LMIA
- Thread starter Toorkaur
- Start date
Labour Market Impact Assessment for Express Entry
Canadian employers unable to fill job vacancies with Canadians or permanent residents may offer a qualifying job to a skilled foreign worker through the Express Entry immigration selection system.
Unless the candidate (worker) has been working in Canada for at least one year on a work permit designating a specific employer (such as a NAFTA work permit or as an Intra-Company transferee), employers must obtain a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) in order for the permanent job offer to be validated for Express Entry. This document serves as proof that the hiring of the skilled worker will have a positive or neutral effect on the Canadian labour market.
There is no fee for employers who wish to apply for a LMIA for Express Entry candidates (note: the job offer must be permanent). There is a fee for LMIA applications made under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program.
The processing service standard is 10 business days.
Express Entry candidates who receive a positive LMIA may then provide this information in their Express Entry profile. This will result in the candidate being awarded 50 or 200 additional points under the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS); all skilled job positions are worth 50 points, except certain senior management positions, which are worth 200 points.
Although this CRS points bonus does not guarantee that the candidate will be invited to apply for permanent residence in Canada, the fact that he or she has obtained a qualifying job offer means that he or she is more likely to be invited in a subsequent draw from the pool.
Employer Requirements
To successfully hire a foreign national as a skilled worker under the Express Entry immigration selection system, it must be proofed that no qualified Canadians or permanent resident is ready, willing, and has passed up in favour of the foreign worker, and that the foreign worker will be given a salary and benefits that meet federal and provincial standards.
Employers must:
A job offer supported by a Labour Market Impact Assessment must meet the following specifications:
Canadian employers unable to fill job vacancies with Canadians or permanent residents may offer a qualifying job to a skilled foreign worker through the Express Entry immigration selection system.
Unless the candidate (worker) has been working in Canada for at least one year on a work permit designating a specific employer (such as a NAFTA work permit or as an Intra-Company transferee), employers must obtain a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) in order for the permanent job offer to be validated for Express Entry. This document serves as proof that the hiring of the skilled worker will have a positive or neutral effect on the Canadian labour market.
There is no fee for employers who wish to apply for a LMIA for Express Entry candidates (note: the job offer must be permanent). There is a fee for LMIA applications made under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program.
The processing service standard is 10 business days.
Express Entry candidates who receive a positive LMIA may then provide this information in their Express Entry profile. This will result in the candidate being awarded 50 or 200 additional points under the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS); all skilled job positions are worth 50 points, except certain senior management positions, which are worth 200 points.
Although this CRS points bonus does not guarantee that the candidate will be invited to apply for permanent residence in Canada, the fact that he or she has obtained a qualifying job offer means that he or she is more likely to be invited in a subsequent draw from the pool.
Employer Requirements
To successfully hire a foreign national as a skilled worker under the Express Entry immigration selection system, it must be proofed that no qualified Canadians or permanent resident is ready, willing, and has passed up in favour of the foreign worker, and that the foreign worker will be given a salary and benefits that meet federal and provincial standards.
Employers must:
- Provide the foreign worker with a permanent job offer;
- Obtain a positive LMIA from Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) for this job offer; and
- Inform the foreign national to create an Express Entry profile online OR to update their existing profile with the
- employer name and address,
- job start date,
- LMIA number, and
- National Occupational Classification (NOC) code related to the job.
A job offer supported by a Labour Market Impact Assessment must meet the following specifications:
- For Federal Skilled Worker Class
- Be of at least one year in duration, non-seasonal and full time; and
- Be for an NOC Skill Type 0 (managerial occupations) or Skill Level A (professional occupations) or B (technical occupations and skilled trades) occupation.
- For Federal Skilled Trades Class
- Be for at least one year of full-time work;
- Be for one of the eligible occupations that falls under the NOC Skill Level B classification; and
- Offer wages and working conditions comparable to those offered to Canadian citizens and permanent residents working in the same occupation.
- For Canadian Experience Class
- Be of at least one year in duration, non-seasonal and full time; and
- Be for an NOC Skill Type 0, A or B occupation.