UK Professionals Can Now Work in Canada on LMIA-Exempt CPTPP Work Permit

On September 1, 2026, the United Kingdom officially joined the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), joining Canada and 10 other countries. IRCC has updated its work permit instructions for individuals from CPTPP member countries to include UK citizens.

One of the most significant changes is the addition of a new LMIA-exempt work permit option for UK professionals in eligible occupations. The list includes jobs in engineering, technology, finance, business, science, marketing and several other fields.

Here’s how the new CPTPP option works for Britishers, which occupations qualify, and what you need to apply.

Key Takeaways

• The UK acceded to the CPTPP on September 1, 2026.
• UK professionals can qualify for an LMIA-exempt work permit under CPTPP exemption code T52 if they have pre-arranged Canadian work in an eligible occupation.
• Eligible occupations include jobs in engineering, technology, finance, business, marketing, science and other professional fields.
• The CPTPP also includes LMIA-exempt work permit options for investors, business visitors, and intra-company transferees from the UK.
• UK citizens also have other LMIA-exempt options through IEC and the Canada-UK Trade Continuity Agreement (CUKTCA).

What Is the CPTPP and What Does It Cover?

The Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) is a free trade agreement between 12 member and acceding countries — Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, United Kingdom, and Vietnam.

The UK officially joined the CPTPP as a member in December 2024, but the agreement came into force between UK and Canada on September 1, 2026.

The agreement covers much more than immigration. However, its temporary entry provisions make it easier for certain citizens of participating countries to work or conduct business in Canada.

With the CPTPP coming into force between Canada and the UK, eligible UK citizens who are professionals and technicians, investors, intra-company transferees, and business visitors, can now access work permits that are exempt from the Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) requirement. This means a Canadian employer does not have to first demonstrate that no Canadian citizen or permanent resident is available for the position through the LMIA process.

Who Can Get a CPTPP Work Permit as a UK Professional?

IRCC has several requirements you must meet to qualify as a professional under the CPTPP.

You must generally:

• be a citizen of a CPTPP member country, such as the UK;
• have pre-arranged employment with a Canadian employer in an eligible occupation;
• have at least two years of paid work experience in the sector covered by your contract;
• meet the applicable education and occupational requirements;
• have any licence or certification needed to perform the job in Canada; and
• receive pay that meets Canada’s prevailing wage requirements for the occupation.

Your job must also fall within the list of occupations Canada has opened to UK professionals under the CPTPP.

The Canadian employer must submit an offer of employment through IRCC’s Employer Portal and pay the applicable employer compliance fee before you submit your work permit application.

This is an employer-specific work permit, meaning your authorization to work in Canada is tied to the employment listed on your permit.

Which UK Professionals Are Eligible for the CPTPP Work Permit?

Canada has opened the CPTPP professional category to UK citizens working in a wide range of TEER 0 and TEER 1 occupations. Some of the eligible occupations include:

• Financial managers, financial advisors, financial auditors and accountants, banking, credit, and investment managers
• Architects, urban and land use planners, architecture and science managers, land surveyors
• Engineering managers, software engineers and designers, computer engineers, aerospace engineers, civil engineers, mechanical engineers, electrical and electronics engineers, chemical engineers, mining engineers, other professional engineers
• Chemists, biologists, geoscientists, physicists, and other physical science occupations
• Data scientists, mathematicians, statisticians and actuaries
• Cybersecurity specialists, business systems specialists, database analysts, computer systems developers and programmers, web designers
• Advertising, marketing, and public relations managers, business service managers, human resource professionals, business development officers, marketing researchers and analysts, policy researchers

There are also some narrowly defined occupations where only certain types of work qualify.

For example, agricultural representatives, consultants and specialists qualify only for work related to research and development. Some management occupations are restricted to specific activities, such as environmental services, mining consulting or maintenance and repair services.

UK Applicants Have Different Education Rules

CPTPP professionals generally need a post-secondary degree involving at least four years of study.

However, if a UK national meet the applicable UK education requirements and their Canadian employer or client confirms that their qualifications are satisfactory, they do not necessarily need a four-year degree.

