LMIA
What is an LMIA?
Programs that allow foreigners to live and work in Canada on a temporary basis usually require a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA).
Many foreign workers are exempt from needing an LMIA, however, all streams that fall under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) require LMIAs as well as some other immigration programs which will allow applicants to claim points for having a job in Canada.
An LMIA is a document provided by the Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) to assess what kind of effects hiring international workers will have in Canada. The ESDC’s main aim is to ensure that all Canadians have a higher quality of life by endorsing a highly skilled, efficient, and inclusive workforce to boost Canada’s labour market.
Once the ESDC has assessed whether it is viable to hire an international worker there will either be a positive or negative outcome.
A positive LMIA shows that an employer was unable to fill a particular job in Canada with a Canadian or a permanent resident that is suitable for the position.
A negative LMIA shows that there are sufficient Canadian or permanent resident candidates that are eligible to fill the vacant job position.
How Do I Apply for an LMIA?
The short answer is that you won’t have to. The onus is on your prospective employer to request an LMIA at least six months before the start date of your contract. Employers will have different application procedures depending on your wage and the median wage of the province or territory you will be working in. Low wage positions will require more processes than high-wage positions.
How Do I Get an LMIA Job?
There are various streams and areas of employment that will require an LMIA:
- In-home Caregivers.
- Agricultural Workers.
- Foreign Research Academics.
- Temporary Foreign Worker Program applicants; and
- Those who want to work in Quebec.
An LMIA exemption is when a Canadian employer does not need to apply for an LMIA when hiring a foreign worker. These are usually indexed and arranged through the International Mobility Program.
What is the International Mobility Program?
The International Mobility Program (IMP) allows Canadian employers to hire foreign workers without an LMIA under various programs. Unlike the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP), the IMP was designed to help foreign workers find their way to Canada to improve economic and cultural development in a much broader sense.
Employers will need to meet the following requirements to hire foreign workers through the IMP:
- Prove that the job or worker meets the requirements for LMIA exemption.
- Pay the compliance fee; and
- Submit an official job offer via the IMP Employer Portal.
Open Work Permits
There are certain work programs that do not require an LMIA since it allows you to work for any employer in Canada and only requires having an open work permit. These programs include:
- Post-Graduation Work Permit Program.
- International Experience Canada (IEC);
- Inland Spousal or Common-law Sponsorship Program; and
- Bridging Open Work Permit.
Global Talent Stream
The Global Talent Stream was designed to help bring highly skilled and specialized talent to Canada quickly through fast-tracked visa processing and boost Canada’s labor market to be able to compete on a global scale. As a result, employers hiring skilled workers under the GTS will automatically receive a positive LMIA. Employers will either need to apply through Category A, which requires being referred by a GTS partner, or through Category B which requires that the position to be filled appears on the specified list of occupations.
International Agreements
Canada also has various agreements with specific countries that allow foreign workers to accept job offers without needing an LMIA. These Free Trade Agreements include:
- North American Free Trade Agreement.
- Canada-Chile FTA/Canada-Peru FTA/Canada-Columbia FTA/Canada-Korea FTA/;
- Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA); and
- General Agreement on Trade In Services.
Canada Interest Exemptions
Canada also has a category whereby foreign nationals can fill jobs in Canada without an LMIA if it can be demonstrated that it will be a significant cultural or social benefit for Canadians. This will be reliant on the applicants’ past successes, recommendations and testimonials from those in a relevant field of expertise.
Intra-Company Transfers
If the company you are working for in your home country or outside of Canada wants to transfer you to a branch in Canada, you may also be exempt from an LMIA application.
Humanitarian and Compassionate LMIA-Exemptions
Canada is one of the countries that offer refuge to people who want to move to Canada and start a new life. In these exceptional cases, the government will review your application and could grant an LMIA exemption.
Facilitated LMIA – Quebec
Quebec has its own immigration processing system that is different from the federal immigration processes, so it stands to reason that its LMIA processing procedure differs slightly. Quebec employers will need to adhere to the following procedures:
- Submit application in French except for In-Home Caregivers.
- No job advertising requirements or proof of an attempt to hire a Canadian citizen or permanent resident is needed.
- Only high demand where there is a labour market shortage may be eligible; and
- LMIA application must be approved by federal (ESDC) and provincial (Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Diversité et de l’Inclusion (MIDI) authorities.
What Happens Once My LMIA is Approved?
If a Labour Market Impact Assessment is approved or deemed positive, it will be valid for 6 months. Sometimes an LMIA may be approved in as little as 10 days. You will then be notified by your employer to say that you can apply for your work permit or permanent residency. It is important to ensure that you receive a copy of the LMIA and job offer from your employer as you will need it when you apply for your work permit.
Before starting on your Canadian journey, it’s important to know whether or not you will need an LMIA or not. As outlined above, various programs and immigration categories are on offer for temporary foreign workers who are just as much an integral part of the development and growth of the Canadian economy as permanent residents and citizens are.
Once your Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) has been approved and you have your official job offer you’ll need to apply for your Canadian work permit. Requirements may differ slightly from program to program as well as if you are applying for work in the province of Quebec.
Need help with your application to work in Canada?
Simply click the link below to speak to one of our highly qualified consultants for more information about the visa and work permit application process.
READY TO START? APPLY NOW (Click Here)
LMIA Requirements
The LMIA application process can be quite labor-intensive and needs a lot of detailed supporting documents. Your employer will have to meet the following requirements to receive a positive LMIA: