There have been a number of significant changes recently to both the Temporary and Permanent Resident Immigration Programs which could be beneficial to Canadian employers and international employees alike:

From 1st December 2016 Mexican Citizens do not need visa’s to travel to Canada:

The government of Canada has made good its promise to regularize arrangements with Canada. From 1st December 2016 Mexican Citizens wishing to travel to Canada will be able to do so without first applying for a visa  to the Canadian visa office in Mexico. From that date Mexican Citizens must obtain an eTA (electronic Travel Authorization) in order to travel to Canada by air.

This means that Mexican Citizens will be able to apply for work permits at the POE (Port of Entry) and enjoy all of the provisions of NAFTA.

From 1st December 2017 all Romanian & Bulgarian Citizens will not need visa’s to travel to Canada

The government of Canada is lifting visa restrictions on Citizens of these two countries in two phases. From 1st May 2017 Citizens of both countries will be visa exempt if they meet one or both of the following criteria:

• Have held a Canadian visa in the past ten years, or
• Have a valid US non-immigrant visa

All Romanian and Bulgarian Citizens that are visa exempt will have to obtain an eTA (electronic Travel Authorization) in order to travel to Canada by air.

This means that Romanian and Bulgarian Citizens will be able to apply for work permits at the POE (Port of Entry).

For more information contact John Soden at jsoden@cwilson.com