If your company or organization wants to bring a foreign national to Canada to work in a position that's exempt from requiring a labour market impact assessment (LMIA), you must provide us with the employment details and pay the employer compliance fee (if required) before we can approve the work permit application.
You must submit offers of employment and employer compliance fees through the Employer Portal. This guide provides instructions on how to
If you don't pay the fee or submit an offer of employment before the foreign national submits their application, we'll refuse the work permit.
Open work permits
If a foreign national is eligible and applying for an open work permit, you don't need to submit an offer of employment. An open work permit allows foreign nationals to work for any employer.
If you don't have an account, find out how to enrol in the Employer Portal enrolment guide.
To sign in to the Employer Portal
You may receive an error message that says "Your account is not authorized to access this IRCC portal. Please ensure you have chosen the correct link to log in to." If you receive this message, make sure you
Once you're signed in, you'll see the Employer Portal welcome page.
Employer Portal tips
Once you sign in to your account, you'll see your company's information in the Business details and Business primary contact information fields. You, as the primary user, provided this information when you enrolled the business in the portal. Until the primary user submits the first offer of employment, the IRCC employer number field and all the fields under View address details will stay blank.
The primary user can create secondary users or branches within the account, but other users can't submit any offers until the primary user submits the first one.
If you want to change the primary user, there must already be at least one secondary user. Once there's a secondary user, email us to make a secondary user become the primary user.
After the primary user submits the first offer of employment in the Employer Portal, all the other business details will be listed. You'll then be able to update the
To change this information
Make sure that
To create an offer of employment under "What would you like to do today?"
Next, you'll see 4 forms that need to be completed:
The information required in these 4 forms must be typed in fully and accurately.
Don't copy and paste information into any of the fields.
Don't enter messages such as "see attached" in any of the fields to refer to documents that might be attached to the work permit application. Only information in the offer will be assessed in the event of a compliance inspection.
You'll be able to upload one of the following documents before submitting your offer:
If your offer isn't complete, we may ask you to resubmit it. Otherwise, the work permit application may be refused.
If you make a mistake, and the submitted offer is matched to the work permit application in the system, you won't be able to change it. In this case, you'll have to resubmit the offer.
If the submitted offer isn't matched to the work permit application, you can withdraw it and start a new one.
To save time when creating a new offer of employment, you can use the Create Duplicate button to copy the offer that you've withdrawn. Then, correct the mistake, or add the information that was missing from the first offer.
Find out more about making changes to offers you've submitted.
The information you provide in the offer of employment should be easily verifiable if we do a compliance inspection.
During an inspection, we'll
You need to enter your business information only when you submit your first offer of employment. The information you enter will be saved in the form for all your future offers.
For future offers, you'll be able to change most of the fields in this form yourself, except your
Find out how to make changes to your business information.
Enter the telephone number of the company or organization and click on Next.
If we need to do a compliance investigation, we'll be able to contact you about the employment of your foreign worker, and you won't risk being found non-compliant.
This is the physical address and mailing address (if applicable) of the main business or headquarters. Indicate the work location(s) for the foreign worker in the Job details form.
If you're a portal user who works at a branch of your company, use your branch location and not the address of the business headquarters.
Choose your type of business from the available list.
If the business is a registered franchise
Enter the following information:
Enter the name, job title and contact information of the person who will
When you've completed the form, follow these steps:
Click on Start form or Continue form.
Enter the information for the temporary foreign worker you want to hire. Make sure it's accurate and matches the information in the temporary foreign worker's passport (or other travel document) exactly. This includes
If the information you provide doesn't match the information in the temporary foreign worker's passport or travel document
Enter the temporary foreign worker's family (last) name and given (first) name exactly as listed in their passport.
Single names
If the temporary foreign worker goes by only one name, enter that name in the Last name field, and
check the box affirming there's no first name.
Use the drop-down menu to choose the information that's in the passport.
Use the drop-down menu to choose the information that's in the passport.
Enter the temporary foreign worker's passport number exactly as it's listed in their passport.
