LMIA-Exempt Employer Work Permits

The International Mobility Program (IMP) permits qualifying employers to hire certain foreign workers without a Labour Market Impact Assessment. This page focuses on the Canadian employer’s Employer Portal, compliance and hiring obligations. An LMIA exemption does not mean there are no requirements. Workers looking at their own application can review LMIA-Exempt Work Permits for Workers.

Employer Portal and compliance fee

In most employer-specific IMP cases, the employer must submit an offer of employment through IRCC’s Employer Portal and pay the $230 employer compliance fee before the worker submits the work permit application. The employer receives a seven-digit offer-of-employment number to provide to the worker. Exceptions exist for specified employers and categories.

Examples of LMIA-exempt hiring

Depending on the facts, employer-specific LMIA exemptions can arise under international agreements, intra-company transfer provisions, Francophone Mobility and other significant-benefit or public-policy categories. The exemption code and legal basis should be identified before the Employer Portal offer is submitted.

Francophone Mobility

For applications made under the current Francophone Mobility rules, qualifying workers must generally work outside Quebec, demonstrate intermediate French speaking and listening ability equivalent to NCLC 5 or higher, and have an eligible job offer. The employer uses LMIA exemption code C16 and generally pays the $230 compliance fee.

Open work permit holders

An employer hiring a person who already holds a valid open work permit generally does not submit an Employer Portal offer or pay the employer compliance fee for that employment.

Accuracy matters

Wage, duties, location and employment conditions in the Employer Portal should accurately reflect the employment because they can later be examined in an employer-compliance inspection.