Arts and Performing Arts Program

The following provides a list of occupations in the Art and Entertainment Industry that allows participants with no work permit to work inside Canada. Note: It is not all-inclusive.

• Actors, technicians, artists, and related workers in the television, film, theatre, and radio industry (Example: artists working in taped television dramatic productions and live dramatic performances being filmed in Canada, screen and television actors, technicians working on TV and/or Film production, persons doing dubbing work for films, persons participating in making a motion picture or documentary, sound recording and/or commercial production);
• Adjudicators, artistic field;
• American Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada (AFM) (a maximum 3-month work permit is issued for US citizens entering Canada who holds a letter from the CFM indicating that they are participating in a Cultural Exchange Program);
• Buskers;
• Circus performers (Foreign traveling circus performers would fall under this category. Certain exceptions, such as Cirque de Soleil, also fit in this category, although they are a Canadian company. They would fall under the significant benefit category under Canadian immigration regulations);
• Conductors;
• Festival Workers;
• Film co-producers (The foreign co-producer must provide proof of a letter from the Canadian co-producer proving the co-production agreement);
• Film producers employed by foreign companies (persons taking part in the purchase or renting of equipment from recording and film studios in Canada);
• Film and recording studio users;
• Guest artists coming to perform on Canadian television or radio;
• World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) (performers and accompanying essential crews as long as the performance is not primarily for film production or TV or radio broadcast – PPV or commercial broadcast is acceptable).

If your company or crew falls into any of these categories or you believe that you are a guest performer/support crew, you can contact us anytime by clicking on this WhatsApp link, Email, or Phone.

We are also available for emergency applications and consultations on short notice pertaining to these types of paperwork and applications.