The Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) is a document issued by Canada’s employment regulatory body (ESDC) that evaluates the impact of hiring a foreign worker. A positive or neutral LMIA indicates that there are no Canadian citizens or permanent residents available to fill the job, allowing the employer to hire a foreign worker. A negative LMIA indicates that the position should be filled by a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.

A foreign national cannot apply for an LMIA. Instead, LMIAs are documents that must be requested by a Canadian employer. While it is sometimes possible to hire a foreign worker without an LMIA, either because they are exempt from the requirement or hold an open work permit, all streams of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) require that an employer obtain an LMIA to hire someone from outside Canada. It is also important to note that some Canadian immigration pathways require candidates to show a positive LMIA in order to claim points for a Canadian job offer.

If your Canadian company is unable to find Canadian citizens or permanent residents for the intended position, count on us to handle all necessary steps and ensure compliance with the minimum requirements for LMIA application and subsequent government authorization to hire a foreign worker.