LMIA Canada: What It Is, Who Needs It, and How It Works (2026)
LMIA Canada explained: what a Labour Market Impact Assessment is, who applies, who pays, how it leads to a work permit, and the difference between high-wage, low-wage and exempt streams.
An LMIA is the Canadian government's way of saying "yes, this employer can hire a foreign worker for this role." It's the most common path into Canada through the Temporary Foreign Worker Program.
What LMIA stands for
LMIA = Labour Market Impact Assessment. It's issued by Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC). A positive LMIA confirms that hiring a foreign worker for a specific role won't harm the Canadian labour market — usually because the employer couldn't find a Canadian or PR.
Who applies for the LMIA
The employer. Workers do not apply for an LMIA. The employer pays the application fee (currently $1,000 CAD per position), advertises the role, and submits the LMIA package. If approved, the employer gives the worker a copy of the positive LMIA.
How it leads to a work permit
- Employer gets a positive LMIA from ESDC.
- Employer sends the LMIA + signed offer letter to the worker.
- Worker applies to IRCC for an LMIA-based work permit.
- Worker enters Canada and starts the role.
Streams: high-wage, low-wage, exempt
- High-wage stream — wage at or above the median for the role + region.
- Low-wage stream — wage below median; capped per employer, with extra requirements like transport and housing.
- Global Talent Stream — fast-track for tech roles on the Global Talent Occupations list.
- Primary Agriculture / SAWP — separate streams for agricultural workers.
- LMIA-exempt — many work permits don't need an LMIA at all (intra-company transfers, free trade agreements, post-grad work permits, spousal open permits, IEC).
Deep dives: low-wage vs high-wage LMIA · LMIA-exempt work permits.
Cost and timeline
Employer pays $1,000 CAD per LMIA position. Processing time varies — see current LMIA processing times.
What to do as a job seeker
- Find your NOC 2021 code — every LMIA references one.
- Search LMIA-flagged jobs.
- Cross-reference with the public LMIA employer list.
- Apply with a Canadian-style resume and be honest about work eligibility.
Disclaimer
Jobeefy is not an immigration service. We help you organise your Canadian job search. Always verify LMIA and work-permit questions with an authorized immigration representative (RCIC) or immigration lawyer.