Validate, save and exit when you've completed the form.
The system will prevent you from completing this section and submitting the offer of employment. In this case, email us. In your email, include the following:
Click on Start form or Continue form.
These fields
Find out how to make changes to this information if needed.
Choose the exemption title that applies to the job position from the drop-down menu. The LMIA exemption code will automatically appear in the field below.
To avoid delays in processing, make sure the LMIA exemption you choose matches the
Review the LMIA exemption codes table if you aren't sure which one applies to the job position.
If no LMIA exemption applies to the job position
The International Mobility Program doesn't apply to you. The Employer Portal is used only if the job position is exempt from requiring an LMIA.
In that case, you may need to get an LMIA from Service Canada. If an LMIA is required, the worker attaches it to their work permit application. Find out how to get an LMIA.
Get help
If you want an opinion on whether an LMIA or work permit exemption applies to your situation, contact the International Mobility Workers Unit.
Explain how the job being offered meets the LMIA exemption you chose.
For example, your explanation must include
Make sure the information you provide is truthful and complete. We'll use it to decide if the exemption eligibility requirements are met.
You'll have the option to
Enter the temporary foreign worker's job title. The job title must align with the National Occupational Classification.
Choose the National Occupation Code (NOC) code that describes the occupation and lists the main duties of your temporary foreign worker. If you aren't sure which code to use, review all the available codes and find the one that applies to your situation.
Enter the location where the temporary foreign worker will be working. If there are 2 locations, answer Yes to "Will the worker perform duties at more than 1 job location?" and complete the second job location section.
If there are more than 2 locations, you can complete the first job location section and list all the other locations in the Main duties of the job field. This information, if provided, will be considered during a compliance inspection—even if the work permit document failed to indicate the multiple job locations.
Please provide
Select the date (year, month and day) that the foreign worker will start to work for you.
If you put your foreign worker's expected date of arrival to Canada in the Expected start date area of the form, put the date you expect the foreign worker to start work in the Alternate compensation scheme (Wage and benefits section) box. This will clarify when the foreign worker's wages will begin.
The actual start date of employment may differ from the date of issuance of the work permit or the date of arrival. Make sure you keep all supporting documents when hiring a foreign worker in case we request them during a compliance inspection.
An offer of employment's expected start date of employment can't be retroactive.
If the foreign worker is already working for your business under another work permit, the offer of employment should
be made only for the period of time they'll be working after their current work permit expires.
The time they worked in the past shouldn't be included in the new offer of employment. Only the duration of employment for which a new work permit needs to be issued is required.
Indicate the total duration of employment in days, months or years.
Permanent resident programs and work permits
Under certain permanent resident programs, candidates may be eligible to apply for a work permit. In these
cases—even though the job may be "permanent" or "indeterminate," or have no end date—you should still
indicate
the duration of the work permit when you submit an offer of employment.
For example, under the Atlantic Immigration Program, candidates may be eligible to apply for a work permit that's valid for 2 years. Because the work permit will be issued for only 2 years, this duration should be reflected in the offer of employment that's submitted for this type of work permit.
Select the education requirements of the job from the drop-down list.
Indicate any other training required or additional certifications necessary for the job in the text box provided. Examples of other certifications needed would be first aid certificates, workplace safety certificates and specialty training.
Use the text box provided to indicate the experience (such as years and type) and skills required to do the job.
Provincial or federal certifications, licences or registration requirements
If the job has provincial or federal certifications, licences or registration requirements (for example, BC Air
Brake Endorsement or Ontario nursing licence), you can enter this information in the text box provided when you
answer yes to the experience and skills question.
Generally, an employer compliance fee of $230 is required. Certain employers are exempt from paying the compliance fee if the foreign worker is exempt from paying the work permit processing fee.
Find out if you need to pay the employer compliance fee before you answer this question.
Answer either:
Enter the contact information for the person who submitted the offer of employment if it's different from the user contact you provided earlier.
The employer contact should be someone who
Validate, save and exit when you've completed the form.
