Work · Work without a permit

Work without a permit

This is not a work permit. R186 and two public policies authorize some work without one. Confirm the live PDI dated 27 Apr 2026.

The letters below are R186(a) through R186(x) from that PDI, plus the short-term public policy and the 120-day researcher public policy. Fitting a row still leaves the entry decision with the officer.

Official vs judgment: names and letters are copied from the live PDI. The one-line eligibility restates that official heading. It is not a substitute for the linked instruction.

Official list: IRCC PDI: Work without a permit list [R186 and public policies].

Last checked 2026-08-25. Live-fetched https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/corporate/publications-manuals/operational-bulletins-manuals/temporary-residents/foreign-workers/work-without-permit.html on 2026-08-22. HTTP 200. Printed dateModified 2026-04-27.

Authorization	Name	One-line eligibility	Official link
R186(a)	Business visitors	Business visitor work that stays inside R186(a). Confirm the official business-visitor page before you treat a trip as permit-free.	Official page
R186(b)	Foreign representatives	Accredited foreign representative work listed under R186(b).	Official page
R186(c)	Family members of foreign representatives	Family members of foreign representatives, as set out on the official foreign-representatives page.	Official page
R186(d)	Military personnel	Military personnel authorized to work without a permit under R186(d). Family members have a linked official page.	Official page
R186(e)	Foreign government officers	Foreign government officers listed under R186(e).	Official page
R186(f)	On-campus employment	Study-permit holders who meet the on-campus employment rules.	Official page
R186(g)	Performing artists	Performing artists who fit the R186(g) authorization, not every arts job in Canada.	Official page
R186(h)	Athletes and team members	Athletes and team members listed under R186(h).	Official page
R186(i)	News reporters, media crews	News reporters and media crews listed under R186(i).	Official page
R186(j)	Public speakers	Public speakers listed under R186(j).	Official page
R186(k)	Convention organizers	Convention organizers listed under R186(k). Sales work has a linked official page.	Official page
R186(l)	Religious leaders	Religious leaders listed under R186(l).	Official page
R186(m)	Judges, referees and similar officials	Judges, referees, and similar officials listed under R186(m).	Official page
R186(n)	Examiners and evaluators	Examiners and evaluators listed under R186(n).	Official page
R186(o)	Expert witnesses or investigators	Expert witnesses or investigators listed under R186(o).	Official page
R186(p)	Short-term students in a foreign health care program	Short-term students in a foreign health care program listed under R186(p).	Official page
R186(q)	Civil aviation inspector	Civil aviation inspector listed under R186(q).	Official page
R186(r)	Aviation accident or incident inspector	Aviation accident or incident inspector listed under R186(r).	Official page
R186(s)	Crew	Crew members listed under R186(s).	Official page
R186(t)	Emergency service providers	Emergency service providers listed under R186(t).	Official page
R186(u)	Continued authorization pending a work-permit renewal decision	Maintained work authorization while a work-permit renewal is in process, if the official R186(u) conditions are met.	Official page
R186(v)	Off-campus work	Study-permit holders who meet the off-campus work rules.	Official page
R186(w)	Study permit holders who completed studies	Study-permit holders who have completed their studies and meet the R186(w) authorization, often while a PGWP is pending. Confirm the official page.	Official page
R186(x)	Registered Indians	Registered Indians, as defined under the Indian Act, are exempt from having to apply for a work permit.	Official page
Short-term PP	Short-term high-skilled work of 15 or 30 days	Public policy for certain high-skilled work of 15 consecutive days, or 30 consecutive days, with the reuse limits printed on the official page. This is not a work permit.	Official page
120-day researcher PP	120-day work permit exemption for researchers	Public policy for researchers for 120 consecutive days from the date the exemption is granted. The official page says applicants already in Canada are not eligible to make an initial application in Canada. This is not a work permit.	Official page