The Government of Canada refers to the Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) as a document that an employer in Canada may need to get before hiring a foreign worker.
A positive LMIA will show that there is a need for a foreign worker to fill
the job. It will also show that no Canadian worker is currently available to do the job. A positive LMIA is sometimes known as a "confirmation letter."
If the employer needs an LMIA, they must apply for one.
Once an employer gets the LMIA,
the worker can apply for a work permit.
The Canadian government also allows employers tohire temporary foreign workers through the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) or the International Mobility Program (IMP).
The TFWP lets employers hire temporary workers to fill temporary
labour and skill shortages. If you hire a temporary worker through the TFWP, you will need to apply for an LMIA and pay the related fee.
The International Mobility Program (IMP) lets employers hire temporary workers without an LMIA. Exemptions
from the LMIA process are based on broader economic, cultural or other competitive advantages for Canadaand/or reciprocal benefits enjoyed by Canadians and permanent residents.
If you hire a temporary worker through the IMP, you will need
to pay an employer compliance fee and submit an offer of employment form to Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC). This must be done before the foreign national can apply for a work permit. You will submit the offer of employment through
CIC's Employer Portal.