Workers with a job offer
You have a genuine full-time offer from a Canadian employer and no exemption applies.
Most common
Employer-specific · LMIA
A job offer is only half the application.
An LMIA-based work permit has two sides: the employer must prove no Canadian was available, and you must prove you can do the job. Both have to succeed. We prepare them as one file, not two.
RCIC-led
Brampton & London
Reviewed July 2026
2 sides
Employer + worker
Both applications must succeed for you to get the permit.
Recruitment
Employer duty
Advertising and a recruitment report are normally required.
Prevailing wage
Wage rule
The wage must meet or exceed the applicable median for that role and region.
Compliance
Ongoing
Employers remain subject to inspection after the worker arrives.
Who this is for
When an LMIA route makes sense.
Employer-specific permits tie you to one employer, one role and often one location. In exchange, they open doors that open permits do not.
Employers hiring abroad
Businesses that cannot fill a role locally and need to recruit internationally, lawfully.
Workers targeting PR
An LMIA can add significant points in Express Entry and support many provincial nominee streams.
Renewals with the same employer
Extending an employer-specific permit as your current one approaches expiry.
Caregivers & home care
Home care roles that follow their own dedicated stream and requirements.
Agriculture & seasonal work
Primary agriculture and seasonal streams with distinct rules and timelines.
The requirements
What has to line up.
A genuine job offer
A real, full-time position with a detailed description, correct NOC/TEER code, hours and location.
Proper recruitment
Advertising including the national Job Bank, run for the required duration, with a documented recruitment report.
A compliant wage
At or above the applicable median wage for that occupation and region. Underpaying sinks the application.
Business legitimacy
Registration, financial statements, payroll and T4 summaries showing the employer can actually pay.
Worker qualifications
Your education, licensing and experience must genuinely match the role being offered.
Ongoing compliance
Employers must honour the offer and remain inspection-ready for the life of the permit.
How we help
How we run an LMIA file.
01
Test for an exemption first
We check every exemption before recommending an LMIA. It often saves months and thousands of dollars.
02
Prepare the employer side
Recruitment strategy, wage benchmarking, business documents and the application itself.
03
Prepare the worker side
Your permit application aligned exactly to the offer, with credentials and licensing addressed.
04
Convert it into PR
We structure the role and duration so the experience counts toward Express Entry or a PNP.
Free eligibility check
Hiring, or being hired?
Tell us about the role and a licensed RCIC will confirm whether an LMIA is needed, and what each side must prepare.
- Whether an exemption removes the LMIA entirely.
- What the employer must do, in order.
- Wage and recruitment requirements for the role.
- How to turn the permit into permanent residence.
Check your eligibility
Reviewed by a licensed RCIC, usually the same business day.
Thanks — we’ll be in touch
A licensed RCIC will review your details and reach out, usually the same business day.
Message us on WhatsApp Good to know
Questions, answered.
What is an LMIA?
A labour market impact assessment is a document from Employment and Social Development Canada confirming that hiring a foreign worker will not negatively affect the Canadian labour market. A positive assessment shows the employer genuinely tried to hire locally and could not.
Who applies for the LMIA, me or my employer?
Your employer does. The LMIA is an employer application. Once it is approved, you use it to support your own work permit application. The two are separate filings that must agree with each other completely.
How long does it take?
It varies considerably by stream and region, and some high-skilled roles qualify for two-week processing under the Global Skills Strategy. Standard streams take substantially longer, which is why testing for an exemption first is worth the effort.
Can I change employers on this permit?
Not freely. An employer-specific permit names your employer, and working elsewhere without authorization breaches your conditions. There are mechanisms to change employers, and if you are facing abuse there is a dedicated vulnerable worker permit.
Does an LMIA help my Express Entry score?
A qualifying arranged employment offer can add points in Express Entry, and an LMIA is one route to that. The rules on which offers qualify are specific, so this should be confirmed rather than assumed.
What are the employer's obligations after I arrive?
Employers must provide the wage and conditions set out in the offer, keep records, and remain inspection-ready. Non-compliance can lead to penalties and a ban from the program, which also affects the workers involved.