Hire a worker without a labour market impact assessment: How to hire a temporary worker

How to hire a temporary foreign worker

Submit an offer of employment

In most cases, to hire a temporary worker through the International Mobility Program, you must

• pay the employer compliance fee of $230 and
• create and submit an offer of employment form through the Employer Portal. Your offer of employment must include information about
  • your business
  • the foreign worker you’d like to hire
  • the job details
  • wage and benefits

Special requirements for hiring certain types of foreign workers

Depending on the type of worker you plan to hire, there may be special requirements you need to meet.

Hiring French-speaking or bilingual worker outside Quebec

You can hire a French-speaking or bilingual worker outside Quebec without an LMIA if the worker

• can communicate with a moderate proficiency for speaking and listening in French
• will live and work outside the province of Quebec

Learn more about hiring a French-speaking or bilingual worker outside Quebec.

Hiring an overnight camp counsellor

You can hire an overnight camp counsellor through the International Mobility Program. If your worker fits the description, you don’t need to get a labour market impact assessment (LMIA). You may also be exempt from paying the employer compliance fee, depending on the worker’s situation.

Learn more about hiring an overnight camp counsellor.

Hiring a worker under the Innovation Stream

You can hire a foreign worker without an LMIA if you’re an employer participating in the Global Hypergrowth Project (GHP) and the job you’re offering meets all of the following requirements:

1. The job is in National Occupational Classification (NOC) Training, Education, Experience and Responsibilities (TEER) categories 0, 1, 2 or 3 (high-skilled).
2. You meet the wage assessment for the job you’re offering.

Exemptions

Open work permits

If you hire a temporary worker who has an open work permit, you don’t need to submit an offer of employment form or pay the employer compliance fee.

An open work permit allows the permit holder to work for any Canadian employer.

Employer compliance exemptions

Some employers don’t need to use the Employer Portal or are exempt from the employer compliance fee.

Find out if you’re exempt.

Sign in to the Employer Portal (opens in a new tab)

After you submit an offer of employment

After you submit an offer of employment through the Employer Portal, you’ll get an offer of employment number. You must give this 7-digit number to the temporary worker you plan to hire or employ.

Once the worker has this number, they can complete and submit the work permit application.

Applying for a work permit

Applicants who apply online outside Canada

We’ll review the worker’s application to see if they’re eligible to work in Canada. If approved, the temporary worker will get

• a port of entry letter of introduction from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
• a work permit from a border services officer, if they are still eligible, when they arrive in Canada

Applicants who are eligible to apply for or extend their work permit in Canada

If their application is approved, we’ll mail them a work permit. They won’t receive a port of entry letter.

Applicants who are eligible to apply at a port of entry

Some applicants are eligible to apply at a port of entry. At the port of entry, the border services officer will assess if the worker both

• meets the requirements of the work permit category they’re applying for
• is admissible to Canada

If the border services officer is satisfied that all requirements are met, they’ll issue a work permit.

Other things to tell your temporary worker

• Make sure your temporary worker has the right entry document. They will either need a visitor visa or an electronic travel authorization (eTA) to enter Canada. These documents are issued with the work permit if you are coming to Canada from another country.
• Depending on the type of work they’ll do in Canada and where they lived the previous year, temporary workers may have to undergo a medical examination during the application process.
• Some countries have requirements that citizens must meet before leaving the country. They may need an exit visa or other documents related to their Canadian employment. Temporary workers should check with their government authorities to find out what the requirements are before they attempt to leave.
• Make sure you hire someone with a valid work permit who follows the conditions listed on their work permit.
• Give the temporary worker information on their rights as a worker in Canada.