Labour Market Impact Assessment
LMIA
A Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) is a document that a Canadian employer must obtain before hiring a foreign worker. It confirms that no Canadian citizen or permanent resident is available to do the job.
Filed By
Employer
Processing
~3 months
Fee per LMIA
$1,000 CAD
Result
Positive/Negative
The LMIA Process
Employer advertises the position to Canadians/PRs for at least 4 weeks
Employer submits LMIA application to ESDC
ESDC assesses wage offer, working conditions, labor shortage, recruitment efforts
If positive, employer sends LMIA offer letter to foreign worker
Foreign worker applies for a closed work permit using the LMIA
Positive LMIA adds 50 or 200 CRS points for Express Entry
Some work permits are LMIA-exempt (e.g., intra-company transfers, international agreements, significant benefit).