LMIA Application

Most work permit aspirants in Canada require their employer to support them with an LMIA. If you have an employer who would like to support you with an LMIA, let us know. We can process the LMIA for your employer.

Start here

Our Professional Approach Makes Fairworld Immigration Your Best Option for LMIA Processing

  • LMIA and Foreign Worker immigration services are our specialty.
  • We build your case so that it will likely result in a successful outcome.

Our team of professionals is ready to assist you with your LMIA needs.

  • Are you an employer in Canada looking to hire a foreign worker? Or are you a foreign worker looking to come to Canada to work? If so, you may have heard of the term “LMIA” (Labour Market Impact Assessment). But what exactly is an LMIA, and why is it important? Let’s take a closer look.

What is an LMIA?

An LMIA is a document issued by Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) that assesses the impact a foreign worker will have on the Canadian labour market. In other words, it’s a way for the government to ensure that hiring a foreign worker will not have a negative effect on Canadian workers. It is a document where the employer asks the Canadian government for their approval to be able to hire a foreign worker.

Professional LMIA Consultants

Book a Call

What is the LMIA Application?

The LMIA process starts with the employer applying to ESDC. In this application, the employer must provide detailed information about the job offer, including the job duties, wage rate, and working conditions.

Once the application is received, ESDC will assess it to determine if hiring a foreign worker is necessary and if it will positively impact the Canadian labour market. This involves considering factors such as the availability of Canadian workers for the job, the wage rate and benefits offered to the foreign worker, as well as the working conditions.

If the LMIA application is approved, the employer receives a positive LMIA, which allows them to then offer the job to a foreign worker. The foreign worker uses the positive LMIA to apply for a work permit through Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

Who Can Apply for an LMIA in Canada?

Employers

Any employer in Canada who wants to hire a foreign worker can generally apply for an LMIA as long as they cannot find a Canadian citizen or permanent resident to fill the position. This includes both small businesses and large corporations. However, to be eligible, the employer must demonstrate that there is an immediate need to hire a worker and the financial capacity to pay his/her wages.

Foreign Workers

Foreign workers who have been offered a job in Canada and wish to work in the country must have a positive LMIA from their prospective employer in order to apply for a work permit.

Note that there are some exceptions to the LMIA process, including the International Mobility Program, which allows some foreign workers to enter Canada without an LMIA. However, this program is based on international trade agreements and reciprocal agreements between Canada and other select countries.

Applying for an LMIA: High and Low Wage Positions in Canada

The Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) application process in Canada can vary depending on the type of job being offered to a foreign worker. Three main types of  LMIA processes: PR-Support LMIAs, high-wage, and low-wage positions. But what exactly do these terms mean, and how do they affect the LMIA application process?

PR-Support Positions

These are LMIAs processed by Employers who wish to hire skilled foreign workers and support their permanent resident visa application can make a job offer under Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) Express Entry system. The job offer must meet the criteria of 1 of the listed economic immigration programs. These programs include:

Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)

The employer must be offering a job for:

  • Positions in TEER 0/1/2/3 (Training, Education, Experience and Responsibilities) of the NOC, such as management, professional, scientific, technical or trade occupations
  • Full-time hours (a minimum of 30 hours of work per week)
  • At least 1 year, and
  • A non-seasonal position

Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)

The employer must be offering a job for:

Note: Under the FSTP, the employment offer can be made by up to 2 employers.

Canadian Experience Class (CEC)

The employer must be offering a job for:

  • A NOC TEER 0/1/2/3 position such as: management, professional, scientific, technical or trade occupations
  • Full-time hours (a minimum of 30 hours of work per week)
  • At least one year, and
  • A non-seasonal position

High Wage Positions

High-wage positions refer to jobs that pay a wage higher than the median wage published by the Canadian government for that occupation in the region where the job is located. These jobs typically require higher levels of skill and experience, and the LMIA application process for high-wage positions requires a transition plan or supporting the future permanent residence of the foreign worker.

Low Wage Positions

Low-wage positions refer to jobs that pay a wage lower than the median wage published by the Canadian government for that occupation in the region where the job is located. The LMIA application process for low-wage positions will involve a more in-depth assessment of the impact that the hiring of a foreign worker will have on the Canadian labour market and the recruitment efforts done to fill this position. The employer will be limited on the number of workers needed to be hired based on a CAP limit. The CAP is a percentage calculation of the number of full-time and part-time workers already employed by the company. The CAP percentage allowed varies depending on the company’s current employee numbers and industry. The LMIA application will include a review of the availability of Canadian workers for the job, the wage rate offered to the foreign worker, and the working conditions.