Program delivery update: Religious work, charitable work, residential camp counsellors and religious leaders (work permit exempt)

This section contains policy, procedures and guidance used by IRCC staff. It is posted on the department’s website as a courtesy to stakeholders.

March 4, 2020 The instructions on religious and charitable work were housed on the same page. They are now divided into 2 separate pages. The instructions on the work permit exemption under paragraph 186(l) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (IRPR) are now housed on the same page as the religious workers instructions.

Main changes to instructions on religious work (LMIA exemption under paragraph R205(d))

• Guidance added that there are 2 separate provisions in IRPR relating to religious work: paragraph R186(l) and paragraph R205(d). In some cases, a foreign national may be eligible under both paragraphs and may choose which one to apply under.
• New sections added related to eligibility requirements, processing fees, duration of work permits, spouses, dependent children, the port of entry application process and work permit issuance in the Global Case Management System (GCMS).

Main changes related to instructions on the work permit exemption under paragraph R186(l)

• Name of the work permit exemption changed from “clergy” to “religious leaders” to better reflect the description provided in paragraph R186(l).
• Clarified that some religious leaders who are eligible for a work permit exemption under paragraph R186(l) may simultaneously be eligible for an LMIA exemption under paragraph R205(d).
• Added instructions to describe duties of religious leaders.
• Revised the existing instructions on documentation to support the application and gave them the title Documentary evidence.
• New sections created related to issuing visitor records at ports of entry, in-Canada applicants who are work permit exempt under paragraph R186(l) and wish to extend their authorization to work with a work permit under paragraph R205(d), spouses of foreign nationals who are work permit exempt under paragraph R186(l), and dependent children.

Main changes related to instructions on charitable work (LMIA exemption code C50)

• Instructions added under a new section, Assessing if work is charitable, to clarify that officers must assess if the work (not the organization) is of charitable nature.
• Instructions added on examples of additional information that the officer may request from the prospective employer to determine if the prospective work of the foreign national is of a charitable nature.
• Instructions added under the following new sections: Employer compliance fee, Duration of work permit, Spouses and children of charitable workers, Port of entry application process, and Work permit issuance in the Global Case Management System (GCMS).

Main changes related to instructions on residential camp counsellors (LMIA exemption C20)

• Aligned the information regarding fees with the information provided in the instruction for exemption code C50.
• Added examples on how to determine if a camp is charitable in the absence of a Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) registration number.
• Made the information regarding medical examinations applicable to any camp counsellor (those working in day camps as well as residential camps).
• Added instructions under the following new sections: Work permit duration, Spouses and children of camp counsellors, and Port of entry application process.

Updated instructions

• Canadian interests – Charitable work [R205(d)] (exemption code C50) – International Mobility Program
• Religious work – International Mobility Program
• Residential camp counsellors [R205(b)] (LMIA exemption code C20) – International Mobility Program
• Functional guidance on temporary residents: Table of contents
• International Mobility Program: Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) exemption codes
• International Mobility Program: Authorization to work without a work permit

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Date modified: 2020-03-04