Quebec Expands List of Occupations for Facilitated LMIA Process

the CanadaVisa Team - 25 February, 2017

Employers in Quebec can enjoy a simplified, or facilitated, hiring process of foreign workers in certain occupations after the government of Quebec expanded the list of occupations that are exempt from the Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) advertising requirement in the province.

Whereas typically an employer in Canada must first advertise an open position in multiple places before an application for an application for a LMIA may be submitted, this requirement is waived for employers in Quebec hiring for certain positions.

All of the occupations on the list are considered high-paying positions.

The latest update to the list was revealed on February 24, 2017, and, while most of the occupations that were on the previous list are also on the new list, 16 new occupations have been added. On the other hand, two occupations from the previous list have not been included on the new list. These are:

• Computer Engineers {except Software Engineers and Designers), National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2147; and
• Medical Laboratory Technologists and Pathologists' Assistants, NOC 3211.

The list is updated annually. A transitional period of 30 days is granted to the employer or his/her representative to allow for the examination of an application submitted according to the previous year's list.

The government of Quebec requires that a temporary foreign worker who comes to a job on this list has at least a general education certificate equivalent to a high school diploma (DES) or equivalent. In addition, in jobs where a higher level of education is usually required, the candidate must meet the requirements of the position.

It should also be noted that the list concerns the hiring of workers, not business owners.

Facilitated LMIA List for Quebec

The following list is in effect as of February 24, 2017. Occupations that have been added since the previous list are in bold.

Canadian employers: To learn more about your options for hiring foreign workers, please contact wp@canadavisa.com. A legal expert will provide a free consultation.

Foreign workers: If you have received a job offer from a Canadian employer and wish to submit an inquiry about getting a work permit and working legally in Canada, please complete the form on this page.