Work Permits for Players and Coaches
Are you looking to qualify for a C20 Reciprocity Work Permit as a Professional Player or Coach, or semi-Professional Player or Coach, for Canada? If so, you’re in the right place!
How do I qualify for a work permit as a player or coach?
The C20 Reciprocity Work Permit is a program designed for professional players and coaches, as well as semi-professional players and coaches, who need a work permit to work temporarily in Canada. In order to qualify for this program, you’ll need to meet a few key criteria:
- You must be a professional or semi-professional player or coach. This means that you must have relevant experience in your chosen field, and that you must be able to demonstrate your experience through a portfolio or other means.
- You must have a valid job offer from a Canadian employer. This means that you must have a written offer of employment from a Canadian based team. The offer may be full-time or part-time, paid or unpaid. If part-time or unpaid, you must be able to show that you can otherwise support yourself financially in Canada during the period of time you expect to be in Canada.
- Your employer must provide evidence that Canadians have opportunities as players or coaches in your home country.
- You must meet the requirements of the Canadian immigration authorities. This means that you must meet all of the requirements for a work permit, including having a valid passport and being admissible to Canada.
If you meet these criteria, you may be eligible to apply for a C20 Reciprocity Work Permit as a Professional Player or Coach, or semi-Professional Player or Coach, for Canada.
How do I apply for a work permit as a player or coach?
In order to apply, you’ll need to fill out an application and submit it to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). You’ll also need to provide supporting documents, such as proof of your relevant experience, a valid job offer, evidence of similar opportunities for Canadian players or coaches abroad, and evidence of your admissibility to Canada.
Once you’ve submitted your application, it will be reviewed by IRCC. If your application is approved, you’ll be issued a work permit and you’ll be able to begin working in Canada as a professional or semi-professional player or coach.
Does a player or coach for a foreign team temporarily visiting Canada require a work permit?
You do not require a work permit to work in Canada as a temporary participant in sports activities or events either as an individual participant or as a member of a foreign-based team. When entering Canada to participate, you must still disclose the purpose of your entry and provide evidence that you meet the requirements of a work permit exemption. You may request a Visitor Record to document your authorization to work without a work permit.
Does an amateur player or coach require a work permit?
You do not require a work permit to work in Canada as a temporary participant in sports activities or events either as an individual participant or as a member of a Canadian amateur team. If the activity is competitive in nature in the sense that it competes with Canadians in the labour market, it may not require a work permit. In other cases, participating as players or coaches of amateur teams in Canada may not even be considered “work”. This would be the case when the activity is more appropriately characterized as “recreational activity”. When entering Canada to participate, you must still disclose the purpose of your entry and provide evidence that you meet the requirements of a work permit exemption or that you are entering to engage in solely recreational activity. Amateur or recreational players or coaches are generally not paid for their activity in Canada, although this exemption would cover some paid coaches for Canadian amateur teams. You may request a Visitor Record to document your authorization to work without a work permit in Canada during the period of your stay.
Can I qualify for an open work permit if I have a C20 Reciprocity work permit as a Professional Player for Canada?
It is possible for you to qualify for an open work permit if you have a C20 Reciprocity work permit as a Professional Player for Canada. An open work permit allows you to work for any employer in Canada, provided that the work permit is valid and you meet the other requirements for working in the country.
In order to qualify for an open work permit, you must first obtain a C20 Reciprocity work permit as a Professional Player. This permit is specifically designed for professional players who have a valid job offer from a Canadian employer. In order to qualify for this permit, you must have relevant experience in your chosen field, and you must be able to demonstrate your experience through a portfolio or other means.
Once you have a C20 Reciprocity work permit, you can apply for an open work permit. In order to do so, you’ll need to fill out an application and submit it to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). You’ll also need to provide supporting documents, such as proof of your relevant experience, a valid job offer, and evidence of your admissibility to Canada.
Once your application has been reviewed and approved, you’ll be issued an open work permit. This permit will allow you to work for any employer in Canada, provided that the permit is valid and you meet the other requirements for working in the country.
Overall, if you have a C20 Reciprocity work permit as a Professional Player for Canada, you may be eligible to apply for an open work permit. By filling out an application and providing the necessary supporting documents, you can increase your chances of being approved for this type of permit and pursuing your dream of working in Canada.
Can I qualify for an open work permit if I have a C20 Reciprocity work permit as a semi-professional player or as a coach?
Generally, a semi-professional player or a coach is not eligible for an open work permit under this program. You must be a professional player to qualify for the open work permit. This means that you are paid for your work as a player and the role in which you find yourself as a paid player is generally considered to be at the professional level.
Professional player-coaches who are paid can also qualify for an open work permit as long as they can demonstrate that at least some of their pay is for their role as a player.
Though rare, some players are paid to pay in semi-professional or amateur leagues. League by-laws, policies and rules should be consulted, as well as any public references or statements made by the league or team (e.g., the league’s or team’s websites may state whether it is a semi-professional or amateur league or team). It is the responsibility of each player who is applying for their work permit to show that they are a professional player if requesting an open work permit.
How can a Canadian immigration lawyer help me apply for a Professional or Semi-Professional Player or Coach Work Permit?
Mandelbaum Immigration Lawyers can conduct a work permit assessment for you. We can guide you on whether your job offer qualifies, inform you what specific documents are needed for your case, prepare your application or employer petition, submit your application and prepare you for your visa interview.
How can I schedule a consultation appointment?
Simply provide us with your name, email address and phone number by emailing us at info@dmandelbaum.com, and our office will contact you to arrange a consultation with a lawyer.