LMIA Work Permit Canada: Requirements, Process & How to Apply

1. What Is an LMIA Work Permit?

An LMIA work permit is a Canadian work permit supported by a positive Labour Market Impact Assessment obtained by the employer through Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC)/Service Canada.

In most cases, the resulting work permit is employer-specific. This means the foreign worker is authorized to work according to the conditions stated on the permit, which can include the employer, occupation, work location and validity period.

The process has two distinct stages:

1. the employer applies to Service Canada for an LMIA; and
2. after receiving a positive LMIA, the foreign national applies to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for the work permit.

For the complete temporary worker framework, see the Work Permit Canada: Requirements & Complete Guide .

2. What Is a Labour Market Impact Assessment?

A Labour Market Impact Assessment is an assessment carried out by ESDC/Service Canada when an employer seeks to hire a temporary foreign worker through an LMIA-required stream of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program.

In general terms, Service Canada assesses the proposed employment and its expected impact on the Canadian labour market.

Positive LMIA

A positive LMIA indicates that the assessment supports the hiring of a temporary foreign worker for the position or positions identified in the decision.

Negative LMIA

A negative LMIA means the employer has not received the labour-market authorization needed to support an LMIA-based work permit application for that position.

The LMIA assessment belongs to the employer-side process. IRCC separately decides whether the foreign national qualifies for the work permit.

3. When Is an LMIA Required?

An LMIA is generally required when a Canadian employer wants to hire a foreign national in a position that does not qualify for an applicable LMIA exemption and the foreign national does not otherwise have open work authorization.

The first question should therefore not be whether an employer is willing to apply for an LMIA. The first question is which legal work authorization pathway applies to the proposed employment.

If an LMIA exemption may apply, review the LMIA-Exempt Work Permit Canada guide .

Applicants who may qualify for non-job-specific authorization should instead review the Open Work Permit Canada guide .

4. LMIA and the Temporary Foreign Worker Program

LMIA applications are processed under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP).

The TFWP contains different streams and requirements. The correct stream depends on the employment being offered and other circumstances.

Depending on the case, the employer may be dealing with a stream or category relating to:

• high-wage positions;
• low-wage positions;
• the Global Talent Stream;
• agricultural employment;
• the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program;
• in-home caregiver positions;
• positions intended to support certain permanent residence applications; or
• another applicable TFWP stream.

The requirements are not interchangeable. Recruitment, wages, caps, transition plans, housing, transportation, insurance and other employer obligations can differ by stream.

Employers should therefore identify the correct TFWP stream before preparing an LMIA application.

5. Employer Requirements for an LMIA

The employer must satisfy the requirements of the TFWP stream under which the LMIA application is submitted.

Depending on the stream, Service Canada can assess matters such as:

• the legitimacy of the business;
• whether the employer can reasonably fulfill the terms of the job offer;
• the wage and working conditions being offered;
• recruitment and advertising efforts;
• the effect of hiring the foreign worker on the Canadian labour market;
• the employer's compliance history;
• applicable caps or stream-specific limits; and
• other requirements of the particular TFWP stream.

A genuine business and genuine job offer do not, by themselves, guarantee a positive LMIA. The employer must meet the applicable program requirements.

6. Recruitment and Advertising Requirements

Recruitment is an important part of many LMIA applications because the TFWP is designed to address circumstances in which employers need temporary foreign labour.

The applicable recruitment requirements depend on the LMIA stream.

Depending on the stream, employers may need to advertise the position using Job Bank and other recruitment methods and demonstrate efforts to recruit Canadians and permanent residents.

Recruitment occurs before LMIA processing

ESDC notes that, depending on the stream, required advertising can run from 14 days to 8 weeks during the relevant period before the LMIA application is submitted.

This recruitment period is separate from Service Canada's published LMIA processing time.

7. Wage Requirements and High-Wage vs Low-Wage Positions

Wages play an important role in many LMIA applications.

Employers generally need to meet the wage requirements applicable to the occupation and work location and comply with the rules of the relevant TFWP stream.

For many positions, the applicable provincial or territorial wage threshold helps determine whether the employer uses the high-wage or low-wage stream.

This classification can affect more than the application label. Different program requirements can apply to high-wage and low-wage positions.

8. LMIA Processing Fee

Where an LMIA processing fee applies, the current standard fee is $1,000 for each position requested.

The fee is paid by the employer to cover the processing of the LMIA application.

The employer cannot require the temporary foreign worker to pay or reimburse the LMIA processing fee.

Fee exemptions exist

The $1,000 processing fee does not apply to every LMIA application. Specific fee exemptions exist in defined circumstances.

Employers should therefore verify the requirements of their particular TFWP stream before calculating the LMIA cost.

A negative LMIA generally does not produce a refund

Where the processing fee applies, it generally is not refunded merely because the LMIA is negative or because the employer withdraws or cancels the application. Refunds may be available where a fee was collected in error.

9. How the Employer Applies for an LMIA

The employer generally completes the applicable recruitment and other pre-application requirements before submitting the LMIA.

Step 1 — Identify the correct stream

The employer determines which TFWP stream applies to the position and reviews its current requirements.

