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employer's productivity,competitiveness, image or financialposition.SalaryThe salary should be similar to atypical Canadian salary for theoccupation in question (geographicallocation is a consideration) andshould support the claim ofspecialized knowledge in the contextof the employee's specificexperience.TrainingGenerally, the applicant shouldpossess training and experienceconsistent with his/her claim tospecialized knowledge. The requisitetraining would be difficult forsomeone else to complete in thetime available.Supporting DocumentsApplications should include theapplicant's résumé, educationalcredentials, reference letter andletters of support from the foreignand Canadian entities.Professionals (Under NAFTA and OtherInternational Trade Agreements)The North American Free Trade Agreement(“NAFTA”), other international free tradeagreements (which Canada has in placewith Chile, Peru and Colombia) and theGeneral Agreement on Trade in Service(“GATS”) all facilitate the temporary entry ofbusiness persons and certain professionalsfrom member nations into Canada withoutthe need for an LMO. The immigrationprovisions under NAFTA are the mostexpansive and apply to citizens of Mexicoand the United States. Under theseagreements, foreign nationals qualified inone of the professions named in therelevant agreement can obtain a workpermit for a specified period for prearrangedemployment in Canada.Depending on the agreement, professionalwork permits can be issued for 90 days(under GATS) and up to three years (underNAFTA). NAFTA professional work permitscan be renewed indefinitely provided thework permit holder can continue todemonstrate a temporary purpose for beingin Canada. After repeat renewals,immigration officers may begin to doubt thegenuineness of a foreign national’stemporary intention and look to theindividual to become a permanent residentof Canada.To qualify for this type of work permit,professionals must meet the statedminimum educational requirements andalternative credentials. Over 60 professionsare included in the NAFTA professionalcategory such as engineers, geologists,accountants, computer system analysts,management consultants and university,college and seminary teachers. Similar listsof professions are included in Canada’s freetrade agreements with Chile, Peru andColumbia, and a more limited number ofprofessions in GATS.On October 18, 2013, Canada signed, inprinciple, a Comprehensive EconomicTrade Agreement ("CETA") with theEuropean Union (“EU”). CETA, which isexpected to come into force inBusiness Travel to Canada, Work Permits and Immigration Law 30