LMIA – Labour Market Impact Assessment

What you should know if you want to work in Canada:

The employer may need to obtain a Labor Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) to hire you.

This is a document issued by Service Canada, which authorizes the employer to hire a foreign worker to meet the need of the Canadian labor market.

If the employer is exempt from the LMIA process, you must pay a fee and submit a job offer form to the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada using the employer’s portal.

It is not necessary to submit documents from the employer if you are applying for an open work permit. In the case of LMIA exemption and open work permit, the applicant may work for any Canadian company provided that:

  • the employer is not on the list of employers who have not fulfilled their contractual obligations
  • the employer does not offer striptease, erotic dancing, escort services or erotic massages.

Another way to get permission to work in Canada is through study. It is necessary to take a course that is at least 8 months long. The student will be given permission to work a maximum of 20 hours per week during the time he / she is studying. Upon graduation, you will be entitled to a valid work permit at the same time as the course. However, the student’s spouse will receive an open work permit immediately.

It is important to note that English or French as a second language courses do not offer work permits.

The work permit does not let you live in Canada permanently. This is a temporary, expired status.