Maple News reports that citizens of the United States and Mexico have unique opportunities to live and work in Canada with fewer immigration hurdles, thanks to the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA). Formerly known as NAFTA, CUSMA enables eligible applicants to bypass the Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) process, streamlining entry into Canadian workplaces.
CUSMA provides four defined categories under which qualified individuals can seek a Canadian work permit or conduct business activities: Professionals, Intra-Company Transfers, Traders, and Investors. Each category comes with its own eligibility requirements, documentation standards, and intended use cases.
CUSMA Professionals must have a pre-existing job offer or contract with a Canadian employer in one of 63 approved occupations, primarily in areas like medicine, education, and science. Self-employed professionals do not qualify. Applicants must provide documented proof of academic qualifications and professional experience. Work permits for professionals can be issued for up to three years and may be extended indefinitely in three-year increments, as long as the position remains temporary in nature.
Business visitors under this category may also enter Canada without a work permit if they are engaging in permissible non-labour activities—such as consulting, attending meetings, or seeking business opportunities—but not directly entering the labor market.
For CUSMA Intra-Company Transfers, eligible U.S. and Mexican employees of multinational companies can relocate temporarily to a Canadian branch of their employer. Applicants typically must hold senior managerial or specialized knowledge roles and have been employed with the company for at least one year in the previous three years.
CUSMA Traders facilitate cross-border trade of goods between Canada and either the U.S. or Mexico. To qualify, applicants must work for an enterprise that carries on substantial trade primarily between Canada and their country of citizenship.
Finally, CUSMA Investors can gain authorization to work in Canada to develop and manage investments. These applicants must have made a substantial investment in a Canadian business and be seeking entry solely to direct and manage that enterprise.
Those applying under CUSMA—except for Investors—can often apply for their permit directly at a Canadian port of entry when arriving from the U.S., simplifying the application process.
According to Maple News, CUSMA continues to play a vital role in fostering economic collaboration among the three North American nations, supporting labor mobility and enterprise growth across borders.