Under this category, we first need to distinguish between working and volunteering. Work is a paid activity for which wages are either paid or received. Volunteering is giving free time for an activity without seeking remuneration. For example, a person participating in a political campaign would not be counted under work. Therefore, people who are volunteers are not part of the Canadian labor market, so no work permit is required for them.

The nature of the organization and the kind of work being performed are kept under consideration to determine whether an LMIA would be required or not. For the LMIA exemption, the organization must be charitable or religious, non-profitable, and charity must be its main goal. If the organization is registered, it will support the authorization in a positive way. If not, there is nothing to ponder much upon; it is not an absolute qualification.

After the institution, the nature of work comes into the assessment. It must be demonstrated by the foreign national that by the job, he/she is only promoting charitable and religious values. Lesser the remuneration received by the organization or the worker, more likely, the work would be considered religious or charitable.