Labour Market Impact Assessments

Employers of some types of temporary workers need to get a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) before the worker applies for a work permit. An LMIA is a document from Employment and Social Development Canada that gives the employer permission to hire a temporary worker. Before you start the hiring process, you must determine if you need an LMIA. An LMIA confirms there is a need for a temporary foreign worker, and no Canadians or permanent residents are available to do the job. You’ll need an LMIA from Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC). The LMIA application process depends on the type of program you’re hiring through. The Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) lets you hire temporary foreign workers to fill labour and skill shortages.

Once an LMIA has been issued, you should provide a copy of the confirmation letter to each temporary foreign worker and tell each of them to apply for a work permit.  If you’re an employer in Quebec and are hiring through the TFWP, the temporary foreign worker will need a Quebec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ) from the Quebec MIDI before a work permit can be issued. If you’re an employer in Quebec and are hiring a temporary foreign worker through the IMP, a CAQ from the MIDI is not required. If an employer does not need a LMIA, the International Mobility Program (IMP) lets you hire temporary foreign workers without an LMIA. To learn more about the International Mobility Program (IMP) click the link https://ialaw.ca/immigration-services/work-permits/international-mobility-program/

To find adequate and knowledgeable services to help with any of your immigration needs, please contact my office at https://ialaw.ca/contact/.