Last Updated on November 9, 2023 by Jerome Donovan
You can apply for a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA), however, you need to know that it’s actually the employer in Canada who has to do this, not the employee. The LMIA is a paper that Canadian employers might need to hire someone from another country. It shows that a foreign worker is needed because no one in Canada can fill that job. So, this page will show you the application for LMIA jobs in Canada for foreigners, irrespective of your country.
The chances of an LMIA being approved are pretty good, especially if everything is filled out correctly. But sometimes, LMIAs are not approved because the employer didn’t show enough proof that they need a foreign worker, they didn’t follow Canadian work laws, or they didn’t tell the truth in their application.
Even if an employer gets the LMIA, the foreign worker still has to apply for a work permit, and getting the LMIA doesn’t mean the work permit is guaranteed.
Can a Foreigner Apply for LMIA in Canada?
The process for obtaining a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) involves several steps and is primarily the responsibility of the employer, not the foreign worker. The LMIA is a document that Canadian employers 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 and that no Canadian worker is available to do the job.
LMIA Application Success Rate
The success rate for LMIA applications ranges from 60% to 85%, with well-prepared applications having a higher chance of approval.
The approval depends on various factors, including the employer’s ability to meet specific requirements like job advertisement, salary offered, and their general eligibility to hire internationally.
Top Reasons for LMIA Denial
Common reasons for LMIA application denial include the lack of evidence for the need for a foreign worker, non-compliance with Canadian labor laws, and misrepresentation of information in the application.
LMIA and Work Permits
If an employer’s LMIA application is approved, the foreign worker can then apply for a work permit. However, obtaining an LMIA does not guarantee that the foreign worker will be allowed to work in Canada; they must also meet all the requirements for a work permit.
How to Get a Job Offer with LMIA from Canada?
There are many LMIA jobs in Canada for foreigners, but how do you apply and get them?
Eligibility Check
First, ensure the job you’re eyeing is classified under TEER categories 0, 1, 2, or 3 of the National Occupational Classification (NOC). This classification includes managerial, professional, technical, and skilled trade occupations.
Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA)
If you can’t find a Canadian citizen or permanent resident to fill the role, you’ll need to apply for an LMIA. This is 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 because no Canadian worker is available.
Valid Job Offer
Once you have a positive LMIA, you need to make a job offer that meets certain requirements. For the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the job offer must be full-time, non-seasonal, and last for at least one year after your permanent resident visa is issued. It should also fall within the TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 categories. For the Federal Skilled Trades Program, the offer must be for full-time work for at least one year and be in a skilled trade.
For some cases, you might not need an LMIA, like if the candidate is already working in Canada temporarily in a qualifying job and you want to offer them a permanent position.
LMIA Jobs in Canada for Foreigners
LMIA jobs for foreigners outside Canada. There are job opportunities available for those who are coming from overseas, under the LMIA (Labour Market Impact Assessment) system. This system is designed to ensure that foreign workers are only hired for positions that cannot be filled by Canadian citizens or permanent residents.
For instance, Trans Frt McNamara, a company with a long-standing presence since 1985, is looking for full-time truck drivers in Kitchener-Waterloo, ON, offering a salary between $75,000 and $95,000 a year. They provide benefits like dental care, life insurance, and an RRSP match program. They’re keen on drivers who can do long hauls across Canada and the USA and they offer a pet-friendly environment with dedicated units for their drivers.
In Nanaimo, BC, K2 Stone Quarries is hiring general laborers at $20–$22 an hour for a full-time role. They emphasize that applicants should not call to inquire about their application status, suggesting a preference for communication through their hiring process.
