120-day work permit exemption for researchers

General criteria

Researchers will be eligible for a work permit exemption for 120 days if they

• are coming to perform work for 120 consecutive calendar days or less and 12 months have passed since the first day of work under the previous use of this exemption;
• will be engaged primarily in research activities;
• are coming to work at a publicly funded, degree-granting institution at the college or university level or affiliated research institution;
• have a letter from the receiving institution attesting to the details of the work as being primarily research and outlining the period of employment

Initial inland applications

The intent of this provision is to attract specialized foreign researchers for short periods of time to produce world class research. Therefore, only applicants outside Canada are eligible for this exemption.

Renewals

Applicants can benefit from this exemption only once within a 12-month period. Consecutive uses are not permitted, so renewals of this exemption do not apply.