Before most Canadian employers can hire a foreign worker on a temporary basis, they need to prove to the Canadian government that they could not find a Canadian citizen or permanent resident to fill the role. This proof is called an LMIA — Labour Market Impact Assessment. It is issued by Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC), not IRCC.
What Does an LMIA Actually Confirm?
A positive LMIA confirms that: the employer tried to recruit Canadian workers and could not find a suitable candidate; the wages being offered meet or exceed the prevailing wage for that occupation in that location; employing the foreign worker will not have a negative impact on the Canadian labour market. A positive LMIA is then used by the foreign worker to apply for a work permit.
The LMIA Process for Employers
The employer (not the foreign worker) applies for the LMIA. The process typically involves:
- 1Advertise the position for a minimum period (usually 4 weeks) in Job Bank and two other national platforms
- 2Interview all qualified Canadian candidates who apply
- 3Document the recruitment efforts (responses received, interview results, reasons Canadian candidates were not hired)
- 4Submit the LMIA application to ESDC with the job offer details, wage confirmation, and recruitment records
- 5ESDC reviews the application and either approves (positive LMIA) or denies (negative LMIA)
LMIA Processing Times and Fees
ESDC charges employers $1,000 per LMIA application (non-refundable). Processing times vary: regular stream takes 60–90 days; Global Talent Stream (Category B tech roles) takes 2 weeks. Seasonal agricultural worker LMIAs are processed faster. The foreign worker does not pay the LMIA fee — if an employer asks you to pay it, that is a red flag for fraud.
LMIA Fraud Warning
Fake LMIA scams are common. Unscrupulous parties charge foreign workers $5,000–$25,000 for fake LMIA documents. If someone offers to get you an LMIA in exchange for payment from you, it is almost certainly fraud and potentially criminal. LMIAs are issued by ESDC (the federal government) — no third party can sell them.
LMIA-Exempt Work Permits
Many foreign workers in Canada do not need an LMIA. LMIA-exempt categories exist because Canada has determined the economic, cultural, or social benefit of allowing these workers does not require the LMIA labour market test:
| Category | Exemption Code | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| International Agreement | T11 (CUSMA) | US and Mexican citizens in CUSMA professional occupations |
| Intra-Company Transfer | C12 | Managers/executives/specialized knowledge workers at multinational companies |
| Significant Benefit to Canada | C10/C11 | Researchers, religious workers, performing artists, academics |
| Reciprocal Employment | C20 | Roles where mutual employment exists for Canadians abroad |
| IEC (Youth Mobility) | C21 | Young workers from IEC-eligible countries |
| Spouse/Partner of skilled worker | C41/C42 | Open work permit for spouses of TEER 0/1 workers |
LMIA and Express Entry CRS Points
A valid LMIA-backed job offer from a Canadian employer is one of the most valuable CRS score boosters available. It adds +50 CRS points for TEER 2 or 3 roles, or +200 CRS points for TEER 0 or 1 roles. This can make the difference between waiting years for an all-program draw and receiving an ITA in the next draw. The job offer must be genuine, ongoing, and the LMIA must be current.
Strategic Consideration
If you are working in Canada and your employer is willing to support your PR, ask about an LMIA-backed permanent job offer. The +50 or +200 CRS points can dramatically accelerate your path to PR. This requires the employer to submit a new LMIA (different from the temporary work permit LMIA). We can guide both you and your employer through this process.
Sanjay Singh Kumar
Licensed RCIC · Visa Master Canada
Sanjay Singh Kumar is a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC) licensed by the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (CICC). He has guided thousands of clients through Express Entry, PNP, work permits, and family sponsorships.