Canada introduces new work permit exemption for foreign academic examiners

Canada has, for the first time, published specific eligibility criteria for foreign nationals seeking to work as academic examiners without a work permit.

Under updated instructions issued by the federal government on July 31, foreign examiners must be senior academic or industry professionals with an established reputation in the relevant field. They must also provide an official invitation letter from the governing body that has invited them to adjudicate.

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The new guidelines outline three categories of work permit exemptions: thesis examiners, research proposal evaluators and program or university project evaluators.

Standard conditions for the exemption

The updated instructions also set out three standard conditions for the exemption.

The work(s) of the foreign national must be of less than six months duration and the foreign national is prohibited from receiving remuneration from Canada for the activities. Immigration officers may also place specific conditions or limits on the authorization to work without a permit.

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Officers may issue a visitor record setting out the conditions attached to the foreign national’s permit-exempt work authorization.

What foreign examiners need to know

Foreign nationals seeking entry under this exemption must provide documents showing that they meet the eligibility requirements.

They must also meet Canada’s general requirements for visitors entering as temporary residents. This includes having a valid temporary resident visa (TRV) or electronic travel authorization (eTA), where required, and meeting Canada’s admissibility requirements.

The exemption applies only where the activity does not amount to entering the Canadian labour market. In most cases, remuneration for the work must come entirely from entities with no financial ties to Canada.