The Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) is a report from Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) that evaluates how hiring a foreign worker affects the Canadian job market. It is essential for Canadian businesses looking to hire foreign workers through immigration programs, such as the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) and the International Mobility Program (IMP).
The LMIA ensures that hiring a foreign worker does not negatively impact job opportunities for Canadians and that no qualified Canadians or permanent residents are available to fill the position. During the LMIA process, the employer must show that they have tried to recruit Canadian citizens or permanent residents and explain why they are hiring a foreign worker.
To apply for an LMIA work permit, the employer must submit a complete application to ESDC. This application includes details about the job, the company’s recruitment efforts, and a Labour Market Benefits Plan (LMBP). The LMBP outlines the employer’s commitments to the Canadian job market, such as training Canadian workers or investing in skill development. Before a Canadian company can hire a foreign worker, they may need to obtain an LMIA-based work permit. The LMIA shows the need for hiring a foreign worker for a specific job and confirms that no Canadian worker or permanent resident is available for that role. A positive LMIA, also known as a confirmation letter, means that the need for a foreign worker has been approved.
Labour Market Impact Assessment for India
If an LMIA work permit is needed, the employer must start the application process. Once the company receives the LMIA, the worker can then apply for the LMIA work permit. To apply for this work visa, the worker needs to have the following documents:
- A letter of employment
- A written agreement
- A duplicate of the LMIA
- The LMIA code
Find out if you need an LMIA
Before starting the hiring process, it’s important to check if an LMIA work permit is needed, as most companies require an LMIA before hiring a temporary foreign worker. For an LMIA work permit, you must meet certain criteria:
- A temporary foreign worker is required.
- There are no Canadians or permanent residents available to do the job.
To find out if you and the temporary foreign worker you want to hire need an LMIA work permit, you can:
- Review the LMIA exemption codes and explore the exemptions for work permits to determine if you and the temporary foreign worker you wish to hire are exempt from these requirements.
- Select the LMIA exemption or work permit code that seems most relevant to your hiring situation, and carefully examine the detailed description provided for that code.
- If an exemption code applies to you, you must include it in your job offer.
Or
If you are hiring a temporary foreign worker who is a U.S. citizen, feel free to contact the International Mobility Workers Unit. This also applies to those currently living outside of Canada or from countries whose citizens don’t need a visa.
How to get an LMIA?
Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) will issue you an LMIA. The LMIA application process varies depending on the program you’re applying for. Learn how to apply for an LMIA position:
- High-paying jobs
- Low-wage employees
- Seasonal agricultural labourers through the Agricultural Workers Program
- Employees through the Agricultural Stream
How do you go about hiring an LMIA?
You can employ temporary foreign workers via the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) to address labor and skill shortages. After obtaining an LMIA from ESDC (Employment and Social Development Canada) through Service Canada, provide each temporary foreign worker with a copy of the confirmation letter, and we are here to guide you for your visas process, so make an appointment to get consultant with us for visa. An LMIA issued by ESDC is mandatory in this process.
How do you hire if you don’t require an LMIA?
If you do not have an LMIA, you can hire temporary foreign workers through the International Mobility Program Canada. You should review the LMIA exemption code that matches your job posting and fulfill the requirement of paying the employer compliance fee and submitting an offer of employment form through the Employer Portal. It is necessary to complete these steps before the intended temporary foreign worker applies for a work permit.
Outside of Quebec, Francophone Mobility for Temporary Foreign Workers
The International Mobility Program (IMP) offers an exemption from the Labour Market Impact Assessment Canada requirement for hiring temporary foreign employees who are Francophone or bilingual, excluding those in Quebec. This exemption benefits employers in several ways, including the ability to provide services in both French and English and the promotion of minority language communities throughout Canada. To explore further, discover the advantages of hiring Francophone or multilingual workers outside Quebec.
Recruitment in the province of Quebec
If you are an employer in Quebec and are hiring temporary foreign workers through the TFWP, the temporary foreign worker will need a Quebec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ) from the Quebec Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation, et de l’Intégration (MIFI) before a work visa can be provided. A CAQ from the MIFI is not required if you are a Quebec business hiring a temporary foreign worker through the IMP to know more about regarding LMIA, you can contact us for information or any query.