LMIA

A Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) is a document that an employer in Canada may need to get before hiring a foreign worker.

A positive LMIA will show that there is a need for a foreign worker to fill the job. It will also show that no Canadian worker or permanent resident is available to do the job. A positive LMIA is sometimes called a confirmation letter.

If the employer needs an LMIA, they must apply for one.

Once an employer gets the LMIA, the worker can apply for a work permit.

To apply for a work permit, a worker needs

• A job offer letter
• A contract
• S copy of the LMIA, and
• The LMIA number

A job offer letter is a document that a Canadian employer gives you (as a temporary worker). It explains the details of your job.
Generally, a job offer letter (or “employment letter”) is less detailed than a contract.

The letter includes information about:

• your pay and deductions from your pay
• your job duties
• conditions of employment, such as hours of work

If you need a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA), include a copy of your job offer letter with your work permit application.

An “offer of employment” is not the same as a “job offer letter”. If your employer doesn’t need an LMIA to hire you for the job, they need to submit the offer of employment in the Employer Portal. Once submitted, the portal generates an offer of employment number that you need when you apply for your work permit.

Employer compliance exemptions

Some LMIA-exempt employers don’t need to submit an offer of employment and won’t have an offer of employment number for you.