Labour Market Impact Assessment

An application for a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA), which assesses the impact of hiring a foreign worker on the Canadian labour market, must be submitted by an employer before they may bring on a foreign employee to work for them. The ESDC/Service Canada will provide the employer with the final decision in writing if the employer has submitted an LMIA and has complied with all programme requirements.

How to Submit a LMIA

To prevent a potential processing delay, employers must make sure that all necessary documents are submitted at the time of application. For an LMIA, the following forms must be completed, signed, and submitted:

• LMIA Application form (EMP5593).

When the application is submitted, the employer must provide the name of the foreign national they seek to hire in this document.

• Schedule D – Skilled trades job offer – Employer #2 (EMP5595) (if applicable).
• Job offer signed by employer and the foreign worker.
• Proof of business legitimacy.
• Proof of advertisement (for example a copy of advertisement and information to support where, when and for how long the position was advertised).
• Paid application fee with payment information (if applicable).

A government representative will notify the employer that the application will not be completed if Service Canada determines that it is incomplete after it has been submitted. Applications that are judged incomplete won’t be given back to the company. Employers are highly urged to send copies of documents rather than the originals to prevent paperwork loss.

What are the results of a LMIA application?

Based on the data in the supporting documents, the ESDC/Service Canada will determine whether an accepted application receives a positive or negative LMIA. If the LMIA is successful, the employer will be given a letter of confirmation that is good for six months after it is issued. If the company wants the foreign worker to start working while waiting for the outcome of the permanent residency application, this document will support the skilled worker’s application for either a Permanent Resident visa or Work Permit. If the ESDC/Service Canada determines that the employer does not meet the conditions of the LMIA programme, a negative LMIA will be issued.

The length of time it takes to process an LMIA depends on the type of employment application. Employers can refer to a chart that the Government of Canada has developed online for precise processing times based on a particular application.

Find out more about LMIA applications and how it relates to your individual situation.

• A foreign individual who applies for permanent resident status or a temporary work visa in Canada as a caregiver may be eligible for both. Along with job experience, specific caregiver applications will determine if the foreign national is eligible for permanent residency or whether they need to apply for a temporary work visa.

  Home Child Care Provider Pilot and Home Support Worker Pilot

  Both the Home Child Care Provider Pilot and the Home Support Worker Pilot are five-year pilot projects that would make it possible for capable carers and the members of their families to obtain permanent residence status in Canada. If a foreign national is eligible for permanent residency, it will depend on both their employment history and the details of their application. An applicant will choose one of three possible applications based on their qualifying work experience:

  • The applicant does not have any qualifying work experience and has never worked full time as a caregiver in Canada.
  • The applicant has some qualifying work experience equalling less than 24 months based on either current or previous caregiver work within Canada.
  • The applicant has 24 months or more of qualifying work experience as a caregiver in Canada based on the last 36 months.

  The application process will vary based on which application the foreign national qualifies under.

  Applying to either the Home Child Care Provider Pilot or the Home Support Worker Pilot

  The applicant will select one of the two caregiver pilots for Canada, depending on the industry the foreign national decides to work in. The applicant will submit a work permit application along with their application for permanent residency if they are eligible for it under one of the two caregiver pilot programmes. If an application meets the requirements, they will be given a temporary occupation-restricted open work visa that will allow them to work as a caretaker while they wait for the confirmation of their permanent residency.The temporary work visa can be used to gain further experience if the applicant’s work history does not meet the requirements for permanent residency. The Canadian government will make a final determination regarding the application for permanent residency once adequate documentation of work experience has been presented.

  Find out more about Caregiver applications and how it is related to your individual situation.