Step 2 — Complete required recruitment

Where recruitment is required, the employer conducts and documents the required advertising and recruitment activities.

Step 3 — Prepare the LMIA application

The employer gathers the required business, employment, recruitment and stream-specific information.

Step 4 — Submit through LMIA Online

Most LMIA applications are submitted electronically through Service Canada's LMIA Online system.

Step 5 — Pay the applicable processing fee

Where required, the employer pays the LMIA processing fee.

Step 6 — Respond to Service Canada

Service Canada may review the application, communicate with the employer and request information before making a positive or negative decision.

10. What Happens After a Positive LMIA?

If Service Canada approves the LMIA, the employer receives a positive decision letter containing information needed for the worker's immigration application.

The employer then provides the required LMIA and employment documentation to the temporary foreign worker.

The worker uses those documents to apply to IRCC for an employer-specific work permit.

The resulting work permit, if approved, is generally employer-specific. See the Employer-Specific Work Permit Canada guide for the conditions attached to this type of work authorization.

11. How Long Is a Positive LMIA Valid?

Positive LMIA decisions for applications received on or after May 1, 2024 are generally valid for up to six months for the purpose of submitting the foreign worker's work permit application.

Service Canada can issue an LMIA with a shorter expiry period in appropriate circumstances. The Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program has separate rules.

The worker must apply before LMIA expiry

The temporary foreign worker must submit the work permit application before the expiry date shown on the positive LMIA.

LMIA expiry is not work permit expiry

These dates should not be confused.

The LMIA expiry date controls the period within which the positive LMIA can support the work permit application. IRCC separately determines the validity period of the work permit.

12. Worker Eligibility After a Positive LMIA

A positive LMIA does not remove the foreign national's obligation to qualify for a Canadian work permit.

IRCC can still assess matters such as:

• whether the applicant is able to perform the proposed work;
• education, training, experience or licensing relevant to the occupation;
• temporary residence requirements;
• immigration status and application location;
• medical admissibility;
• criminal or other inadmissibility;
• previous immigration compliance; and
• the accuracy and consistency of the application.

For the broader worker-side requirements, see Canada Work Permit Eligibility: Who Can Apply? .

13. Documents for an LMIA Work Permit

The exact document list depends on the applicant, occupation, country of application and other circumstances.

For an LMIA-required work permit application, important employment documents commonly include:

• a copy of the positive LMIA and the LMIA file number;
• the employment contract;
• the job offer letter;
• proof that the worker has the qualifications and experience required for the position;
• a valid passport or travel document;
• an immigration medical examination where required;
• biometrics where required;
• applicable Quebec documentation where required; and
• other supporting documents required for the individual application.

The worker should ensure that the job title, duties, wage, employer and other material employment information are consistent throughout the application record.

For broader preparation guidance, see the Work Permit Documents Checklist .

14. How the Worker Applies for the Work Permit

Once the employer has a positive LMIA and provides the required documents, the foreign national can prepare the work permit application.

Step 1 — Confirm the LMIA is still valid

The work permit application should be submitted before the positive LMIA expires.

Step 2 — Prepare the work permit application

The applicant completes the required forms and provides the positive LMIA, employment documents and personal supporting evidence.

Step 3 — Pay work permit fees

The worker pays the applicable IRCC work permit processing fee and any other required fees. The employer's LMIA processing fee is a separate employer-side cost.

Step 4 — Complete biometrics or medical requirements

Biometrics and an immigration medical examination may be required depending on the applicant's circumstances.

Step 5 — Wait for IRCC's decision

IRCC assesses the foreign national independently from Service Canada's LMIA decision.

The general submission process is explained in How to Apply for a Work Permit in Canada .

15. LMIA Work Permits for Quebec

Additional requirements can apply when the temporary foreign worker will be employed in Quebec.

For many LMIA-based jobs in Quebec lasting more than 30 consecutive days, the employer and worker must also complete the applicable Quebec process.

A Quebec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ) may be required in addition to the positive LMIA before the foreign national can obtain the work permit.

LMIA applications for Quebec can also involve coordination between Service Canada and Quebec's Ministère de l'Immigration, de la Francisation et de l'Intégration.

16. LMIA and Work Permit Processing Times

An LMIA-based hiring process involves at least two separate processing stages:

1. Service Canada's LMIA assessment; and
2. IRCC's work permit assessment.

These should not be combined into one processing estimate.

LMIA processing time

Service Canada publishes processing information for LMIA streams. Processing times can change and differ substantially by stream.

Required recruitment before LMIA submission is not included in the published LMIA processing time.

Work permit processing time

After the positive LMIA is issued, the worker's IRCC application has its own processing time, which can vary according to application type and location.

For current immigration processing information, see Canada Work Permit Processing Time .

17. Global Talent Stream and Faster Processing

The Global Talent Stream (GTS) is an LMIA stream designed for qualifying employers seeking certain highly skilled global talent.

ESDC currently maintains a service standard of 10 business days for processing complete GTS LMIA applications in 80% of cases.

