The Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (“IRCC“) webstates describes the C-26 work permit as follows:
Professional and semi-professional coaches and athletes working for Canadian-based teams
Full or part-time paid coaches and trainers, and professional or semi-professional athletes working for Canadian-based teams require work permits. Given the international mobility in this field, they may be eligible for exemption from an LMIA pursuant to paragraph R205(b), C20, if they can prove that reciprocity exists for the particular occupation in their home country.
A full-time coach is a worker who earns significant income from coaching—enough to support themselves. A part-time coach earns a significant portion towards supporting themselves in Canada.
Professional Canadian teams, for which foreign athletes would require a work permit, include, but are not limited to, those in
- the National and American Hockey Leagues
- the Canadian Football League
- Major League Baseball and its affiliates at the A, AA and AAA levels
- the National Basketball Association
- the Canadian Soccer League
- Major League Soccer
IMMReps Q&A
C-20