Foreign athletes and staff working for non-Canadian employers do not require work permits to work in Canada. However, foreign athletes joining Canadian sports teams or representing Canada individually do need work permits, but they are exempt from the most onerous part of the process which is proving a labor shortage. This exemption removes much of the red tape normally associated with acquiring a work permit for athletes and makes the process of getting a work permit much simpler for them and their Canadian employers.

1. Canadian work permits for
athletes

2. Athletes and staff working for a non-Canadian
employer
 Although foreign athletes and coaches are technically
foreign workers, some of the rules and regulations of
the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) do
not apply to them. It would be overly burdensome to
subject these individuals to the rules and procedures
usually associated with the TFWP, and would
prevent Canada from participating in international
sporting events.
 Therefore, as long these individuals are a member of
a foreign-based team or an athlete representing a
foreign country, a work permit is generally not
required. The same goes for any of the foreign team
or athlete’s essential personal and support staff.

3. Athletes and staff joining a Canadian
employer
 If a foreign national wants to join a Canada-based
sports team or represent Canada as an individual
athlete, they usually do need a work permit.
 However, even in this scenario, much of the red tape
usually associated with acquiring a work permit is
removed from the process. This is because such
athletes can be exempt from the Labour Market
Impact Assessment (LMIA) requirement, which is
usually the most onerous aspect of getting a work
permit.

4.  The LMIA is usually necessary to demonstrate that there
is a labour shortage and, as a result, the Canadian
employer was unable to find a Canadian citizen or
permanent resident to fill the position. As such, LMIA
applications are scrutinized very closely—even a trivial
error can jeopardize the success of these applications.
 LMIA-exempt work permits are exempt from
demonstrating this labour shortage. Consequently, it is
important to ensure athletes are eligible for this type of
work permit and have a well-prepared work permit
application.

5. THANK YOU