How to Move From the U.S. to Canada for Business or Corporate Expansion
- Work permits and intercompany transfers are among the fastest ways to move from the U.S. to Canada for business.
- Express Entry and Provincial Nominee Programs offer pathways to permanent residence for skilled professionals.
- Start-Up Visa and Entrepreneur Programs enable U.S. founders and investors to launch or expand business operations in Canada.
Why U.S. Companies Are Moving Talent and Operations to Canada
For U.S.-based companies, Canada offers a blend of economic stability, business-friendly immigration pathways and access to a highly educated, diverse workforce. That can help businesses push for growth, resilience and long-term success.
Here’s what’s driving the shift:
- Access to skilled talent: Canada’s immigration system welcomes global professionals in tech, healthcare, engineering and other in-demand sectors. Programs like Express Entry and the Global Talent Stream make it easier and faster to bring top performers into your Canadian operations.
- Fewer visa bottlenecks: Compared to the U.S., Canada’s work permit and residency options are often more predictable and streamlined. Intercompany transfers and LMIA-exempt work permits allow executives, managers and specialized staff to move efficiently across the border.
- Stable, predictable environment: With lower healthcare costs, political stability and strong trade ties, Canada gives businesses a solid foundation to plan for the future, especially those looking to diversify away from the U.S.-centric risk.
- Access to global markets: Expanding to Canada can open doors to international partnerships, especially through free trade agreements like CETA and CPTPP.
Work Permits to Move U.S. Employees to Canada
When relocating employees across the border, the right work permit is your bridge. For U.S. companies with Canadian branches or those expanding into the market, work permits offer a fast and legally sound way to get top talent on the ground.
The key is choosing the right permit for the role, the employee and your company’s goals.
Intra-Company Transfer Work Permit
The Intra-Company Transfer (ICT) program is one of the most strategic pathways for moving U.S.-based executives, managers or employees with specialized knowledge to a Canadian location.
This work permit is available to companies that have a qualifying relationship between the U.S. and Canadian entities, such as a parent, branch, subsidiary or affiliate and it does not require a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA), which saves both time and paperwork.
To qualify, your employee must:
- Be currently employed by a U.S. company and have at least 1 year of full-time work experience in the last 3 years
- Be transferring to a comparable role in Canada, such as an executive position, senior managerial function or a role requiring advanced proprietary knowledge
- Continue working under the same corporate umbrella, which means that the Canadian business must be actively operating
ICT permits are typically issued for up to 1 year for start-ups and up to 3 years for established companies, with renewals possible.
Employer-Specific Work Permit
An Employer-Specific Work Permit allows a U.S. company to relocate an employee to Canada based on a valid job offer from a Canadian entity. This permit ties the employee to a specific role, company and location, so it’s important that the details match exactly what was approved.
In most cases, this route requires an LMIA to show that hiring a foreign worker won’t negatively affect Canadian job seekers. The process involves advertising the role in Canada first, then applying for permission to hire internationally. However, exemptions do exist for certain roles, free trade agreements (like CUSMA) and intra-company moves.
While it takes longer than LMIA-exempt options, the employer-specific permit is a solid path if you’re hiring for a clear need and can’t access local talent.
Global Talent Stream (GTS)
For companies in tech or innovation-driven sectors, the Global Talent Stream offers one of the fastest work permit options in Canada, often processing in as little as 2 weeks. It's designed for high-growth companies and employers hiring in-demand occupations, such as data scientists, software engineers and IT specialists.
The GTS requires an LMIA, but it follows a streamlined process with no advertising requirement if the role fits the list of eligible occupations. You’ll need to create a Labour Market Benefits Plan with Employment and Social Development Canada to outline how your company will invest in Canadian talent (such as training or knowledge transfer).
This program is a favourite among scale-ups and established tech firms because it balances compliance with speed.
Express Entry for Skilled Corporate Professionals
For U.S. companies relocating high-value talent to Canada, the Express Entry system offers a direct and strategic route to permanent residence. It’s built for skilled workers and executives with strong professional backgrounds who want to establish long-term roots in Canada.
