Licensed & Regulated
Regulated by the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (CICC)
Hire the international talent your business needs. We guide Canadian employers through the LMIA process — recruitment requirements, ESDC compliance, and a complete, decision-ready application.
A Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) is a document issued by Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) that an employer must obtain before hiring most foreign workers. A positive LMIA confirms that hiring a foreign national will not negatively impact the Canadian labour market — meaning no qualified Canadian citizen or permanent resident was available to fill the position despite genuine recruitment efforts.
The LMIA process is employer-driven: the Canadian business applies to ESDC and must demonstrate that it advertised the position through prescribed channels, offered the prevailing wage for the occupation and region, and complied with all applicable labour standards. Once a positive LMIA is issued, the foreign worker can use it to apply for a work permit. Alfalah assists employers at every stage — from assessing whether an LMIA is required, to recruitment documentation, to submitting a complete, compliant ESDC application.
Employers must advertise the position for a minimum period using ESDC-approved channels including Job Bank and at least two other methods. Recruitment records must be retained and submitted to demonstrate genuine efforts to find a Canadian candidate.
Positions paid at or above the provincial median wage follow the high-wage stream, which includes a Transition Plan showing how the employer will reduce reliance on foreign workers. Positions below the median follow the low-wage stream with its own cap and requirements.
A positive LMIA is typically valid for 18 months from the date of issue. The named foreign worker uses the LMIA support letter and job offer to apply for a closed work permit tied to the specific employer and position.
We confirm the employer is eligible to apply for an LMIA — verifying business legitimacy, CRA business number, and compliance history — and assess whether any LMIA-exempt route exists that may be faster for the specific position.
We advise on the required advertising channels, minimum posting durations, and documentation standards. We help design a recruitment process that satisfies ESDC's requirements from the outset, avoiding common deficiencies that lead to refusals.
We prepare the complete LMIA application — business documentation, job offer details, wage analysis, recruitment records, Transition Plan (high-wage stream), and any required attestations — organized to ESDC's exact specifications.
We submit the application to the appropriate ESDC processing centre and manage any requests for additional information, ensuring the employer's compliance record is protected throughout the review.
Once a positive LMIA is issued, we assist the foreign worker with their closed work permit application — cover letter, supporting documents, and submission — so the hire can proceed without delay.
Licensed & Regulated
Regulated by the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (CICC)
Book a free 15-minute consultation with a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant — we review your situation, clarify your options, and give you a clear path forward.
A positive LMIA enables the foreign worker to apply for a work permit and may also support Express Entry PR applications.
Understanding why applications are refused helps you avoid the same pitfalls. Our consultants review every detail before submission to minimize your risk.
Employers must demonstrate genuine efforts to hire Canadians first — inadequate job postings, unreasonably narrow requirements, or short advertising periods are top refusal causes.
The offered wage must meet or exceed the median wage for the occupation and region as published by Statistics Canada.
Officers must be convinced there is a real, unfilled need for a foreign worker in that specific position — overstaffed sectors face greater scrutiny.
Businesses with prior labour law violations, ESDC compliance review findings, or Employment Standards complaints are ineligible for positive LMIAs.
The business must show it is financially capable of meeting all wage and benefit obligations for the duration of the work permit.
If hiring a foreign national would depress wages or worsen working conditions for Canadians in the occupation, the LMIA will be refused.
⚠ A Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant reviews every file before submission to identify and address potential refusal grounds. Book a free consultation to have your specific situation assessed.
A Labour Market Impact Assessment is a document from Employment and Social Development Canada confirming that hiring a foreign worker is necessary because no Canadian worker is available for the position.
No. Many work permit categories are LMIA-exempt, including intra-company transfers, workers covered by international trade agreements, and open work permit holders.
A valid job offer supported by a positive LMIA can add significant CRS points, substantially improving a candidate's ranking in the Express Entry pool.
Processing times vary depending on the wage category and application stream. High-wage and Global Talent Stream applications may have different processing timelines.
Yes. A PR-supporting LMIA can be used to obtain CRS points in Express Entry or to support permanent residence applications through certain provincial streams.
Disclaimer: Immigration requirements, processing times, fees, and eligibility criteria are subject to change without notice based on policies set by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). All applications are assessed individually by IRCC. Professional immigration assistance does not guarantee the approval of any application. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.
Regulatory Notice: Alfalah Immigration Services is regulated by the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (CICC). In Canada, only Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants (RCICs) and licensed lawyers are authorized to provide paid immigration advice. You may verify any consultant's registration at college-ic.ca.
The information on this page is provided for general guidance only and does not constitute legal immigration advice. For advice specific to your individual circumstances, please consult a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant.
Alfalah Immigration Services is based in the Greater Toronto Area, Ontario and proudly assists clients across Toronto, Mississauga, Brampton, Markham, Richmond Hill, Oakville, Vaughan, Hamilton, Ottawa, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Montreal, and communities throughout all provinces of Canada.
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