How Long Can UK Professionals Work in Canada Under the CPTPP?

CPTPP professional work permits can initially be issued for up to one year. Extensions are possible if you continue to meet the requirements.

CPTPP Also Covers Investors, Business Visitors, and Intra-Company Transferees

Professionals are not the only UK citizens who may benefit from the CPTPP. The agreement also includes temporary entry provisions for investors, business visitors, and certain employees transferring to a Canadian company.

Investors

UK investors may qualify for an LMIA-exempt work permit under the CPTPP if they are establishing, developing or administering an investment in Canada and meet the other requirements.

To be considered an investor, you must either have a controlling interest in the business (more than 50 percent) or be representing the business in a supervisory or executive capacity or have skills that are essential for the business’ operations in Canada. Your initial work permit may be up to one year long.

UK citizens already had an investor work permit option under the Canada-United Kingdom Trade Continuity Agreement (CUKTCA). However, the CPTPP creates an additional route with its own eligibility requirements and conditions.

Business Visitors

Eligible UK business visitors can carry out certain business activities in Canada without a work permit.

Generally, business visitors must not enter the Canadian labour market, and their main place of business and source of income must remain outside Canada. Activities can include certain meetings, consultations, conferences and other international business activities.

Intra-Company Transferees

The CPTPP also provides LMIA-exempt work permit options for certain UK employees transferring from an overseas company to a related business in Canada.

Depending on the category, intra-company transferees can include certain executives, managers and specialists, as well as eligible management trainees.

UK citizens already have access to intra-company transfer provisions under CUKTCA. The new CPTPP provisions give eligible workers and employers another agreement to consider when determining which route best fits the transfer.

Moreover, the CPTPP pathways allow for a maximum permitted stay of 7 years for executives and senior managers and a maximum work permit duration of 5 years for specialized knowledge workers. Under the CUKTCA, intra-company transferees could only stay for a maximum duration of 4.5 years.

Can Your Spouse Get an Open Work Permit Under the CPTPP?

If you qualify as a UK professional, the CPTPP does not provide a specific open work permit for your spouse or common-law partner.

However, the rules are different for intra-company transferees under the CPTPP. If you are a UK citizen with a CPTPP work permit as an eligible intra-company transferee, your spouse or common-law partner may qualify for an open work permit (LMIA exemption code T53).

If you are coming to Canada as a professional, your spouse would need to qualify for a work permit separately and their employer may need an LMIA before hiring them. Alternatively, your spouse or partner may be able to accompany you as a visitor.

Other LMIA-Exempt Work Permit Options for UK Citizens

Besides the new CPTPP provisions, LMIA-exempt work permit options are also available to UK citizens under other arrangements.

Depending on your age, occupation, work experience and employment situation, you may also qualify through the Canada-United Kingdom Trade Continuity Agreement (CUKTCA) or International Experience Canada (IEC).

Canada-United Kingdom Trade Continuity Agreement (CUKTCA)

The CUKTCA provides LMIA exemptions for certain UK investors, intra-corporate transferees, service suppliers, independent professionals, and spouses of intra-corporate transferees and investors. There is also a separate provision for engineering technologists and scientific technologists.

If you have a Canadian job or contract but don’t qualify under the CPTPP, it may therefore be worth checking whether you qualify under CUKTCA. The requirements, eligible occupations and length of work authorization can differ between the two agreements.

International Experience Canada (IEC)

International Experience Canada is another option for eligible UK citizens aged 18 to 35.

UK citizens can participate through the Working Holiday, Young Professionals or International Co-op categories, provided they meet the requirements for the category.

A Working Holiday work permit is open, allowing you to work for most employers in Canada. You also do not need a Canadian job offer before receiving the permit.

Young Professionals requires a job offer and provides an employer-specific work permit, while International Co-op is for eligible students completing a work placement or internship in Canada.

IEC has age limits and a cap on participation. CPTPP could therefore provide another option if you have aged out of IEC or have already used your available IEC participation.