LMIA-exempt · R205(a) · code C11
The C11 work permit, as an officer reads it.
C11 lets an entrepreneur or self-employed owner work in their own Canadian business without an LMIA, for a limited time, when that work brings a significant benefit to Canada. Three numbers decide most files.
Control of the business you need, at least.Less than that: an LMIA or another category.
Longest a C11 permit is normally issued.Longer needs a definite plan to step back.
Of support funds at the LICO for your family.Separate from the money that runs the business.
First question
Is C11 the right code?
C11 is for owners who want to work here temporarily. If permanent residence is the goal, IRCC points you elsewhere, and choosing wrong is a common refusal.
| Code | Who it is for | Intent | Backing |
|---|---|---|---|
| C11Business owners | Entrepreneurs and self-employed people who control at least 51% of the business. | Temporary only. You must show you will leave at the end of your stay. | None required; the benefit to Canada carries the case. |
| C60Provincial candidates | Business candidates supported by a province or territory, or Quebec self-employed with a CSQ. | Dual intent: working toward permanent residence. | A province, territory or Quebec. See provincial programs. |
| A77Start-up Visa | Applicants for permanent residence under the Start-up business class. | Dual intent: the permit bridges to permanent residence. | A designated organization. |
| LMIAPartial owners | Owners with less than 51% who work in the business. | Depends on the route. | An LMIA or another exemption. See every exemption code. |
The assessment
Six questions the officer asks.
These come from IRCC's own instructions to officers. A strong file answers each one with evidence, not adjectives.
Does the work bring a significant benefit?
Jobs with a real local impact, development in a regional or remote area, more exports, or keeping Canadians from losing work. Advances beyond the industry standard count too: new technology, a new product or service, better skills for Canadians. The type of business or the amount spent does not, on its own.
Is there a concrete start-up plan?
A business plan that only analyses the market is not enough. The officer looks for the practical steps: location, where products come from, finances, marketing and who the customers are.
What jobs does it create, at what pay?
Whether the jobs are significant for the area, enough to get the business going, and paid at or above the median wage.
Are you the right person to run it?
Whether your skills make the business more viable, and whether your language ability is enough to operate it.
Is it really temporary?
Whether the business is seasonal or time-limited, or would need you in Canada indefinitely. Repeated permits with no break, or short trips out while living mostly in Canada, draw closer scrutiny.
Where did the money come from?
Support funds and business funds are assessed separately, and the officer will ask for the provenance of what you invest.
Temporary, in practice
Seasonal is easy to show. Year-round is not.
The examples are IRCC's. Officers may refuse, or limit the permit to a season or a set period.
Seasonal businesses
- Bed and breakfast operators
- Gold miners
- Wildlife guides
The business runs for part of the year, so a temporary stay is built in.
Year-round businesses
- Auto repair shops
- Salons
- IT companies
Expect to show an exit plan, such as hiring a manager to run it after you leave.
Your application
What goes in the file.
Apply online. For an extension, add what the last period achieved and what the next one will.
- Offer of employment under C11Submitted in the IRCC Employer Portal with exemption code C11, and the employer compliance fee paid. As the owner you are both employer and employee, and must meet the requirements of both.
- The right NOC and job titleSelf-employed: the NOC that matches your actual duties, not the generic entrepreneur code. Entrepreneurs: NOC 88888 with the title "Entrepreneur".
- Business planWith the concrete start-up steps above, not only a market study.
- Proof of ownershipShowing you control at least 51% of the business.
- Support fundsTransferable, unencumbered funds equal to the low income cut-off (LICO) for your family size, for 18 months or your stay if shorter, kept separate from business funds.
- Business funds and their sourceMoney available to run or establish the business and to pay you, with the provenance of what you invest.
- Evidence the stay is temporaryTies outside Canada and, for a year-round business, an exit plan such as hiring a manager.
Source: Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, Business owners seeking only temporary residence [R205(a) – C11]. This page summarises officer guidance; it is general information, not legal advice. CHK Immigration Services is a licensed RCIC firm, not part of IRCC.
Next on your path
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