Alberta to create more film and TV jobs || VO Visas

 Alberta to create more film and TV jobs || VO Visas

Canada offers expedited processing of work permits for film and television workers.

The world has seen Alberta in some of America's most popular movies and television series. Interstellar, Ghostbusters, Fraggle Rock, The Last of Us, and Fargo are just a few of the notable productions filmed in Alberta.

Alberta's provincial government recently announced plans to invest more in the film and television sector.

"Alberta's motion picture industry has doubled its production value and is becoming one of the fastest-growing industries in our province," Alberta Secretary of Labor Doug Schweitzer said in a press release.

The total budget for the 2022-2023 Alberta Film and Television Tax Credit Program is $70 million, and 2024-2025 is $225 million.

"Our increased investment in the film and television tax credit means more action from our province in the years to come," Schweitzer said.

The ultimate goal is to grow the film industry by $1.5 billion over the next decade.

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Since its implementation in January 2020, the Film and Television Tax Credit has attracted 62 productions to Alberta and is expected to spend $621 million in the province and create more than 12,500 direct and indirect jobs. Provides refundable Alberta Production Tax Creditcertificates and eligible labor costs to businesses that produce eligible films, television series, and other screen productions in the province.

The Film and Television Tax Credit supplements the Alberta Production Grant and is part of the government's commitment to growing Alberta's cultural industry by 25 percent over the next decade.

Work permits and visas for film production companies

The Government of Canada has created a work permit category to make it easier for essential manufacturing personnel to work in Canada.

Crew members who qualify for the TV and film production work permit category are exempt from taking a labor market test called a labor market impact assessment (LMIA).

Eligibility for the LMIA exemption depends on whether the worker's role is critical to production. As there is no exhaustive list of "essential personnel", its definition is open to interpretation. Since "materials" may vary from case to case, decisions will be made on a case-by-case basis. The outcome depends on the evidence presented. Occupation is just one of many considerations.

For those who need an LMIA, many workers in the TV and film industries may get a streamlined process that doesn't require advertising.

Some entertainment industry employees may require a business visitor visa instead of a work permit.

Entertainment professionals who can be considered business visitors can be divided into three categories:

Film producers:- Travel to Canada to shoot foreign movies, TV shows, or documentaries. The project had to be financed entirely from abroad, so a collaboration between a foreign production company and a Canadian company was not possible.

Essential personnel:- Come to Canada to work on a foreign-funded commercial film. These workers need to enter Canada for a short period, usually no more than two weeks. The assessment of what constitutes "essential personnel" is done on a case-by-case basis and depends largely on the evidence provided by the producer.

Performing artists:- Appear in shows, concerts, festivals, or guest appearances on television shows or movies filmed in Canada. They can be considered business travelers as long as their reason for coming to Canada is temporary work. Performing artists may only need a work permit for regular recurring performances

Whether your work is headed to Alberta or another Canadian province, knowing your options before you leave can ensure smooth transit. A Canadian immigration attorney can help you determine what visas and work permits are required for your crew.

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