Hire a temporary foreign worker
Find out if you need a labour market impact assessment
A labour market impact assessment (LMIA) determines if the hiring of a temporary foreign worker will have a positive or negative effect on Canada’s labour market.
A positive LMIA confirms that
- no Canadians or permanent residents are available to do the job
- there is a need for a temporary foreign worker
Most employers need an LMIA before they can hire a temporary foreign worker.
If the worker already has an open work permit
You do not need an LMIA if the worker has an open work permit.
On this page
- Determine if you need an LMIA
- How to hire if you need an LMIA
- How to hire if you don’t need an LMIA
- Hiring in Quebec
- Hiring top talent with faster processing
Determine if you need an LMIA
Before you hire the worker, you must determine if
- you need an LMIA
- the worker needs a work permit
Follow these steps:
- Review the
- LMIA exemption codes to determine if you need an LMIA
- work permit exemptions to determine if the worker needs a work permit
- Select the LMIA exemption code or work permit exemption that seems most relevant to your situation.
- Read the detailed descriptions to determine if the exemption applies to you.
If an exemption applies to your situation
If an LMIA exemption applies
- you can hire without an LMIA
- the worker needs a work permit
- you must include the LMIA exemption code in your offer of employment
If a work permit exemption applies
- the worker doesn’t need a work permit, but
- they must check if they need a visa to come to Canada
If an exemption does not apply to your situation
If an exemption doesn’t apply, then
- you need an LMIA to hire the worker and
- the worker needs a work permit
How to hire if you need an LMIA
If you determine that you need an LMIA, you’ll need to hire through the Temporary Foreign Worker Program.
Employment and Social Development Canada
- manages the program
- processes LMIA applications
- issues the decision letter
If you receive a positive LMIA decision letter, you need to take both of these steps:
- Provide each worker with
- a copy of the decision letter
- the letter’s Annex A – Employment details
- Tell them to apply for a work permit.
Learn more about hiring with an LMIA.
How to hire if you don’t need an LMIA
You can hire without an LMIA through the International Mobility Program.
Learn more about hiring without an LMIA.
Hiring in Quebec
You’ll need to meet different requirements depending on whether you’re hiring with or without an LMIA.
If you’re hiring with an LMIA
You need to
- get a Quebec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ) from the Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration (MIFI)
- give a copy of the CAQ to your worker
When the worker applies for a work permit, they must submit
- a copy of the CAQ
- a copy of the positive LMIA decision letter
If you’re hiring without an LMIA
The worker doesn’t need a CAQ if you’re hiring through the International Mobility Program.
Hiring top talent with faster processing
The Global Skills Strategy (GSS) allows you to hire highly skilled workers and get the application processed faster.
Depending on the job, you can hire through the GSS with or without an LMIA.