LMIA based work permit

LMIA Based Closed Work Permit

A work permit is a written authorization that is:

  • Issued by an officer that allows a person who is not a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident to work in Canada
  • Needed if you want to work in Canada, even if your employer is not in Canada
  • Usually valid only for a specific employer, job and length of time
    Issued based on a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) from Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC), or an Offer of employment from an LMIA-exempt employer

Eligibility requirements for all applicants: 

There are specific requirements you need to meet depending on where you are when you apply for your work permit. But regardless of where you apply or which type of work permit you apply for, you must:

  • Prove to an officer that you will leave Canada when your work permit expires
  • Show that you have enough money to take care of yourself and your family members during your stay in Canada and to return home
  • Obey the law and have no record of criminal activity (we may ask you to give us a police clearance certificate)
  • Not be a danger to Canada’s security
  • Be in good health and have a medical exam If needed
  • No plan to work for an employer listed with the status “ineligible” on the list of employers who failed to comply with the conditions
  • No plan to work for an employer who, on a regular basis, offers striptease, erotic dance, escort services or erotic massages
  • Give the officer any other documents they ask for to prove you can enter the country

What is a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA)?

An LMIA is a document from Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) that gives the employer permission to hire a temporary worker.
ESDC will assess the employer’s LMIA application to determine what impact hiring a temporary foreign worker would have on Canada’s job market. ESDC will issue a positive or negative LMIA letter to the employer. Your employer should give you a copy of this letter to include with your application for a work permit.
The LMIA is usually given for a specific period of time and the work permit issued will match that period.

Open work permit:

Who can apply for an open work permit?

You may be eligible for an open work permit if you:-

  • Are an international student who graduated from a designated learning institution and are eligible for the Post-Graduation Work Permit Program
  • Are a student who’s no longer able to meet the costs of your studies (destitute student)
  • Have an employer-specific work permit and are being abused or at risk of being abused in relation to your job in Canada
  • Applied for permanent residence in Canada
  • Are a dependent family member of someone who applied for permanent residence
  • Are the spouse or common-law partner of a skilled worker or international student
  • Are the spouse or common-law partner of an applicant of the Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program
  • Are a refugee, refugee claimant, protected person or their family member
  • Are under an unenforceable removal order
  • Are a temporary resident permit holder
  • Are a young worker participating in special programs?

In each of these situations, you must meet additional criteria to be eligible.

Mann ImmigrationLMIA based work permit