This information will be of interest to Indian entertainers intending to perform in Canada, either live or on screen, for Canadian or Indian audience consumption. A visitor visa is required in all cases. Depending on the activity�- not on the intended audience -- some performers require additional work permits and others require Work permits as well as confirmations of employment from Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC).

The confirmation of employment is a type of certification from HRSDC that there is no Canadian or permanent resident who could perform the same duties that the temporary foreign worker will perform.

HRSDC�s primary consideration is to ensure that entertainers, and support crew in the entertainment industry who are Canadian citizens or Permanent residents have sufficient opportunity to apply for a vacant position, and that wages and working conditions for temporary foreign workers are acceptable and equivalent to union standards.

The new Immigration and Refugee Protection Act includes some changes for individuals who wish to go to Canada to perform live.

Before you apply for a visa, you should be fully aware of what type of document will be required. If you require a confirmation of employment from HRSDC and have not obtained it, your application for a work permit will automatically be refused.

Advance planning is very important, particularly if you will be travelling in a group or in our high season, May to October. We generally require a minimum of ten working days in order to process a group of entertainers. This time frame may be longer depending on the volume of applications for groups that we are processing at any given time.

Confirmations of employment and work permits are required for (among others)

Entry by visitor visa alone is allowed for:

Indian film makers who want to shoot in Canada will find it useful to visit the websites of co-production organizations in Canada, including many of the potential partners discussed above. Many provincial and city organizations provide assistance to movie producers who are considering filming in their area, ranging for location scouting to assistance with local permits.

Film producers should be aware that the whole process generally takes several months, and planning ahead is essential. It is recommended that you allow for at least six months in order to complete the preliminary work required to film in Canada.

Work permits are usually required for all employees, including all actors and crew. Only producers are exempt from this requirement.

In order to obtain a work permit, a confirmation of employment, or labour market opinion, is required from Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC). We will provide you with much of the information you will need. HRSDC's primary consideration is to ensure that entertainers, and support crew in the entertainment industry, who are Canadian citizens or permanent residents have sufficient opportunity to apply for a vacant position, and that wages and working conditions are acceptable and equivalent to union standards.

Only once the confirmation process is complete should the application can be made at the High Commission for work permits in order to obtain the visas and commence filming.