Own a Company Abroad? C11 or an Intra-Company Transfer to Open in Canada
If you own a company abroad and want to open in Canada, two work permits usually come up first. One is an intra-company transfer (ICT), where your company sends you to start its Canadian office. The other is C11, the permit for owners who control a Canadian business. They sound interchangeable. For the owner of a company that operates in only one country, only one of them is open.
The reason is a rule many owners have not been told about. IRCC treats an intra-company transfer to open a new Canadian office as a tool for companies that already do business in at least two countries, and its instructions say plainly that a company cannot become a multinational by using an ICT to open its first foreign office in Canada.
Below I explain how each route works, where these files go wrong and how I decide between them.
The two routes, in plain words
ICT to establish a new office (exemption code C61): a multinational company transfers a key person to set up its Canadian operation. It is issued under paragraph 205(a) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (IRPR). Once the office is running, later transfers use code C62 for executives and managers or C63 for specialized knowledge workers.
C11, business owners seeking temporary residence: an owner who controls the Canadian business comes to establish or run it for a defined period, where the business brings a significant benefit to Canada. It is also issued under paragraph 205(a).
The two-country rule that stops most owners
IRCC's instructions require the foreign company to be an existing multinational before it opens in Canada, with revenue-generating business operations in at least two countries: its home country and at least one other. The Canadian office you want to open does not count toward that. The owner of a strong company that trades only in its home market is therefore not eligible to open in Canada through an ICT.
The instructions also deal with owners directly. A person who owns a controlling interest in the foreign company, or a member of their immediate family, is not eligible as an ICT to start a new business in Canada unless the company meets the multinational definition. IRCC points those owners to C11 instead, or to the provisions of Canada's free trade agreements where their citizenship makes one available.
If your company does operate in two or more countries, the ICT route is open, and the questions become the ones I cover in my article on ICT strategy: the role, the corporate relationship and the plan for the Canadian office.
What an ICT start-up requires
Real commercial premises. A business run from a residential address, or a virtual office with a mailing address, is not eligible.
A one-year window. A C61 permit is issued for at most one year. IRCC allows up to six more months only in rare cases, where documented delays were outside your control. The expectation is that the office is operating within that year.
A role that fits the organization. An executive or manager title needs a Canadian operation that will actually have something to manage.
What C11 requires
Control: you must hold at least 51% of the Canadian business. With less than that, you apply as an employee, with an LMIA or under another category.
Self-employed or entrepreneur: a self-employed owner does the work, rarely hires outside the family and uses the job code of the actual work. An entrepreneur organizes and operates the business, takes on greater financial risk and uses the generic code NOC 88888.
A defined period: C11 permits are normally issued for up to 18 months. Seasonal businesses, such as bed and breakfasts, are temporary by nature. A year-round business needs a transition or exit plan, such as hiring a manager to run it after you leave.
Funds: personal support funds equal to the low income cut-off (LICO) for your family size for at least 18 months, separate business funds and proof of where the money came from.
One point owners often miss: work as a C11 owner does not count toward the Canadian Experience Class. Permanent residence needs its own plan, which I cover in my 2026 guide to business immigration. For how officers read C11 files in detail, see my notes on IRCC's C11 guidelines, and for how I approach these files, my C11 work permit service.
Where these files go wrong
A one-country company applying for an ICT start-up. It is refused because the company is not a multinational, however strong its home business is.
A minority owner applying under C11. A 40% owner does not control the business, so C11 is not available.
A manager with nobody to manage. A senior title in a Canadian office with no staff and no hiring plan does not persuade an officer.
A business plan that is a market study. Officers look for concrete steps: premises, contracts, hiring and costs.
A home address or virtual office for an ICT start-up.
C11 renewal after renewal with no exit plan, which makes the stay look anything but temporary.
How I decide between them
If your company already earns revenue in at least two countries and needs you to open and run a Canadian office with real premises, I look at the ICT first. If your company operates only in your home country, the ICT is closed. I then look at C11, or at C10 when the business will bring a significant benefit that fits that category. When permanent residence is the goal from the start, a provincial entrepreneur stream may fit better than either.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use an intra-company transfer if my company operates only in my home country?
Not to open a new office. IRCC requires revenue-generating business operations in at least two countries before the transfer, and the Canadian office does not count.
How much of the business do I need to own for C11?
At least 51%. With less, you apply as an employee instead.
How long is a C11 work permit?
Normally up to 18 months. A longer request has to satisfy the officer that your stay is still temporary.
Does C11 work experience count toward the Canadian Experience Class?
No. Self-employment and work as an entrepreneur do not count, so plan permanent residence through another route from the start.
What I would do now
List where your company actually earns revenue today, with the financial statements to prove it.
Decide the ownership structure before you incorporate in Canada. The 51% line decides whether C11 is available at all.
If you are looking at an ICT, secure real commercial premises before you apply.
Build the funds evidence early: personal support funds, business funds and the source of both.
Plan the permanent residence step before the first permit, because C11 experience will not count toward the Canadian Experience Class.
This article reflects the rules as of September 2026.
If you want me to review your plan, you can book an online consultation. I work virtually, in English and Turkish, on flat fees. If a route does not fit your facts, I will tell you.
The articles on this site are general information, not legal advice, and reading them doesn't create a lawyer-client relationship. Immigration rules change often, so always consult a qualified Canadian immigration lawyer about your specific situation.
