Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) Guide 2025

What is an LMIA?

A Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) is a document issued by Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) confirming that no Canadian citizen or permanent resident is available to fill a particular position. A positive LMIA allows a Canadian employer to hire a foreign worker for that role. A negative LMIA means Canadian workers are available and the foreign hire is not permitted.

Critically, the employer — not the worker — applies for the LMIA. The employer must demonstrate through documented recruitment efforts that they were unable to find a suitable Canadian candidate before ESDC will consider a positive assessment.

Positive vs Negative LMIA

Positive LMIA

ESDC confirms that no Canadian worker was available for the position. The employer can proceed to hire the foreign worker. The worker then uses the LMIA number and job offer letter to apply for a Canadian work permit through IRCC.

Negative LMIA

ESDC determines that qualified Canadian citizens or permanent residents are available for the role. The employer cannot hire a foreign worker for this position under the TFWP. The employer may appeal, revise the role, or pursue an LMIA-exempt route if applicable.

Who Needs an LMIA?

Employers using the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) for most positions require an LMIA. This includes high-wage workers, low-wage workers, agricultural workers, and home care workers under standard TFWP streams. Certain Provincial Nominee Program streams also require LMIA as part of the provincial approval process.

However, not all foreign worker hires require an LMIA. A large and growing portion of foreign worker admissions come through the International Mobility Program, which is LMIA-exempt. See below for a full breakdown of exemptions.

LMIA Exemptions

International Mobility Program (IMP)

Employers can hire without LMIA via a compliance fee submission ($230) through IRCC's Employer Portal. Covers trade agreement workers, intra-company transfers, reciprocal employment situations, and more. No ESDC involvement.

Open Work Permits

Post-Graduation Work Permits (PGWP), Bridging Open Work Permits (BOWP), and Spousal Open Work Permits do not require an LMIA. These permit holders can work for any employer without employer-specific LMIA or job offer requirements.

Global Talent Stream

Specialized tech and STEM hires through the Global Talent Stream are LMIA-exempt with a committed 2-week processing time. Employers must be referred by a designated partner organization or hire from the GTS occupations list.

Trade Agreements

CUSMA (Canada-US-Mexico Agreement, formerly NAFTA), CETA (Canada-EU Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement), CPTPP, and other bilateral free trade agreements provide LMIA exemptions for qualifying professionals, business visitors, and intra-company transferees.

Intra-Company Transfers

Senior managers, executives, and specialized knowledge workers being transferred within the same multinational company to a Canadian branch, subsidiary, or affiliate can receive an LMIA-exempt work permit.

LMIA Application Requirements for Employers

Canadian employers applying for an LMIA must demonstrate genuine recruitment efforts and meet specific conditions:

Advertise the position for a minimum of 4 consecutive weeks within the 3 months prior to applying
Post on the Government of Canada Job Bank plus at least 2 additional recruitment platforms appropriate to the occupation
Demonstrate Canadian recruitment efforts with documented records (resumes reviewed, interviews conducted, reasons for non-hire)
Sign a formal employment contract with the foreign worker before applying
Pay the compliance fee: $1,000 CAD per position (waived for agricultural workers and in-home caregivers)
LMIA validity: 6 months after approval — the worker must apply for their work permit within this window

After LMIA Approval

Employer receives positive LMIA — ESDC issues a positive LMIA document with a unique LMIA number and the approved position details.

Employer provides worker with LMIA number and job offer letter — These two documents are the core of the worker's work permit application.

Worker applies for work permit — Using the LMIA number and offer letter, the worker submits a work permit application to IRCC. Processing times vary by country and stream.

Work permit issued — If approved, the worker receives an employer-specific work permit tied to the LMIA employer, location, and job title. Global Talent Stream: as fast as 10 business days.

Quebec LMIA

Quebec operates a facilitated LMIA process for high-demand sectors. Key differences include:

Applications must be submitted in French
No advertising requirement for certain in-demand occupations designated by Quebec's Ministry
Requires approval from both ESDC (federal) and Quebec's MIFI (Ministère de l'Immigration, de la Francisation et de l'Intégration)
Seasonal agricultural workers have a streamlined process through the SAWP

Warning: It is illegal under Canadian law for employers to charge workers — directly or indirectly — for any costs associated with obtaining an LMIA. Workers who are asked to pay LMIA fees should report this to ESDC immediately.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the employee pay the LMIA fee?

No — absolutely not. The $1,000 LMIA compliance fee is paid by the employer, and it is illegal for employers to charge employees for LMIA costs, either directly or by deducting it from wages. If an employer asks you to pay for your LMIA, report it to ESDC's Employer Compliance Team.

How long does an LMIA take to process?

Processing times vary significantly by stream. Global Talent Stream: as fast as 10 business days. Standard high-wage/low-wage streams: approximately 2–5 months. Agricultural and seasonal worker streams: varies by season. Quebec facilitated streams: generally faster than standard. Current processing times are posted on the ESDC website.

Can one employer apply with multiple positions or workers?

Each employer needs a separate LMIA application for each position and each foreign worker. However, employers who regularly hire temporary foreign workers may have multiple LMIAs active simultaneously.

Can the worker change employers after getting an LMIA-based work permit?

No — the LMIA-based work permit is employer-specific. The worker must apply for a new work permit (and the new employer must obtain a new LMIA) before the worker can legally work for a different employer.

Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA)