In order to bring a temporary foreign worker to Canada, a Canadian employer must generally receive a positive Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). There are several cases, however, where the need for a LMIA may be waived.
Some of the most common LMIA-exempt streams are outlined below. This page is divided into the following sections:
Significant benefit
Reciprocal employment
Charitable and religious workers
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Note: Being exempt from obtaining a LMIA does not mean the individual is exempt from obtaining a work permit. All streams on the LMIA exemption list still require the individual to obtain a work permit to work in Canada legally.
1. Significant benefit
Objective measures for “significant social or cultural benefit”:
an official academic record showing that the foreign national has a degree, diploma, certificate, or similar award from a college, university, school, or other institution of learning relating to the area of their ability;
evidence from current or former employers showing that the foreign national has significant full time experience in the occupation for which he or she is sought (significant in this context can be taken to mean ten or more years experience);
has been the recipient of national or international awards or patent;
evidence of membership in organizations requiring excellence of its members;
having been the judge of the work of others;
evidence of recognition for achievements and significant contributions to the field by peers, governmental organizations, or professional or business associations;
evidence of scientific or scholarly contributions to the field by the foreign national;
publications authored by the foreign national in academic or industry publications; and.or
leading role of the foreign national in an organization with a distinguished reputation.
Entrepreneurs/Self-Employed Persons
Intra-Company Transferees
Dependents Of Foreign Workers
French-Speaking Skilled Workers
Academics
Provincial LMIA Exemptions
2. Reciprocal employment
International Agreements－ North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)
International Exchange Programs－Working Holiday Visa, Student Co-op programs, Young Professionals programs, and teacher exchange programs
3. Charitable and religious work
Charitable workers
Religous Workers
Some of the most common LMIA-exempt streams are outlined below. This page is divided into the following sections:
Significant benefit
Reciprocal employment
Charitable and religious workers
Contact us
Note: Being exempt from obtaining a LMIA does not mean the individual is exempt from obtaining a work permit. All streams on the LMIA exemption list still require the individual to obtain a work permit to work in Canada legally.
1. Significant benefit
Objective measures for “significant social or cultural benefit”:
an official academic record showing that the foreign national has a degree, diploma, certificate, or similar award from a college, university, school, or other institution of learning relating to the area of their ability;
evidence from current or former employers showing that the foreign national has significant full time experience in the occupation for which he or she is sought (significant in this context can be taken to mean ten or more years experience);
has been the recipient of national or international awards or patent;
evidence of membership in organizations requiring excellence of its members;
having been the judge of the work of others;
evidence of recognition for achievements and significant contributions to the field by peers, governmental organizations, or professional or business associations;
evidence of scientific or scholarly contributions to the field by the foreign national;
publications authored by the foreign national in academic or industry publications; and.or
leading role of the foreign national in an organization with a distinguished reputation.
Entrepreneurs/Self-Employed Persons
Intra-Company Transferees
Dependents Of Foreign Workers
French-Speaking Skilled Workers
Academics
Provincial LMIA Exemptions
2. Reciprocal employment
International Agreements－ North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)
International Exchange Programs－Working Holiday Visa, Student Co-op programs, Young Professionals programs, and teacher exchange programs
3. Charitable and religious work
Charitable workers
Religous Workers