Express Entry operates on a points-based system called the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). It evaluates candidates based on age, education, language proficiency (English or French), work experience and adaptability. Those with higher scores are invited to apply for permanent residence through one of three streams:
For corporate leaders or HR professionals, this matters because Express Entry allows you to offer a chance to stay in Canada permanently, without being tied to a temporary permit. A valid job offer can boost a candidate’s CRS score significantly, especially if it's backed by an LMIA or issued through a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP).
Provincial Nominee Programs for U.S. Employers
If your company is expanding into Canada or relocating U.S.-based staff, Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) can be a powerful tool. These programs allow provinces and territories to nominate foreign workers for permanent residence based on their regional labour market needs.
Unlike federal pathways, PNPs give employers and applicants more flexibility to align talent with in-demand occupations across Canada. Whether you're hiring engineers for Alberta’s energy sector, IT specialists for Ontario’s tech hub or healthcare professionals in Atlantic Canada, PNPs can help you fill those roles quickly.
For U.S. employers, the key advantage is that a job offer from your company can directly support an employee’s nomination and help secure their permanent status in Canada. Many PNPs also offer Express Entry-aligned streams, which combine the speed of Express Entry with the local focus of the province.
Some of the most business-relevant programs include:
Each program has its own criteria, but working with an experienced immigration lawyer can help you match your employee’s qualifications to the right stream and avoid delays or refusals.
Entrepreneur and Investor Pathways
For U.S. business owners, executives or investors, Canada offers several immigration pathways designed to attract innovative thinkers and job creators. These programs allow you to launch, buy or expand a business in Canada and gain permanent residence in the process.
Start-Up Visa for U.S. Founders
Canada’s Start-Up Visa (SUV) is ideal for entrepreneurs with scalable, innovative business ideas and backing from a designated Canadian organization. If your U.S. business is ready to go global, this program offers a direct path to permanent residence.
To qualify, you’ll need:
- Support from a government-approved incubator, angel investor or venture capital fund
- A qualifying business that is innovative and job-generating
- Sufficient settlement funds and language proficiency
In 2024, SUV interest surged with four times more applicants than the previous year, making it a leading option for the U.S.-based tech founders and disruptors.
Provincial Entrepreneur Streams
Many provinces offer their own entrepreneur immigration programs, tailored to regional priorities. These streams often require:
- A business plan
- Personal net worth above a defined threshold (often 300K–800K CAD)
- Commitment to invest and actively manage a business in the province
For example, British Columbia, Ontario and Alberta all run entrepreneur programs that target experienced owners and senior managers. These PNP-based pathways are perfect if you're targeting a specific market in Canada or wish to settle outside of major hubs.
Buying a Business in Canada
Buying an existing Canadian business remains a viable route for U.S. entrepreneurs and corporate professionals, but recent changes to immigration rules have made strategic planning more important than ever.
This pathway is often used by:
- U.S. investors seeking operational control from day one
- Franchisees and business buyers expanding into new markets
- Executives using acquisitions to support Intra-Company Transfers
As of 2025, business buyers may apply for a work permit under the C11 LMIA-exempt category if they own at least 51% of the Canadian entity and demonstrate clear economic or social benefit, particularly in underserved areas. The permit is valid for up to 18 months and no longer contributes toward Canadian Experience Class eligibility for PR.
Applicants must also provide a separate proof of personal and business funding, a detailed exit plan to show temporary intent and a strong case for how the business benefits Canada.
Move to Canada with Confidence
Making the move from the U.S. to Canada for business is a strategic decision that can shape your company’s future. Whether you’re transferring key talent, launching a new venture or expanding operations, the right immigration strategy turns cross-border complexity into competitive advantage.
At Ackah Business Immigration Law, we understand the pressures and potential of corporate mobility. We help U.S. businesses and founders navigate the Canadian immigration system with clarity, speed and long-term focus so that you can grow with confidence and stay ahead of change.
Book a call with one of our client engagement coordinators and discover how we can help you build something special in Canada.
