credential listed for your occupation, in the same or a closely related field, plus a provincial licence if the profession is regulated.
Helpful Tip: A licenciatura is a Mexican university degree, generally treated as equal to a bachelor’s degree. Bachelor’s or licenciatura degrees can come from any country; post-secondary diplomas and certificates must come from Canada, the U.S. or Mexico.
Is Your Occupation on the CUSMA List?
CUSMA covers 63 occupations, grouped below. Open a group to check yours. Most need a bachelor’s or licenciatura degree in the field, but some accept a diploma plus experience instead.
Accountant, architect, computer systems analyst, disaster relief insurance claims adjuster, economist, engineer, forester, graphic designer, hotel manager, industrial designer, interior designer, land surveyor, landscape architect, lawyer (including notary in Quebec), librarian, management consultant, mathematician (including statistician and actuary), range manager, research assistant (at a post-secondary institution), scientific technician or technologist, social worker, sylviculturist, technical publications writer, urban planner, vocational counsellor.
Dentist, dietitian, medical laboratory technologist, nutritionist, occupational therapist, pharmacist, physician (teaching or research only), physiotherapist, psychologist, recreational therapist, registered nurse, veterinarian.
Agriculturist, animal breeder, animal scientist, apiculturist, astronomer, biochemist, biologist, chemist, dairy scientist, entomologist, epidemiologist, geneticist, geochemist, geologist, geophysicist, horticulturist, meteorologist, pharmacologist, physicist, plant breeder, poultry scientist, soil scientist, zoologist.
College, seminary and university teachers.
- Management consultant: a degree, or 5 years of experience as a consultant or in the specialty related to the contract
- Computer systems analyst, graphic designer, hotel manager, industrial designer, interior designer, technical publications writer: a degree, or a post-secondary diploma plus 3 years of experience (hotel managers: degree in hotel or restaurant management)
- Scientific technician or technologist: theoretical knowledge plus 3 years of experience, working in direct support of a professional in a listed science
- Physician: teaching or research only. Patient care is not allowed under CUSMA.
How to Apply for a CUSMA Work Permit
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Step 01
Confirm the category and credentials
Match the job duties to a CUSMA category and, for professionals, to an Appendix 2 occupation. Gather the degree, licence or experience proof that occupation requires.
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Step 02
Employer submits the offer
The Canadian employer enters the offer of employment in IRCC’s Employer Portal and pays the $230 compliance fee. You need the offer number (it starts with “A”) to apply.
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Step 03
Apply at the border or online
U.S. citizens can apply at a port of entry or online. Mexican citizens apply online before travelling. Bring originals of everything you upload.
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Step 04
Activate and stay compliant
Once approved, work only for the employer and in the role on your permit. Apply to extend before it expires; you can keep working while a timely extension is processed.
Helpful Tip: Since December 23, 2024, Canada no longer processes most “flagpoling” work permit applications at the border. U.S. citizens and CUSMA professionals are among the few exceptions, but check the current rules before you plan a border trip to renew.
Port of Entry vs. Online Application
One route can mean a same-day permit. The other gives you certainty before you move. Here is how they compare.
| Port of entry | Online application | |
|---|---|---|
| Who can use it | U.S. citizens (and others who are visa-exempt and allowed to apply on arrival) | Everyone, and the only option for Mexican citizens |
| Speed | Usually decided the same day | Varies by country of residence; check IRCC’s processing times |
| Certainty before travel | None. You learn the outcome at the counter. | Approval in hand before you move or give notice |
| Fixing a problem | Hard. A missing document can mean refusal on the spot. | Officers can request more documents |
| Biometrics | Not required for U.S. citizens | Required for Mexican citizens ($85) |
| Best for | Straightforward files with a clear Appendix 2 match | Regulated professions, alternate credentials, ICT and investor files, and anyone who needs certainty |
Processing times change often. Confirm on the IRCC website before you set a start date.
Documents You Need for a CUSMA Work Permit
The core list for professionals. Transferees, traders and investors need extra proof, noted at the end.
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Valid passport
Proof of U.S. or Mexican citizenship. Your permit cannot be issued past its expiry date.
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Offer of employment number
From the employer’s Employer Portal submission, with proof the compliance fee was paid.
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Detailed job letter or contract
Duties, title, wage, location and length of the work, written to match the Appendix 2 occupation.
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Degree, licenciatura or diploma
With transcripts where helpful. Add experience letters if you rely on alternate credentials.
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Professional licence
Only for regulated professions, such as engineers, nurses or accountants, if the role requires it.
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Resume
Showing the education and experience the occupation calls for.
