Occupations excluded from C16

Since June 15, 2023, the C16 work permit is open to job offers in every TEER category. The only occupational exception IRCC names is primary agriculture in TEER 4 and 5.

What primary agriculture means

According to ESDC, primary agriculture is work that:

• is performed within the boundaries of a farm, nursery or greenhouse;
• involves at least one activity such as operating agricultural machinery; raising, caring for or breeding animals (other than fish) to obtain raw products; or planting, caring for and harvesting crops for market;
• matches one of these NOC codes: 80020, 80021, 82030, 82031, 84120, 85100, 85101, 85103.

Codes excluded from C16

Of the list above, the codes in TEER 4 and 5 cannot be used for C16:

The agricultural codes in TEER 0 and 2 (managers in agriculture 80020, managers in horticulture 80021, agricultural service contractors and farm supervisors 82030, landscaping contractors and supervisors 82031) are not part of this exception.

Other cases that don't qualify

Beyond the occupation, a job offer cannot be used for C16 if:

• the job is in Quebec, including remote work for an employer based in Quebec;
• the job does not match the NOC description or does not make sense for the employer's size;
• the wage is below the provincial minimum wage or unreasonable for the position;
• the employer is banned for non-compliance.

Note Before June 15, 2023, C16 only accepted TEER 0 to 3. Many older articles online still state this; check IRCC's current page.