LMIA Canada assistance helps Canadian employers understand the Labour Market Impact Assessment process when they are considering hiring an eligible temporary foreign worker. Third Pole Immigration Services provides regulated employer immigration assistance, document review, application preparation and authorized representation where permitted.

Employers also search for LMIA consultant, LMIA application, LMIA work permit, high-wage LMIA, low-wage LMIA, Temporary Foreign Worker Program, foreign worker hiring, employer LMIA and LMIA consultant near me. However, Service Canada makes the LMIA decision, and IRCC makes the work permit decision. Our role is to provide professional immigration advice, application assistance and authorized representation, not to issue or sell an LMIA, work permit, job offer or government document.

LMIA Canada: What Is a Labour Market Impact Assessment?

A Labour Market Impact Assessment is used to assess the likely effect of hiring a temporary foreign worker on Canada's labour market. In general, a positive LMIA confirms that there is a need for a temporary foreign worker and that no Canadian or permanent resident is available to fill the job.

Therefore, an LMIA is primarily an employer process. After a positive decision, the foreign worker may use the applicable LMIA documents as part of an employer-specific work permit application where required.

For official information, review the Government of Canada LMIA information.

LMIA Canada Streams for Canadian Employers

The correct LMIA stream depends on the position, offered wage, occupation, location and purpose of the application. Therefore, employers should identify the applicable stream before beginning recruitment or preparing supporting documents.

High-Wage and Low-Wage LMIA Canada Applications

The wage offered for the position helps determine whether the employer applies under the high-wage or low-wage stream. Currently, the offered wage is compared with the applicable provincial or territorial hourly wage threshold.

In addition, the wage must meet the applicable prevailing-wage requirements for the occupation. Simply increasing the offered wage does not automatically make an application suitable for the high-wage stream.

Because thresholds are updated, employers should review the current Government of Canada wage-threshold page before selecting a stream.

LMIA Canada Employer Requirements

Employers must meet the requirements of the applicable Temporary Foreign Worker Program stream. For example, Service Canada may review:

• Business and job-offer legitimacy
• Employer ability to meet the terms of employment
• Offered and prevailing wage
• Occupation and job duties
• Work location
• Recruitment efforts
• Working conditions
• Whether Canadians and permanent residents were considered first
• Past employer compliance where applicable

Accordingly, business records, employment information and recruitment evidence can be important parts of an LMIA application.

Business Legitimacy for an LMIA Canada Application

Employers applying through the Temporary Foreign Worker Program generally need supporting documents showing that the business and proposed job offer are legitimate. Depending on the circumstances, documents may include business registration, CRA records, payroll information, licences, contracts or financial records.

However, the exact documentation depends on the employer, business structure, position and stream. Therefore, the required evidence should be reviewed before submission.

LMIA Canada Recruitment and Advertising Requirements

Recruitment is central to many LMIA applications. Employers generally need to show reasonable efforts to recruit Canadians and permanent residents before seeking a temporary foreign worker.

However, recruitment rules differ by stream. Therefore, employers should confirm the required advertising period, recruitment methods and record-keeping obligations before placing advertisements.

• Use the required recruitment methods
• Advertise for the required period
• Use accurate job duties and wage information
• Maintain records of Canadian and permanent resident applicants
• Document recruitment results where required
• Explain recruitment outcomes where required
• Continue recruitment for the applicable period

High-Wage LMIA Transition Plan

A transition plan is generally required for high-wage positions. It explains the activities the employer will undertake to recruit, retain or train Canadians and permanent residents and to reduce reliance on the Temporary Foreign Worker Program.

In addition, an employer that previously submitted a transition plan for the same position and work location may need to report on earlier commitments.

Low-Wage LMIA Requirements and Restrictions

Low-wage LMIA applications can be subject to additional program requirements, caps and labour-market restrictions. For example, requirements may relate to recruitment, workforce composition, transportation, housing, health insurance or employment agreements.

Moreover, some low-wage applications may be affected by current regional labour-market conditions. Therefore, employers should review the latest low-wage rules before recruiting or filing an application.

LMIA Canada Wage and Prevailing Wage Requirements

The wage offered to a temporary foreign worker must meet the applicable Temporary Foreign Worker Program requirements. In particular, employers should review the prevailing wage for the occupation as well as the relevant high-wage or low-wage threshold.

Therefore, the offered wage should be assessed together with the occupation, work location and current program requirements.

Job Duties, NOC and Employment Conditions

The proposed occupation should accurately reflect the duties the foreign worker will actually perform. Consequently, employers should review the National Occupational Classification (NOC), job title, main duties, wage, hours, work location and employment conditions.

In addition, the employment agreement, recruitment advertisements and LMIA application should remain consistent with one another.

Positive LMIA Canada Decision and Work Permit Process

A positive LMIA does not itself authorize the foreign worker to work in Canada. Instead, the employer generally gives the worker the applicable LMIA documentation.

The worker may then use those documents in an employer-specific work permit application where required. Therefore, the LMIA decision and the work permit decision are separate stages.

Review our Canada Work Permit assistance and the official employer-specific work permit information.

LMIA Canada Validity and Important Deadlines

A positive LMIA decision includes an expiry date for using the LMIA in the applicable work permit process. However, this date is different from the approved employment duration and from the eventual validity period of the worker's permit.

Therefore, employers and workers should rely on the specific decision letter and current government instructions rather than a general timeframe.

Submitting an LMIA Canada Application Online

Canadian employers and authorized representatives can use LMIA Online to submit applicable applications electronically. Employers generally need the appropriate Job Bank for Employers account and business information before using the portal.

In addition, applications can generally be submitted up to six months before the expected job start date. For current instructions, review the official LMIA Online resources.

LMIA Canada Refusal or Negative Decision Review

An LMIA application may receive a negative decision if the employer does not establish that the applicable Temporary Foreign Worker Program requirements have been met. For example, concerns may involve recruitment, wage, business legitimacy, genuine employment need, job duties, working conditions or supporting evidence.

Therefore, the decision and supporting application history should be reviewed before deciding whether to submit a new application or consider another appropriate option.

How Our RCIC Helps With LMIA Canada Applications

Depending on the employer, position and applicable stream, our assistance may include:

• Reviewing whether an LMIA may be required
• Identifying the appropriate LMIA stream
• Reviewing wage and prevailing-wage requirements
• Reviewing NOC classification and job duties
• Recruitment and advertising requirement review
• Business-legitimacy document review
• LMIA application preparation and authorized representation
• Transition-plan assistance where required
• Recruitment-results review
• Assistance responding to Service Canada requests
• Negative LMIA decision review and next-step assessment

In addition, we can help explain how a positive LMIA may relate to the foreign worker's later employer-specific work permit application.

LMIA Canada Assistance in Winnipeg, Surrey and Muktsar

Related Employer and Canadian Immigration Assistance

• Canada Work Permit assistance
• Canadian immigration assistance
• Book an immigration consultation

Frequently Asked Questions About LMIA Canada