In this section, disclose all the information related to
This information will be used during the work permit application assessment to
This information will also be assessed if we do a compliance inspection. We'll use it to verify the information you provided in your offer and confirm that you've complied with the conditions required for hiring a temporary worker.
Click on Start form or Continue form.
The information you enter in this form will show that you're complying with federal and provincial labour laws.
What counts as an employer-sponsored benefit
In this form, the term "employer-sponsored benefits" doesn't include
If you're paying the temporary foreign worker directly, select Yes and enter the details about the worker's wage and working hours.
Use the Additional information text box to
Seasonal work and wages
Currently, when Yes is selected for Wage and benefits, the question "Is this employment seasonal?" doesn't display.
The question "Is this employment seasonal?" displays only when No is selected in response to Wage and benefits. If you're paying the temporary foreign worker directly, and the employment is seasonal, you can indicate this in the Additional information text box.
If you're hiring a worker under the Innovation Stream, you must meet the following wage requirements to qualify:
Under the International Mobility Program, you must pay the prevailing wage, which is defined as the highest of either
To determine the median wage on Job Bank
If the position requires more skills and years of experience than the applicable NOC description, the wages offered should reflect these additional requirements.
To determine the wage rate being offered, we'll consider only guaranteed wages, which exclude
If you're hiring a worker under the Innovation Stream, you'll need to make sure that the worker is paid the prevailing wage throughout the employment period. To show this, you'll need to review wages
In the Additional information text box in the Employer Portal, paste the following text exactly as shown:
On the first day of work and then annually thereafter, I, the employer, will
Use this field if
Provide the specific range of hours that the temporary foreign worker will be working in Canada instead of stating Variable. For example, the foreign national will work between 40 and 100 hours a week, depending on the harvest season or weather.
If you can't get this information from the organization paying the wages, let us know in this same field.
If you don't have enough space in that field, you can use the Additional information text box.
Select Next.
Benefits for temporary foreign worker
Currently, the form doesn't let you indicate "not applicable" (n/a) regarding benefits provided to the temporary foreign worker. Even if you're not providing benefits to the temporary foreign worker, you should select one of the benefits and then provide information, in the Additional information text box, about the benefits arrangement in effect for this worker.
Enter the details about the temporary foreign worker's benefits if they'll have any.
Select whether the vacation will be given in days or whether the temporary foreign worker will be paid a percentage for vacation pay.
If you select Days, you must be sure to distinguish between weeks and days. For example, if the worker will be given 2 weeks' vacation, indicate exactly how many working days will be given (for example, 10 working days).
Any employer-sponsored benefits that the temporary foreign worker receives must be for the entire time period listed on the work permit. If the benefits won't start on the first day of the work permit—or if no benefits will be provided in the job offer—include this information in either
Validate, save, and exit when you've completed the form.
When you've completed and validated all 4 forms, submit the offer of employment by following these steps:
The agreement needs to be signed and completed before you enter the information in the Employer Portal. This is to ensure that the employer, the temporary foreign worker and the Government of Canada have the same understanding of the wages, occupation and working conditions for the job.
Temporary foreign workers are expected to pay these fees.
Keep proof of payment
Print or screenshot the payment confirmation on the Moneris page. We won't issue any other receipt.
You may need to use the Interdepartmental Settlements procedures to pay the employer compliance fee instead of using a credit card. In this case, the hiring division or appropriate financial or contracting officer in the department must send us an email instead.
The email must include the
You'll receive a receipt number once the settlement is processed. Choose No, I am exempt from paying employer compliance fees, and upload a copy of the receipt in the Proof of fee exemption field at the end of the offer.
Select Exit questionnaire to return to the portal welcome page.
The employment queue status now says "matched" after your offer of employment is matched with a work permit application.
Once you submit an offer of employment, it will be listed in your employment queue.
There's a processing delay of a few minutes in the Employer Portal.
The Details column shows you the status of each offer of employment. Right after you submit an offer, you may see Processing submission in this column. You will know the offer has been successfully submitted when the status is updated to Submitted, and you see an offer of employment number.
