what is Canada Work permit LMIA?
A Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) is a document issued by Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) assessing the impact of hiring a foreign national in Canada. A positive LMIA indicates that there is no Canadian citizen or permanent resident to fill a position, therefore enabling an employer to hire a foreign national. A negative LMIA indicates that a position should be filled by a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.
It is possible to hire a foreign worker who is exempt from needing an LMIA, or who is exempt from requiring a work permit.
All streams of Canada’s Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) require that an employer obtain an LMIA in order to hire outside of Canada.
LMIA gives express entry profiles up to 600 points creating a definite chance of getting approve the next upcoming draw.
Popular Job Roles
The job titles that are generally in demand in Canada require a LMIA vary by sector and area. IT professionals, healthcare professionals, skilled trades workers, engineers, hospitality and tourism professionals, sales and customer service representatives, financial professionals, teachers and professors, agricultural workers, and transportation workers are among the most common occupations requiring an LMIA.
A foreign national cannot apply for an LMIA. Rather, LMIA’s are documents which must be applied for by a Canadian employer.
An employer may submit an application for an LMIA as early as 6-months prior to the intended start date for the position. LMIA application procedures vary depending on the wage of the person being hired. Employers should consult the median hourly wages of their province or territory in order to determine whether their position is considered high-wage or low-wage, as low-wage positions will require the employer to meet additional criteria. There are specialized streams for employers wishing to obtain LMIAs for certain areas of employment.
We help employers process positive LMIA’s to hire foreign nationals to fill in a vacant position. If you’re uncertain about how you can get an LMIA as an employee or an employer, get in touch with us today!