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Family documents, if they come with you
Marriage certificate or IMM 5409 (common-law), birth certificates, and IMM 5707 (Family Information) where requested.
Intra-company transferees also need proof of the corporate relationship and of at least 1 year of full-time work for the company in the last 3 years. Traders and investors need evidence of the trade volume or the investment and its source.
CUSMA Work Permit Fees
Government fees are modest. The employer pays the compliance fee; the worker pays the permit and biometrics.
Want an estimate of the full cost, including legal fees? Try our legal cost estimator.
Processing Times for a CUSMA Work Permit
At a port of entry, a U.S. citizen with a complete, well-organized package usually gets a decision the same day, at an airport or land crossing.
Online, processing depends on the visa office and your country of residence, and it changes month to month. Check IRCC’s processing-times tool before you commit to a start date, and add time for biometrics if you are a Mexican citizen.
Helpful Tip: If your passport expires within the next 3 years, renew it first. Officers will not issue a permit that runs past your passport’s expiry date.
Can Your Spouse and Children Come With You?
CUSMA itself gives no special rights to family members. Their options come from Canada’s general rules.
- Spouse or common-law partner: since January 21, 2025, a spouse can get an open work permit only if your job is in TEER 0 or 1, or in certain TEER 2 or 3 occupations, and your permit has at least 16 months left when they apply. Many CUSMA professionals meet this, but not all.
- Children: minor children can attend preschool, primary and secondary school while you are authorized to work in Canada. Dependent children are no longer eligible for their own open work permits.
- Visitors: family members who do not qualify for a permit can usually accompany you as visitors. Mexican citizens need a visa or eTA to travel.
From CUSMA Work Permit to Permanent Residence
CUSMA is a temporary-entry program, but Canada allows dual intent. You can hold a CUSMA permit and plan to apply for permanent residence, as long as you will leave Canada if your status ends.
After 1 year of skilled, full-time work in Canada, many CUSMA professionals qualify for the Canadian Experience Class through Express Entry. Since March 25, 2025, a job offer no longer adds Express Entry points, so your score depends on age, language, education and experience. Senior managers and owners should also read our guide to Express Entry for senior managers.
What the 2026 CUSMA Review Means for Work Permits
CUSMA required the three countries to hold a joint review by July 1, 2026. Canada and Mexico asked for a new 16-year term. The United States did not confirm renewal.
What that means in practice:
- CUSMA stays fully in force until at least July 1, 2036
- The countries now hold annual joint reviews, and can agree to extend the agreement at any time
- As of October 2026, the Chapter 16 rules for professionals, transferees, traders and investors have not changed
For employers building long-term hiring plans, the bigger risk is future change, not current access. Track changes on our 2026 immigration changes tracker.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. CUSMA replaced NAFTA on July 1, 2020. The work permit rules for professionals, transferees, traders and investors carried over with few changes, so many people still call it a “NAFTA work permit.”
No. CUSMA permits are LMIA-exempt. For professionals and transferees, the employer instead submits an offer of employment through IRCC’s Employer Portal and pays a $230 compliance fee.
U.S. citizens usually can, at an airport or land crossing, and often get a decision the same day. Mexican citizens cannot apply at the border and must apply online before they travel.
No. Professionals must have pre-arranged work with a Canadian enterprise and cannot work for a business they substantially own or control. Business owners should look at the investor or trader categories, or at other options such as the C11 entrepreneur work permit.
No. CUSMA is limited to citizens of the United States and Mexico. U.S. permanent residents may still qualify for other LMIA-exempt or LMIA-based work permits.
Professionals can get up to 3 years, renewable in blocks of up to 3 years. Transferees get up to 3 years at first, capped at 7 years in total for executives and managers and 5 years for specialized knowledge. Traders and investors usually start with up to 1 year. No permit can run past your passport’s expiry date.
Possibly. Since January 21, 2025, a spouse qualifies for an open work permit only if your job is in TEER 0 or 1, or in certain TEER 2 or 3 occupations, and your permit has at least 16 months left.
Not without a new permit. A CUSMA permit is tied to one employer and role. Your new employer must submit a new offer of employment, and you apply for a new permit before you start.
Not directly, but Canada allows dual intent. After 1 year of skilled work in Canada, many CUSMA workers qualify for the Canadian Experience Class through Express Entry.
Not for now. The U.S. declined to confirm renewal in July 2026, but the agreement stays in force until at least 2036, with annual reviews. The work permit rules have not changed.
Tools & Additional Resources
Official sources and related guides to help you plan your application or your hire.
