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Diana Tristan

How to work in Canada with an LMIA?

A Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) is a document that an employer in Canada needs before hiring a foreign worker. This is one of the most common ways for foreign workers to settle in Canada through a job offer.


A positive LMIA will show that the employer needs a foreign worker to fill the job. It will also show that there is no Canadian worker or permanent resident available to do the job.


businesswoman in office with a computer

When an immigrant (foreign worker) wishes to work in Canada, he/she needs to be hired by a company. In order for the company to formalize the contract, it must first submit an application to Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) for approval of the LMIA document, which will be approved if they consider that there is a need to hire a foreign worker to fill the position.


The LMIA is one of the procedures of the Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW) program. The hiring of a Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW) happens when it has a positive or neutral impact on the Canadian labor market.


Once the employer obtains the LMIA, the worker can apply for a work permit from Immigration Canada.


To apply for a work permit, the worker needs:

  • A job offer letter

  • A contract

  • A copy of the LMIA and LMIA number

  • Curriculum Vitae

  • Letters of Labor Recommendation confirming work experience in the job for which he/she is being hired.


Closed work permit


The type of work permit obtained with the LMIA is closed, that is, you will only be able to work for the hiring company. A great advantage is that the partner of the person hired can have an Open Work Permit of the same duration.


This work permit gives points for Express Entry and accelerates the process to achieve Permanent Residency.


How to obtain it?


  • The Job Offer must be published for 30 days in the Job Bank of Canada and 2 other media.

  • The company must have been in business for at least 1 year and be able to demonstrate that it can pay the worker's salary.

  • The application along with the posting and recruitment report is sent through the new LMIA processing portal.

  • Cover the amount of $1,000 cad


immigrant cooker making fries

Permanent Residency with a Job Offer with a Positive LMIA


A professional or Skilled Worker who wishes to immigrate to Canada permanently through Express Entry can do so if he/she has a job offer validated by Employment Canada (ESDC) and meets the following eligibility criteria.


The requirements to obtain a work permit through LMIA may vary depending on the program: skilled worker (FSWP), Canadian work experience (CEC) or skilled trade (FSTP).

Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)

  • Full-time work (minimum 30 hours per week).

  • Minimum 1 year of work in Canada with permit

  • Contract duration of at least 1 year.

  • Non-seasonal position.

  • NOC* qualified job with TEER skill type 0, 1, 2 or 3.

  • English Level 7 on the Canadian Language Benchmarks

*(NOC is a Canadian system where all jobs are scored by skill level)


Canadian Experience Class (CEC)

  • Full-time work (minimum 30 hours).

  • Minimum 1 year of work in Canada with permit

  • Contract duration of at least 1 year.

  • Non-seasonal work position.

  • Qualified NOC job with TEER skill type 0, 1, 2, or 3.

  • English level 7 on the Canadian Language Benchmarks Teer 0 and 1.

  • English level 5 on the Canadian Language Benchmarks Teer 2 and 3


Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)


  • Full-time work (minimum 30 hours).

  • Minimum 2 years working in Canada with permit

  • Skilled Work Experience

Skilled trades for the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) are organized under these National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups:


  1. Major group 72, technical and journeyman trades and transport controllers excluding major subgroup 726.

  2. Major Group 73, general trades

  3. Major Group 82, natural resource, agriculture and related production supervisors

  4. Major Group 83, natural resource and related production occupations

  5. Major Group 92, processing, manufacturing and utility supervisors, and utility operators and controllers

  6. Major Group 93, central control and process operators and aircraft assemblers and assembly inspectors, excluding Major Subgroup 932

  7. Minor Group 6320, cooks, butchers and bakers

  8. Minor Group 62200, cooks

  • Contract duration of at least 1 year.

  • Language - English - Speaking and listening with a minimum level CLB 5

  • Language - English - Reading and writing with a minimum level CLB 4

  • Language - French - Speaking and listening with a minimum level NCLC 5

  • Language - French - Reading and Writing with a minimum level NCLC 4


It is important to know that each LMIA has the name of the candidate, so when a job is offered with a LMIA it is of utmost importance to verify that it is in the name of the person who is going to be hired.




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