Canada has always been a popular destination for skilled foreign workers, who are bringing their expertise and experience into the Canadian Economy.
Our country is proud to offer a strong economy, competitive wages, and incredible opportunities to transform temporary work permit status into a Permanent Residency. Our firm has a tight network with Canadian employers who are recruiting skilled foreign nationals for their employment needs. If you are ready to share your knowledge and expertise, you should contact our office now for further recruitment opportunities.
Even though the majority of the jobs in Canada require the employer to obtain a positive LMIA for the foreign national’s work permit, there are some exceptions. Below you will find a list of job types that, with careful consideration, may require neither an LMIA nor a work permit.
IMPORTANT: If you meet the requirements of the below job list, it does not mean that you automatically may engage in employment in Canada. Indeed, a person’s job should meet additional exemption criteria and eligibility requirements, which are outlined as a part of the International Mobility Program section. If a foreign national is employed in one of the positions or scenarios listed below, they may be eligible for a work permit exemption.
efore the foreign national obtains a right to apply for a work permit, the Canadian Employer should undergo the selective process to determine which of the below-noted programs will suit the needs to expedite the recruitment process:
Under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, the Canadian employers are prompted to obtain a neutral or positive Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA), a complex application, which is processed by the Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC). The process, which involves recruitment efforts, selection reports, proof of business legitimacy, which results in an inability to find a Canadian citizen or permanent resident with the right set of skills and required expertise.
Upon the receipt of the positive or neutral LMIA, the employer provides a copy of the LMIA approval along with the detailed job offer letter to the foreign worker it wishes to hire. A foreign national then may proceed with the LMIA-based Work Permit application, which requires different from the LMIA application set of documents, proof of employment experience ability to fulfil the required job duties, etc. This application process differs from the LMIA application itself and should be treated very seriously, as the LMIA approval letter does not constitute to be a guarantee for a Work Permit approval.
The International Mobility Program (IMP) enables Canadian employers to hire temporary foreign workers without the need for a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). While most employers hiring foreign workers will require an LMIA, there are certain circumstances where LMIA-exemptions exist. These LMIA exemptions are based on the following conditions:
Significant number of LMIA-exemptions are available through international agreements between Canada and other countries. Certain types of employees can transfer to Canada from other countries, and vice versa, if they are able to demonstrate this will have a positive impact. Canada has negotiated the following Free Trade Agreements, each encompassing a range of LMIA-exemptions:
Another popular category of LMIA-exemptions fall under the broad category of Canadian Interest exemptions. LMIA-exemptions under this category must demonstrate that the exemption will be in the best interest of Canada, either by being of significant benefit to Canadians or through the maintenance of reciprocal employment relationships with other nations.
In order to qualify for an LMIA-exemption under the category of significant benefit for Canadians, the employment of a foreign national must demonstrate significant social or cultural benefit to Canada. Generally, immigration officers will assess a foreign national’s past track record of success and examine testimony and recommendations of distinguished experts in the foreign nationals field in order to determine significant benefit.
Some of the examples include, but are not limited to:
The Global Talent Stream (GTS) is a two-year pilot program launched in June 2017 through a partnership between Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC). The GTS assists certain Canadian employers to hire highly-skilled global talent enabling them to compete on an international scale. Employers who are successfully referred to the program will be able to expedite the process for hiring foreign nationals through the Global Skills Strategy.
International Experience Canada (IEC) is a set of programs enabling young people from participating countries to travel to Canada to live and work temporarily. Foreign nationals who are successful through one of the IEC programs will be authorized to apply for a Canadian work permit without the need for a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). IEC authorizes temporary stay in Canada, with the approval of work permits for a maximum of one year.
he Working Holiday visa is ideal for individuals who want the freedom to work for any employers while travelling in Canada. Applicants who are successful through the Working Holiday program receive an open work permit. Open work permits are not tied to specific employers, so individuals have the freedom to change employers and locations while living in Canada. The Working Holiday program is a good option for foreign nationals from participating countries who are seeking the following:
As the Working Holiday program has relatively relaxed requirements, this program is incredibly popular. Canada approves predetermined quotas of applicants for this program on a per-country basis. Applicants interested in this program should verify the quotas for their country in order to gain an accurate understanding of their probability of success.
The Young Professionals program allows foreign nationals to gain Canadian professional work experience by working with a Canadian employer. This program requires that applicants have a job offer from a Canadian employer in order to apply. Applicants who are successful through the Young Professionals program will be issued an employer-specific work permit. This means they must work for the same employer in the same location during their stay in Canada. The Young Professionals program is a good option for foreign nationals from participating countries who are seeking the following:
Generally, a position must be Training, Education, Experience and Responsibilities (TEER) category 0, 1, 2 or 3 of the NOC to be considered as contributing to professional development. Participating countries have varying quotas to be filled annually for this program. Interested applicants should verify quotas for their country to understand the probability of their success.
The International Co-op Internship program allows international students to complete an internship or work placement in Canada as a requirement for their post-secondary education. This program requires that applicants have a job offer for a work placement or internship in Canada which is required for their completion of studies. Applicants who are successful through this program receive an employer-specific work permit, meaning that they must work for the same employer in the same location during their stay in Canada. The International Co-op Internship program is a good option for foreign nationals from participating countries who are seeking the following:
hose willing to work for the same employer in the same location during their stay in Canada Interested applicants should consult the requirements for their country to verify exact application procedures as well as quotas for the program.