Effective May 21, 2015, Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) has expanded the Work Permit category of Emergency Repair to include the provision of repairs and maintenance on out-of-warranty equipment. The significance of this change is that this classification is exempt from the Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) requirement, which often takes several months to complete. Previously, the LMIA exemption for repair and maintenance was limited to work performed pursuant to an active after-sales service warranty or agreement.  

Qualified applicants may now apply at the port of entry, subject to entry visa requirements, for a short-term Work Permit to repair or maintain industrial or commercial equipment in Canada that is no longer under warranty or covered by an after-sales or lease agreement. This provision recognizes the need for immediate preventative work and/or repair on machinery and equipment and addresses the need to have such repairs made in a timely manner. Maintenance and repair Work Permits are available for periods of up to 30 days, with an extension possible in limited circumstances.  

As always, Foster will continue to monitor changes in Canadian immigration law and procedure and will provide additional information in future Immigration Updates^©, and on our firm’s website at www.fosterglobal.com.