Your Go-To Guide for Understanding LMIA: Insights and Application Steps
A Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) is a document issued by Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) that employers may require before hiring a foreign worker. The LMIA process ensures that the hiring of a foreign worker will not negatively impact the Canadian labour market.
18+
Years of experience
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Success Rate
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Workers in Canada
An LMIA gives:
Canadian employers the authorization to hire a temporary foreign worker. It is required for certain temporary positions, allowing prospective employees to apply for a work permit.
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LMIA Application Process For Employers
Streamline your recruitment of foreign workers with our expert guidance every step of the way.
1. Workvantage identifies your company’s needs
2. We recruit foreign workers & prepare the LMIA
3. We handle the work permit application & workers’ arrival
Obtaining a Positive LMIA: How Can a Canadian Employer Get an LMIA?
Obtaining a positive LMIA can be complex and involves more than just filling out a form. Employers need to apply through Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC), and the application procedure differs depending on the type of worker they are looking to hire. Each stream, whether for high-wage or low-wage positions, agricultural workers, caregivers, or roles specific to Quebec, has its own set of guidelines and requirements.
Exploring LMIA Exemptions
An employee may be exempt from an LMIA if:
Optimizing Recruitment Efforts for LMIA: What Employers Need to Know
To prioritize job opportunities for Canadians and permanent residents, employers in most provinces must demonstrate a thorough recruitment process before applying for an LMIA. This includes:
-Advertising on national or provincial job banks for at least 28 days, with some streams requiring additional advertising on specialized platforms targeting underrepresented groups.
“Quebec employers may be exempt from this if filling roles deemed essential or listed as difficult to fill by Service Canada.”
Key LMIA Requirements for Canadian Employers in 2026-2027
To apply for an LMIA, Canadian employers must:
Discover Your LMIA Hiring Pathways
Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) provides employers with a positive LMIA after taking into consideration certain requirements that must be met by the employers. These requirements will vary depending on the type of program through which you are hiring.
The programs, also known as streams, are detailed as follows:
LMIA exemptions are available under the International Mobility Program (IMP) and through various Free Trade Agreements (FTAs). These include:
Canada-Chile FTA
Canada-Peru FTA
Canada-Colombia FTA
Canada-Korea FTA
Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA)
General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS)
Intra-Company Transferees
Innovation Stream Pilot North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) (now replaced by the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, or USMCA, but often still referred to as NAFTA) Workers from specific countries or those transferring within a multinational company can benefit from these exemptions, provided they meet the criteria set out by these agreements.
Latest LMIA Processing Times for November 2025
The duration of an LMIA process can be unpredictable. It can take anywhere from a few weeks to several months, considering the mandatory 30-day job advertising period before filing an application.
According to Service Canada, processing times vary depending on the type of application. See the updated table below for average processing times by application type.
Note: The table provides average processing times. Actual processing times may vary depending on the number of applications being processed by Service Canada, additional delays, and the complexity of each case.
Stream
Processing Times
Agricultural Stream:
Global Talent Stream:
High-Wage Stream:
In-Home Caregivers:
Low-Wage Stream:
Permanent Residence Stream:
Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program:
Understanding LMIA Application Costs
Employers are required to cover all costs associated with the LMIA process. It is important to note that these costs cannot be transferred to the temporary foreign worker. Exemptions may apply for certain applications, such as those supporting permanent residency in specific sectors.
Navigating LMIA Refusals
Even when all requirements are met, LMIA applications may still be refused. The decision is at the discretion of Service Canada officers, who consider various factors, including regulatory compliance and any potential technicalities in the application. Employers should be aware that certain conditions or past non-compliance can lead to a refusal.
Your Questions, Answered
Determining whether an LMIA is required can be complex. At Workvantage, we specialize in helping Canadian employers navigate LMIA exemption codes and work permit categories. Let our team assess your hiring needs and ensure that your business complies with all regulations. Contact us today to get expert assistance and avoid costly mistakes in the process.
Navigating LMIA form requirements can be tricky, especially when hiring multiple workers. At Workvantage, we ensure you submit the correct number of forms and handle all the paperwork for you. Whether it’s one form or several, our experts will guide you through the process to make sure everything is done efficiently and accurately.
LMIA approval times vary depending on the type of process. However, you can expect for the entire process to take a minimum of six weeks, as you will be required to actively advertise a job vacancy for up to 30 days before you can file for an LMIA.
Yes. If an employer doesn’t meet the criteria established by Employment and Social Development Canada, an LMIA can be refused.
If your LMIA has been refused, you may file again unless your application has been revoked within the past two years as a result of providing false, misleading or inaccurate information.
Yes, in most cases, an LMIA is required for foreign nationals in Canada who want to change their employment status or switch employers. However, if the job’s National Occupational Classification (NOC) code is exempt from LMIA requirements, then an LMIA will not be necessary. It’s important to verify whether the specific NOC code falls under an LMIA exemption before proceeding.
As of May 1, 2024, the validity period for a new LMIA is 6 months from the date of issuance. This means that the temporary foreign worker(s) must apply for their respective work permits within this 6-month period. This update is a reduction from the previous 18-month validity, which was temporarily extended due to pandemic-related delays
No, an LMIA is not a work permit. An LMIA (Labour Market Impact Assessment) is a document that employers in Canada must obtain to demonstrate the need to hire a temporary foreign worker. It assesses the impact of hiring a foreign worker on the Canadian labor market. Without a positive LMIA, a foreign worker cannot apply for a work permit. The LMIA is a preliminary requirement that allows the foreign worker to then apply for a work permit, which is the document that authorizes them to work in Canada.
Yes, a foreign worker is allowed to work in their country of residence while they wait for a final decision on their LMIA application. Also, a temporary foreign worker within Canada is only allowed to work while waiting for an LMIA if they applied for a new work permit before the expiration date of their last document because they fall under the maintained status. Visitors or any status other than worker are not entitled to a worker maintained status.
The employer is responsible for paying any fees related to the LMIA process.