Eligible workers with a positive GTS LMIA may also qualify for accelerated work permit processing under the Global Skills Strategy if they meet IRCC's requirements and submit a complete qualifying application.

18. Changing Employers After an LMIA Work Permit

An LMIA-based work permit is generally employer-specific.

A positive LMIA obtained by one employer does not normally allow the worker to begin employment with a different employer.

If the worker wants to change employers, the new employer must establish the appropriate work authorization basis.

Depending on the circumstances, the new employer may need to obtain its own positive LMIA or use a valid LMIA-exempt pathway.

The worker may then need new work authorization before beginning the new job.

See Changing Employers on a Work Permit in Canada for the worker-side rules.

19. Extending an LMIA-Based Work Permit

An existing positive LMIA and work permit do not automatically authorize indefinite continuation of the employment.

If the employer wants to continue employing the foreign worker beyond the existing authorization, a new employer-side process may be required.

In an LMIA-required position, this can mean a new LMIA application before the worker applies to extend the work permit.

Extension close to work permit expiry

IRCC currently provides a limited process under which certain workers whose permits expire in two weeks or less may submit an extension application while the employer's complete LMIA or applicable Quebec process is still pending.

Specific evidence and deadlines apply, including providing the required LMIA or CAQ documentation after submission. This should not be treated as a general substitute for obtaining the employer-side decision before applying.

See Work Permit Extension in Canada and Maintained Status for Workers for the related worker-status rules.

20. Can a Work Permit Be Refused After a Positive LMIA?

Yes. A positive LMIA does not guarantee work permit approval.

IRCC conducts a separate assessment of the foreign national's application.

Potential worker-side refusal issues can include:

• insufficient evidence that the applicant can perform the proposed work;
• inconsistencies in the employment or application documents;
• failure to meet temporary residence requirements;
• medical inadmissibility;
• criminal or other inadmissibility;
• immigration compliance concerns;
• material omissions or inaccurate information; and
• failure to establish another requirement of the work permit application.

If IRCC has refused the worker's application, see the Canada Work Permit Refusal guide before deciding whether to reapply or pursue another remedy.

21. Common LMIA Work Permit Mistakes

Treating the LMIA as the work permit

A positive LMIA is an employer-side decision. The foreign worker still needs the required work authorization from IRCC.

Applying after the LMIA expires

The work permit application must generally be submitted before the positive LMIA expiry date.

Assuming a positive LMIA guarantees approval

IRCC separately assesses the foreign national's eligibility and admissibility.

Using inconsistent employment information

Material differences between the LMIA, employment contract, job offer and work permit application can create significant issues.

Confusing LMIA validity with employment duration

The LMIA expiry date is not the same as the duration of the job or the expiry date of the work permit.

Charging the worker the LMIA processing fee

Employers cannot recover the LMIA processing fee from the temporary foreign worker.

Assuming every job requires an LMIA

Some employment qualifies for an LMIA exemption, and some foreign nationals qualify for open work permits.

22. LMIA Work Permit Checklist

Before an LMIA-based work permit application is submitted, consider the following questions.

Once the employer-side and worker-side requirements are established, continue with the Work Permit Documents Checklist and the Work Permit Application Guide .

23. LMIA Work Permit Canada FAQs

What is an LMIA work permit?

It is generally an employer-specific Canadian work permit supported by a positive Labour Market Impact Assessment obtained by the employer.

Who applies for the LMIA?

The Canadian employer applies to ESDC/Service Canada for the LMIA. The foreign national separately applies to IRCC for the work permit.

How much does an LMIA cost?

Where the standard LMIA processing fee applies, it is currently $1,000 for each position requested. Specific fee exemptions exist.

Can the employer charge the worker the LMIA fee?

No. The employer cannot require the temporary foreign worker to pay or reimburse the LMIA processing fee.

How long is a positive LMIA valid?

Positive LMIA decisions for applications received on or after May 1, 2024 are generally valid for up to six months for work permit application purposes, subject to applicable exceptions and any shorter validity stated by Service Canada.

Does the worker have to start working before the LMIA expires?

The LMIA expiry date generally establishes the deadline for submitting the work permit application. It is not necessarily the date by which employment must begin.

Does a positive LMIA guarantee a work permit?

No. IRCC separately assesses the worker's eligibility, qualifications, admissibility and other work permit requirements.

Is an LMIA work permit open or employer-specific?

An LMIA-supported work permit is generally employer-specific and authorizes employment according to the conditions on the permit.

Do all Canadian work permits require an LMIA?

No. Canada also has LMIA-exempt employer-specific work permits and open work permits.

Can I change employers with an LMIA work permit?

The existing employer-specific permit generally does not authorize work for a new employer. The new employment must have its own valid work authorization basis.

Do I need a CAQ for an LMIA work permit in Quebec?

A CAQ is required for many LMIA-based temporary jobs in Quebec lasting more than 30 consecutive days, subject to the applicable exemptions and Quebec rules.

Can an LMIA lead to permanent residence?

An LMIA or LMIA-based work permit does not itself grant permanent residence. Employment or Canadian work experience may nevertheless be relevant to certain permanent residence pathways if the applicable requirements are met.