Charity / Religion

Eligibility Requirements

For Religious Work:

1. Nature of Work: Core duties should reflect a religious objective, like providing religious instruction, promoting a particular faith, or advancing spiritual teachings.
2. Employment Details: Duties outlined in the work permit application and the LMIA-exempt offer of employment should primarily be of a religious nature.

For Charitable Work:

1. Nature of Work: The work should align with charitable purposes as defined by the Canada Revenue Agency, including poverty relief, education advancement, religion advancement, or other community-beneficial purposes.
2. Employment Details: Employment details in the LMIA-exempt offer of employment should primarily be of a charitable nature.

Processing Fee and Exemptions

1. Processing Fee: A person working in Canada for a Canadian religious organization without remuneration is not required to pay the work permit processing fees. Work permit fee exemption applies if the foreign national receives only a stipend for living expenses (if monetary, below the minimum wage under the applicable federal, provincial or territorial law) or non-monetary benefits like accommodation and healthcare.

2. Employer Compliance Fee Exemption: Employers are not required to pay the employer compliance fee if the offer of employment is made to a foreign national who is not required to pay a work permit processing fee. To be eligible, employers must show they are a religious organization and that there’s no remuneration for the work of the foreign national they intend to hire.