WORK IN CANADA

While Canada’s economic success is great for business, it's also creating challenges for employers who are struggling to search out enough workers to satisfy demand. With its record low unemployment rates, Canada, today over ever, must depend on foreign talent to still grow a robust national workforce. ​

 

Generally, Canadian employers wishing to use an overseas worker in Canada must first obtain authorization from Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC), otherwise referred to as a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). Canadian employers must demonstrate that employing an overseas worker won't have a negative impact on the Canadian labour market in most cases, which there's currently no Canadian citizen or permanent resident available to fill the position. This is often typically accomplished by advertising the position on several venues, thus demonstrating there was no suitable Canadian for the task. A LMIA is a very rigorous and comprehensive process that's subject to a high level of scrutiny from the government, and thus must be completed without errors. ​

 

While LMIA process is the norm, there are variety of LMIA-exempt work permits, resulting from Foreign Trade Agreements, like the North American trade Agreement NAFTA, that enable foreign workers to use for a piece permit without the Canadian employer having to get a LMIA. Additionally to those employer sponsored work permits, there are variety of labor permit options available to foreign workers who don't yet have employment offer, including working holidays, post-graduate work permits, and open spousal work permits. ​

​

Different Types of Work Permits