Food service positions are also available, with companies like MARY BROWNS in Kingston, ON, looking for managers at $17–$18 an hour, and CoCo Fresh Tea & Juice in Edmonton, AB, needing full-time food associates and store supervisors with pay ranging from $15 to $22 an hour.
| Position | Description |
|---|---|
| Truck Driver | Trans Frt McNamara in Kitchener-Waterloo, ON, offers $75,000–$95,000 a year for full-time truck drivers. Benefits include dental care, life insurance, and RRSP match. They require 1 year of verifiable experience and are looking for drivers for long hauls across Canada and the USA. |
| General Labourer | K2 Stone Quarries in Nanaimo, BC, is hiring laborers for $20–$22 an hour for full-time work. Applicants are requested not to call for application status inquiries. |
| Manager | MARY BROWNS in Kingston, ON, seeks a full-time manager with strong customer service and leadership skills, offering $17–$18 an hour. |
| Food Associate & General Staff | CoCo Fresh Tea & Juice in Edmonton, AB, has positions for full-time food associates and general staff, with wages between $15 and $22 an hour. |
| Store Supervisor | CoCo Fresh Tea & Juice also needs a full-time store supervisor in Edmonton, AB, offering $19–$22 an hour. |
| Greenhouse Worker | UP Vertical Farms in Pitt Meadows, BC, is looking for full-time greenhouse workers, offering $17–$18 an hour. |
| Office Administrator/Sales | EYETELLIGENCE in Toronto, ON, offers $20–$30 an hour for a full-time office administrator/sales role, requiring 3 – 5 years of customer service & sales experience, preferably in an OPTOMETRY/OPTICAL environment. |
| Recruiter | Can Art Aluminum Extrusion in Brampton, ON, is hiring a full-time recruiter with a salary range of $32,677.34–$70,889.86 a year. The role includes HR functions such as recruitment and on-boarding. |
| Class 1 Driver | Garry’s Moving & Const Ltd in Surrey, BC, offers $70,000–$90,000 a year for a full-time Class 1 Driver position. They provide new pay rates, well-maintained equipment, and all miles paid. |
| CAD Tech Surveyor | Hazelwood Construction Services, Inc. in Victoria, BC, is looking for a full-time CAD Tech Surveyor, offering $35.75 an hour. |
| Cooks | Canadian Recruitment Group in Edmonton, AB, is urgently hiring cooks with LMIA available, offering from $16 an hour for full-time positions. Tagalog language skill is an asset. |
| Long Haul Driver | Pioneer Transport in Jacksonville, NB, seeks a full-time long haul driver for Canada & US routes, offering $67,000–$82,000 a year. |
| Truck Driver | Canada Worker Trades in Winnipeg, MB, is looking for full-time truck drivers for various roles including long haul and garbage driver. They support LMIA for skilled drivers. Education required is at least Secondary (high) school. |
How Do I Find Employers with LMIA in Canada?
Eligibility Check
First, ensure that the LMIA jobs in Canada for foreigners offering is considered skilled work under the National Occupational Classification (NOC) TEER categories 0, 1, 2, or 3.
You must also prove that you’ve tried to fill the position locally but couldn’t find suitable Canadian citizens or permanent residents.
Advertising the Job
You need to post the job on the Government of Canada’s Job Bank and in two other places to show you’ve made a significant effort to recruit domestically.
LMIA Application
If you still can’t find a Canadian or permanent resident for the job, apply for an LMIA through Employment and Social Development Canada. A positive LMIA will confirm that there is a genuine need for a foreign worker to fill the job.
Job Offer Requirements
The job offer must meet certain conditions, depending on the immigration program. For instance, for the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the job offer should be full-time, non-seasonal, and last at least one year after the worker’s permanent resident visa is issued.
LMIA Exemptions
In some cases, you might not need an LMIA, such as when the candidate is already working for you temporarily and meets specific conditions.
Express Entry Profile
Once you have a positive LMIA, the candidate must update their Express Entry profile with the job details, including the LMIA number and the NOC code.
Can I Buy LMIA in Canada?
No, you can’t. As a foreign national, you can’t apply for an LMIA in the first place. LMIA documents are only applied for by a Canadian employer looking to employ you. Usually, they have to indicate that no Canadian is available to do the job.
Read also: Farm Jobs in Canada with Visa Sponsorship for 2024