How to make changes to an offer.
The offer of employment number consists of the letter A followed by a 7-digit number. It will appear in your employment queue shortly after you submit your offer.
If you don't see the employer number, wait 24 hours, then check again.
You won't receive an email or approval letter to give to the temporary foreign worker. Instead, you must give the offer of employment number to the temporary foreign worker. They need this number to submit their work permit application.
Once you provide the temporary foreign worker with the offer of employment number, you have completed your part of the work permit process for your employee.
Make sure any other hiring or employment documentation you give the temporary foreign worker matches the terms and conditions of employment that are stated in the offer. Relevant documentation includes the employment contract and letter of offer, and the details within these documents.
What to do after you hire a temporary worker.
To view your existing offers of employment
From your queue, you can
All users who have access to your employer or branch account will be able to see any offers that are in progress or that have been submitted. They will also be able to edit offers created by another user until the offer is submitted.
To access employment offers that haven't been matched in the system, you can use the offer of employment number.
Select Continue application next to the offer you want to complete.
All users who have access to the same queue can complete offers that have been started. Complete and submit the offer.
Submit the offer within 60 days, or it will automatically be deleted from your queue.
Select Delete application next to the offer you want to delete.
You'll be asked to confirm that you want to delete this offer.
You can withdraw the offer of employment and get a refund of the compliance fee if you no longer want to hire the temporary foreign worker.
You can withdraw an offer at any time before we issue the temporary foreign worker's work permit. The steps you need to follow to withdraw an offer depend on whether
If you see Withdraw application next to your offer, the offer has not been matched to the work permit application.
Your offer's status will change to Withdraw pending.
It can take up to 24 hours for the offer to be withdrawn.
Once completed, the status will change to Withdrawn.
If you don't see Withdraw application next to your offer, the offer has most likely already been matched to the temporary foreign worker's work permit application. The work permit application is in progress or has already been finalized. In this case, you won't be able to withdraw your offer using the portal.
If you still want to withdraw the offer, email us. In your email message, explain that you want to withdraw the offer, and include
Don't withdraw matched offers
If you withdraw an offer that has already been matched, the work permit application will be refused.
If we authorized you to submit your offer using the paper IMM5802 form, email us to withdraw your offer. In your email
The steps you need to follow to change an offer of employment depend on where we are in the approval process.
If we've approved the temporary foreign worker's work permit application
If we haven't yet approved the temporary foreign worker's work permit application, but the application has been received and linked to the offer, you can't make changes to that offer. You must do the following:
If the temporary foreign worker submitted a work permit application to us
If you submitted the offer, and the work permit application hasn't been received or linked to the offer
To create multiple offers of employment that contain the same details except for the foreign worker's information, you can duplicate an offer.
The new offer (or duplicate) will copy the Business information and Wage and benefits web forms of the selected offer.
The Foreign worker web form and the information about the LMIA-exempt offer of employment in the Job details web form will have to be re-entered.
To look at the offers of employment that you've submitted, do the following:
Depending on the status of the offer of employment, you may also be able to
Be careful with your search criteria
You'll be able to see only the submitted offers of employment that meet your search criteria.
To create a secondary user or branch account, follow these steps:
You can change information only in these fields: Contact email address and Preferred language of notification. If you need to change your business name, your business number or the primary contact, email us with Business Information Change in the subject line. In the email, include
Before you start, clear your browser's cache and cookies. If you don't, you may encounter errors. Follow these steps to reset your PIN:
If you want to reset your PIN and you use Sign-In Partner, email us to request a new PIN. Include the following information in the body of your email:
We'll email you a new PIN, which will be valid for 45 days.
After you receive your new PIN, follow these steps to recover your account.
After you follow these steps, your account will be recovered and will include a complete list of your previous offers of employment and users.
If you need help completing a field in the Employer Portal, click on the blue question mark icon next to that field.
If you're having technical problems, email us. In your email, include the following:
You can expect a response from us within 5 business days. If the problem can't be fixed in that time, we'll let you know what to do next.
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