LMIA - Exempt Canadian Work Permits

The International Mobility Program allow employers to hire temporary foreign workers without an LMIA. The LMIA process is the default option for most of the employers and its candidates to offer them a position. Nevertheless, there is a list of LMIA exemption codes available depending on the circumstances related to the occupation and the profile of the candidate. This list of LMIA exemption codes allow employers to hire temporary foreign workers faster and with less financial investment.

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The process includes two steps:

 

1. Issuance of a valid job offer by the employer.

 

When hiring a temporary foreign worker through the International Mobility Program, the employer needs to:

 

• Submit an offer of employment form through the Employer Portal,

• Pay an employer compliance fee ($230 CAD).

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   2. Work permit application made by employee.

 

After receiving the information/documentation needed, the employee (temporary foreign worker) must proceed with his/her application of a work permit or renewal his/her current one.

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The job offer must be:

 

• A full-time offer, which means a minimum of 30 hours a week.

• Temporary. Meaning that it does not need to be indefinite. The available options are:

  • most of the job offers can be for up to 3 years,

  • some job offers must be for 1 year only.

 

**Note: most job offers have the option for renewal.

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The most important step within this process is to match the occupation and the candidate correctly to fit the requirements of the proposed LMIA-exemption code. Not all professions match all the candidates. For that reason, it is important to conduct an analysis within our initial consultation.