A Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) is a document that a Canadian employer must obtain from Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) before hiring most foreign workers. A positive LMIA confirms that no qualified Canadian citizen or permanent resident was available to fill the position—and it is the foundation of most employer-specific work permits in Canada. Understanding how the LMIA process works is essential for any foreign worker and employer navigating the Canadian work permit system.
What Is an LMIA?
An LMIA (Labour Market Impact Assessment) is an assessment conducted by Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) to determine the impact of hiring a foreign worker on the Canadian labour market. A positive LMIA means ESDC has determined that hiring a foreign worker for a specific position is justified—there is a genuine labour need, and the employer has made adequate efforts to recruit Canadians first. A negative LMIA means the application was refused.
Once an employer has received a positive LMIA, the foreign worker named in that LMIA can apply for a work permit using the LMIA as the basis of their application. The LMIA does not itself authorize work — only the subsequent work permit does.
Which Jobs Require an LMIA?
Most employer-specific work permits require an LMIA unless the position qualifies for an exemption under the International Mobility Program (IMP). LMIA-required positions include most jobs offered to foreign workers where no IMP exemption applies—skilled or semi-skilled occupations, positions offered by Canadian employers who are not exempt under trade agreements, and most situations where the employer does not have a pre-existing relationship qualifying them for an intra-company transfer or trade agreement exemption.
LMIA-exempt categories—which do not require the employer to go through the LMIA process—include positions under CUSMA (formerly NAFTA), intra-company transfers, significant benefit to Canada positions, International Experience Canada, and certain other categories. If your situation may qualify for an exemption, confirming this before the employer pursues an LMIA can save significant time and cost.
Two LMIA Streams: High-Wage and Low-Wage
High-Wage Worker Stream
For positions where the offered wage is at or above the provincial or territorial median wage. Employers applying under this stream must submit a transition plan describing steps they will take to reduce dependence on temporary foreign workers over time. There is no cap on the proportion of high-wage TFWs an employer can hire under this stream.
Low-Wage Worker Stream
For positions where the offered wage is below the provincial or territorial median wage. This stream has stricter requirements: employers must provide housing or assist workers in finding it, pay for round-trip transportation, provide private health insurance until provincial coverage begins, and register workers with the provincial workplace safety board. There are also caps on the proportion of low-wage TFWs in an employer’s workforce in certain sectors.
The LMIA Application Process — What Employers Must Do
The LMIA application is entirely the employer’s responsibility. The foreign worker does not submit the LMIA—they only use it once it has been received. Here is what the employer process involves:
Step 1 — Recruitment Efforts
Before applying for an LMIA, employers must conduct genuine recruitment efforts to fill the position with a Canadian citizen or permanent resident. Minimum recruitment requirements vary by wage level and province, but typically require posting on Job Bank (the federal employment website), plus at least two additional recruitment methods (professional websites, newspapers, trade publications, and community organizations). Recruitment must be conducted for a minimum period (usually 4 weeks for high-wage and 28 days for low-wage) before applying.
Step 2 — LMIA Application Submission
The employer submits the application to Service Canada with documentation of recruitment efforts, the job offer, business legitimacy documents, and the required processing fee ($1,000 per position as of 2026, non-refundable). Applications are submitted online through the Employer Portal.
Step 3 — ESDC Review
ESDC reviews the application, may request additional information, and may conduct a site visit or phone interview with the employer. The processing time varies from a few weeks to several months, depending on the stream, occupation, and current ESDC workload. Agricultural and other high-demand seasonal occupations may have different timelines.
Step 4 — Positive LMIA Issued
If ESDC is satisfied, a positive LMIA is issued to the employer. The LMIA is valid for a specific period (typically 6 months from the date of issue) within which the foreign worker must apply for and be issued a work permit.
After the LMIA — Applying for the Work Permit
Once the employer has a positive LMIA, the named foreign worker can apply for a work permit. The work permit application requires:
- Copy of the positive LMIA (employers provide this to the worker)
- LMIA number
- Signed job offer letter matching the LMIA details
- Valid passport
- Photos and biometrics (if required)
- Proof of qualifications or credentials relevant to the position
- Application form and government processing fee
The work permit must match the details in the LMIA exactly — employer name, job title, wage, and location. Any discrepancy can result in refusal. We review the LMIA and job offer letter carefully before submitting any work permit application.
LMIA Exemptions — When You Don’t Need One
Not all Canadian work permits require an LMIA. Key exemptions include the following:
- CUSMA (Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement): Citizens of the US and Mexico in eligible professional occupations can obtain a work permit at the border or port of entry without an LMIA
- Intra-company transfers: Executives, senior managers, and specialized knowledge workers transferring within a multinational company
- International Experience Canada (IEC): Working holiday and other reciprocal programs for eligible nationalities
- Significant benefit: Certain research, religious, and other positions that provide a clear benefit to Canada
- Spousal Open Work Permits: Open work permits for eligible spouses of workers and students
If an exemption applies, the employer submits a compliance fee and an offer of employment through the Employer Portal instead of going through the LMIA process, which is significantly faster and less costly.
LMIA Work Permit FAQs
How long does an LMIA take to process?
Processing times vary. High-wage stream applications typically take 2–5 months. Agricultural stream applications may be faster during peak season. The Global Talent Stream (for highly skilled tech workers) has a 2-week processing standard. Current processing times are published on the ESDC website and change regularly.
Can I change employers after receiving an LMIA work permit?
An LMIA-based work permit is employer-specific—it authorizes you to work only for the employer named on the permit. If you change employers, your new employer must either obtain a new LMIA for your position (if an LMIA is required) or use an IMP exemption, and you must apply for a new work permit before starting the new job.
My employer applied for an LMIA, but it was refused. What now?
An LMIA refusal is issued with reasons. Employers can reapply after addressing the reasons for refusal — typically strengthening recruitment evidence, adjusting the offered wage, or providing additional documentation. There is no cooling-off period. Alternatively, we assess whether an LMIA-exempt pathway exists for the same position.
Does a positive LMIA guarantee I get a work permit?
No. A positive LMIA supports a work permit application but does not guarantee approval. IRCC assesses the foreign worker’s application independently—checking admissibility, credentials, and other factors. A work permit can be refused even with a valid LMIA if the worker has inadmissibility issues or the application is incomplete.
Get Help with Your LMIA Work Permit Application
Whether you are an employer navigating the LMIA process or a foreign worker who has received a positive LMIA and needs to apply for your work permit, we can help. Book a consultation with Navjeet Kaur, RCIC (R707236), at Rangers Immigration in Calgary.