A trade deal review sparks calls to expand work permit jobs, i.e., as North America’s main trade agreement comes up for review, many groups are asking for more jobs to be added to the list of occupations eligible for special work permits.

The agreement, known as the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) in Canada and the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) in the U.S., replaced NAFTA in 2020. It allows easier work permits for certain medical, technology, and professional jobs.

Under CUSMA, workers in 63 professions can apply for work permits through Canada’s International Mobility Program (IMP). This process is faster and simpler than the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP), which requires employers to first get a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA).

Under the current agreement, workers in the following professions are eligible for these special work permits:

CUSMA Professions

  • Accountant
  • Agriculturalist
  • Animal Breeder
  • Animal Scientist
  • Apiculturist
  • Architect
  • Astronomer
  • Biochemist
  • Biologist
  • Chemist
  • Computer Systems Analyst
  • Dairy Scientist
  • Dentist
  • Dietician
  • Disaster Relief Insurance Claims Adjuster
  • Economist
  • Entomologist
  • Engineer
  • Epidemiologist
  • Forester
  • Geneticist
  • Geochemist
  • Geologist
  • Geophysicist
  • Graphic Designer
  • Horticulturalist
  • Hotel Manager
  • Industrial Designer
  • Interior Designer
  • Land Surveyor
  • Landscape Architect
  • Lawyer (including Notary in Quebec)
  • Librarian
  • Management Consultant
  • Mathematician
  • Medical Laboratory Technologist
  • Meteorologist
  • Nutritionist
  • Occupational Therapist
  • Pharmacist
  • Pharmacologist
  • Physician
  • Physicist
  • Physiotherapist
  • Plant Breeder
  • Poultry Scientist
  • Psychologist
  • Range Manager
  • Recreational Therapist
  • Registered Nurse
  • Research Assistant
  • Scientific Technician/Technologist
  • Social Worker
  • Soil Scientist
  • Sylviculturalist
  • Teachers (College, Seminary, and University)
  • Technical Publications Writer
  • Urban Planner
  • Veterinarian
  • Vocational Counsellor
  • Zoologist

To qualify, workers must already have a job offer in Canada and meet the job’s education, experience, and licensing requirements.

With CUSMA set for review in 2026, Global Affairs Canada asked for public input from September 20 to November 3, 2025. A report with the results was released on February 6, 2026.

One key recommendation was to update the list of eligible professions. The current list has not changed since NAFTA in 1994. Stakeholders said the list should better reflect today’s job market, especially in digital and clean technology fields.

Suggested new roles include cybersecurity analysts, data scientists, and UI/UX designers.

Stakeholders also asked for easier border processes, faster import and export rules, and a simpler system for proving where goods come from.

CUSMA will remain in effect until 2036, unless it is renewed or replaced before then.

Palina Immigration Consultancy, a Canadian immigration leader, promises excellence and tailored pathways for your Canadian journey. Get in touch with us at Palinaimmigration.com.