TV and Film Production Workers

TV and Film Production
Workers

Canada’s entertainment industry is thriving. As a result, television (TV) and film productions can use the TV and Film Production Work Permit Category to bring in important personnel.
This type of work permit is exempt from the requirement to obtain a Labour Market Impact Assessment. (LMIA).
Even though they are exempt from an LMIA, foreign persons must follow all regulations regarding temporary work in Canada, including obtaining a Temporary Resident Visa if necessary.
This work visa category is accessible to international and Canadian production companies filming in Canada provided they can demonstrate that the foreign national’s job is important to the production.
Applicants for this type of work visa must show papers indicating that they meet the standards for the category.

This covers, but is not limited to, the following items:

A letter of support from the production, which should generally contain specifications such as:

The name and contact information for the production,

The working title of the production, the province(s) or territory(ies) in Canada in which the production will take place and the proposed dates of production,

The name of the work permit applicant for the production,

A statement confirming that the individual and position are essential to that specific TV or film production,

Details of the significant economic benefit to Canada of the TV or film production, which may include:

The signature of a senior representative of the production,

The estimated number of jobs for Canadians created by the production,

The estimated budgetary spend in Canada at the federal, provincial or territorial level, and

A statement confirming that the TV or film production satisfies the criteria for federal, provincial or territorial tax credit for TV or film production, or is the recipient of federal, provincial or territorial funding for TV or film production.

If the position is unionized, a letter from the relevant union or guild, which should generally contain specifications such as:

The description of the union or guild,

The working title and the relevant location(s) of the TV or film production,

The name of the work permit applicant,

a statement for the officer’s consideration indicating that the union or guild is of the view that the work to be performed is subject to a collective agreement and that it has no objection to the foreign national working in the specified position for the specified company,

The signature of a senior representative of the organization, and

The date of signature.

TV and Film Production Workers