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Most employers assume that hiring a foreign national always requires a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). Nope, not always the case.
Under Canada’s International Mobility Program, there is a lesser-known but effective LMIA-exempt category called C10: Significant Benefit to Canada. This pathway allows a work permit to be issued when the applicant’s work is expected to bring meaningful economic, social, or cultural benefit to the country.
What is the C10?
The C10 is based on section R205(a) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations. It allows IRCC officers to issue a work permit without an LMIA when the broader benefit to Canada justifies bypassing the labour market test.
That is, the impact of the individual’s work goes beyond the employer and positively affects Canadians or permanent residents.
What does “significant benefit” actually mean?
Immigration officers assess benefit across three main areas:
Economic benefit
This can include job creation, business growth, innovation, expansion into new markets, or contributions that strengthen Canada’s competitiveness. For example, a specialized executive scaling a Canadian company internationally, or a technical expert whose work directly enables business growth.
Social benefit
This may include contributions to education, health, community development, inclusion, or public wellbeing. Examples include professionals working on projects that improve access to services, strengthen vulnerable communities, or advance public-interest initiatives.
Cultural benefit
This can apply to artists, performers, creators, or cultural leaders whose work enriches Canada’s cultural landscape or improves the country’s international cultural presence.
The impact is what matters here, not the job title. Officers assess whether the individual’s job can produce benefits that are real, measurable, and clearly articulated.
Who is C10 actually for?
The C10 is not limited to executives or celebrities. It can apply to a wide range of individuals when the case is properly structured and documented.
Common examples include:
Highly specialized professionals with rare expertise
Founders or senior leaders driving Canadian business growth
Researchers or innovators contributing to advancement in their field
Individuals whose work supports key public-interest initiatives
Cultural professionals whose work strengthens Canada’s cultural presence
Every application is assessed case-by-case. There is no checklist for occupations that automatically qualifies. Lately, people working in healthcare that can prove their job significantly impacts the Canadian healthcare industry could for example be considered good candidates.
Why C10 applications succeed or fail
Strong C10 applications focus on:
Clear explanation of the benefit to Canada (not just the benefit to the employer)
Evidence of past achievements that support credibility
Demonstrated outcomes such as job creation, impact, growth, influence, or innovation
A well-structured narrative connecting the applicant’s work to Canada’s broader interests
Weak applications usually fail because they:
Simply describe regular job duties
Focus only on employer convenience
Lack evidence of broader impact
Copy policy language without applying it to the real situation
It’s important that you don’t see the C10 as a shortcut. It’s a discretionary category that depends heavily on the quality of the legal argument and supporting evidence.
What’s your takeaway here?
C10 is one of the most flexible and powerful LMIA-exempt options in Canadian immigration, but only when used correctly.
When the work genuinely contributes to Canada’s economic, social, or cultural interests, and when the case is properly framed, C10 can be an excellent pathway for both employers and foreign nationals.
If you are ready to add 🌶️ to your 🇨🇦 immigration plan, book some time with Westdale Immigration Consulting Inc.
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