Canada has introduced, for the first time, detailed eligibility requirements for foreign nationals who want to work as academic examiners without obtaining a work permit.
The new federal immigration instructions, issued on July 31, specify who can qualify for the exemption and the conditions attached to their activities in Canada.
Under the updated guidelines, eligible foreign examiners must be senior academics or experienced professionals in their respective industries with an established reputation in the field they are assessing.
They must also present an official invitation letter from the organisation responsible for inviting them to serve as an examiner or evaluator.
The exemption covers three main categories of academic work: thesis examination, research proposal assessment, and evaluation of university programmes or projects.
However, foreign nationals must satisfy several conditions to qualify.
The work must last for less than six months, and the individual must not receive payment from a Canadian source for the activities. Immigration officers may also impose additional conditions or restrictions on the permit-exempt work.
Where necessary, officers can issue a visitor record specifying the conditions under which the foreign national is authorised to carry out the activity without a work permit.
Foreign academic examiners are expected to carry supporting documents demonstrating that they meet the exemption requirements when seeking entry into Canada.
They must also satisfy the country’s general requirements for temporary visitors. Depending on their nationality, this may include obtaining a temporary resident visa (TRV) or an electronic travel authorisation (eTA), as well as meeting Canada’s admissibility requirements.
The exemption applies only when the examiner’s activities do not amount to participation in the Canadian labour market.
In most circumstances, any payment received for the work must come entirely from organisations or entities that have no financial connection to Canada.
