For the first time, the Canadian federal government has published the specific eligibility criteria for foreign nationals to be authorized to work without a permit as academic examiners.
According to updated instructions to officers published on the government website on July 31, 2026, an examiner must “be a senior academic or industry professional with an established reputation in the relevant field” and must “provide an official invitation letter from the governing body that has invited them to adjudicate.”
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The updated instructions, titled “International Mobility Program: Authorization to work without a work permit – Examiners and evaluators,” now also include a specific explanation of each of the three categories which can qualify under this work permit exemption: thesis examiners, research proposal evaluators, and program/university project evaluators.
The specific eligibility criteria and explanations of each category did not appear in the earlier version of the instructions.
The updated version of the instructions also specifies three standard requirements which were not listed previously, but are generally applicable to all work permit exemptions: that the duration must be for less than six months, that the foreign national cannot receive remuneration from within Canada for the activities, and that the officer may impose specific limitations on the authorization to work without a permit.
The updated instructions also specify that officers may issue the foreign national a visitor record listing the conditions associated with their permit-exempt work authorization.
Foreign nationals seeking entry to Canada under a work permit exemption must typically provide documentation to satisfy the officer that they qualify.
About work permit exemptions
A foreign national typically requires a work permit to be authorized to work in Canada, and would seek entry to Canada as a temporary foreign worker.
A foreign national can be authorized to work in Canada as a visitor under a work permit exemption if they meet the requirements associated with that specific exemption, as defined in the federal government’s regulations.
For a foreign national to be authorized to work without a permit under an exemption, the work situation must be such that the foreign national is not considered to be entering the Canadian labour market. In most cases, such exemptions require that any and all remuneration received by the foreign national for their work activities must originate wholly from entities with no financial ties to Canada.
A foreign national who seeks entry under a work permit exemption must also meet all Canada’s entry requirements for visitors seeking entry as temporary residents, including having a valid temporary resident visa (TRV) or electronic travel authorization (eTA), unless exempt, and not being inadmissible to Canada on account of a criminal record or serious medical conditions.
Foreign nationals with a criminal history, including for offences such as driving under the influence charges (DUIs), may wish to seek professional legal advice prior to planning their trip, so as to minimize the risk of being denied entry to Canada.
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