Work And Live Visa - Canada.

June 9, 2019

Work And Live Visa – Canada.

What is a Labour Market Impact Assessment(LMIA)?

A Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) its a document that an employer in Canada may need to get prior of hiring a foreign worker.

A positive LMIA will indicate that there is a requirement for a foreign worker to fill the job. It will also show that no Canadian worker is available to do job. A positive LMIA is the one which is also called as confirmation letter.

If the employer needs an LMIA, They must apply for one

The worker can apply for a work permit, If an employer gets the LMIA,

To apply for a work permit, a worker needs:

A contract,
A copy of the LMIA, and
The LMIA number.
A Offer Letter

Work And Live Visa for Canada

Hiring is done Based on the need of

Labour Market Impact Assessment

Employer Can hire you on with either of 2 types of program.

Temporary Foreign Worker Program
International Mobility Program

It depends on program whether LMIA is needed or not

Do you need an LMIA?

There are 2 options to find out if LMIA is needed or not:

Option 1: Review the list of LMIA exemption codes

Option 2: You can contact the International Mobility Workers Unit

Check LMIA exemption codes

Look Labout Market Impact Assessment exemption codes and review the list of regulations.
Select the LMIA exemption code which is most relevant to your hiring situation and read the detailed description.
The relevant exception Code has to be included in your offer of employment.

Contact the International Mobility Workers Unit

The International Mobility Workers Unit helps you to know whether temporary worker you want to hire is exempt from

The LMIA procedure
Need a Work Permit

If you think that as per the situation an LMIA or work permit exemption applies to your situation, you can take opinion from the International Mobility Workers Unit if the temporary worker is both of the following:

Applicant from a Visa Exempt Country
Applicant is currently outside Canada

The border services officer (POE) port of entry may consider the opinion given by the International Mobility Workers Unit before work permit is issued. But opinion doesn’t guarantee entry into Canada.

Opinions are issued within (2 weeks) 14 calendar days.

All requested information details and supporting documents must be submitted to the International Mobility Workers Unit at least 30 days before worker plans to enter Canada.

To request an opinion, contact the International Mobility Workers Unit by email. It should contain completedcopy of our request form (PDF, 125KB).

If the temporary worker is not from a visa-exempt country or is already in Canada, the processing officer reviews work permit application will check if an LMIA exemption is applicable. This happens either at the case processing centre or POE.

Temporary Foreign Worker Program

The Temporary Foreign Worker Program lets you hire temporary workers to fill labour and skill shortages.

You’ll need an LMIA from Employment and Social Development Canada, Service Canada.

An LMIA confirms

there is a need for a temporary worker
no Canadians are available to do the job

International Mobility Program

The International Mobility Program (IMP) tends to hire temporary workers without an LMIA. Exemptions from the LMIA process depends on

broader economic, cultural or other competitive advantages for Canada
reciprocal benefits enjoyed by Canadians and permanent residents

If you hire a temporary worker through the IMP, you need to

pay an employer compliance fee
submit an offer of employment form through the Employer Portal

This must be done before the foreign national can apply for a work permit.