A brief understanding of LMIA

Canada’s Labor Market Impact Assessment policy aims to confirm that no Canadian citizen or a permanent resident has the ability or intention to get a particular job. It secures the interests of the local job market while offering the position to a foreign worker.

An employer must prove that the local candidates are not available to fill the position despite all efforts, like advertisements for the position and subsequent interviews. The federal immigration authority of Canada only grants a positive Labor Market Impact Assessment to hire a foreign worker after assessing the employer’s attempts to employ local candidates. 

The responsibility to secure a positive LMIA rests with the employer. Most immigration pathways to permanent residency and each TFWP stream mandate a positive LMIA. The employer must intimate the foreign worker to start the application process to get a work permit as the validity period of a positive LMIA is only six months.

Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP)

The Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) and Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada run the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP). The program aims at securing the rights and interests of foreign workers and helping employers fill vacant job positions with deserving applicants. There are multiple streams of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program.

You can explore multiple employer-specific streams of the TFWP like:

• Low-Wage Worker – It helps employers hire workers at lower than median hourly wages

• High wage Worker – Employers hire workers at more than median hourly wages 

• Agricultural Workers – Temporary foreign workers can find opportunities in agricultural production activities  

• Seasonal Agricultural Workers – The peak agricultural season in Canada lasts for around eight months, creating many job opportunities for farm workers. The SAWP caters to agricultural workers from select countries because of the bilateral agreements. 

• Global Skills – High-skilled foreign workers are in great demand in Canada to drive its technology and other industry sectors. Canada’s Global Skills Strategy enables Canadian employers to fill positions in NOC Skill Levels 0 and A by hiring eligible candidates with no LMIA requirement. The Global Talent Stream of Temporary Foreign Worker Program allows employers to hire candidates with positive LMIA.  

• In-home care provider stream – The Temporary Foreign Worker Program comprises a Home Care Provider stream to help families and individuals hire caregivers to look after seniors and kids. Caregivers for individuals with medical needs are also in high demand. 

• Foreign academics – Canada welcomes qualified foreign academics to enhance its global competitiveness by boosting the quality of education. Hiring candidates for research posts at post-secondary learning institutes is exempt from LMIA requirements. Some positions may not even mandate work permits. 

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Getting a Canadian Work Permit 

Securing a Canadian work permit involves three steps. Most individuals must secure a job offer from a Canadian employer. Open work permits are exempt from the job offer because these are not employer-specific.

Secure a job offer from a Canadian employer

Job search is a crucial step in the work permit application process because it will help you get a job offer. There are several Canadian job search portals to find a suitable job. One can also explore jobs by using personal contacts in Canada. One should be careful about signing up with fraudulent job sites.

Arrange necessary documents

 Most job positions in Canada need LMIA exemptions if an employer wishes to hire a foreign national to fill them. The LMIA process is faster if you apply through the Global Talent Search program. Regular LMIA applications may take five to six months for approval.

Apply for a work permit

The department of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada has the authority to process and approve the work permit. Application for a work permit to the IRCC should accompany a job offer with positive LMIA approval. The open work permit requires no job offer or LMIA.  

A work permit allows the holder to work and live in Canada for a specific period. It may mention the location and the name of the employer. One cannot stay in Canada after the work permit’s validity period unless there is an extension.

Canada is a friendly and multi-cultural country offering excellent career opportunities to job seekers from across the globe. It is the go-to destination for most foreign workers who seek better living standards and a safe environment. We help you navigate the entire Work Permit process, beginning with your profile assessment.