How to Apply for an LMIA in Canada: Employer Guide 2026
If you need to hire or keep a foreign worker on an employer-specific work permit, you will usually need to apply for an LMIA (Labour Market Impact Assessment) first. Domi Immigration Services is led by a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant who is also a licensed recruiter in Ontario, British Columbia and Saskatchewan. We prepare your LMIA application, run compliant recruitment, and look at LMIA-exempt options before you spend $1,000 per position.
What is an LMIA?
An LMIA is a decision from Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) confirming that hiring a foreign worker will not hurt the Canadian labour market. A positive LMIA, sometimes called a confirmation letter, shows that the job is real and that no Canadian citizen or permanent resident was available to fill it. The worker then uses it to apply for a work permit.
Most employers apply through the LMIA Online portal and must provide extensive business legitimacy proof, salary validation, and recruitment records. Domi Immigration Services structures your submission to ensure complete compliance from day one.
Do you need to apply for an LMIA?
Not always. You do not need an LMIA to hire someone who already holds an open work permit, such as a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) or a spousal open work permit. Some roles are also LMIA-exempt, including certain intra-company transfers, CUSMA professionals and International Experience Canada participants. We check these routes first, because an exemption can save you months and the government fee.
Open work permits
Candidates with existing valid open authorization can start work immediately without employer sponsorship or an LMIA.
PGWP holders
Post-Graduation Work Permit graduates are already authorized to work for any employer in Canada during the permit’s validity.
Spousal open permits
Spouses of skilled workers and international students often hold open work permits that require no LMIA fees or advertising.
Intra-company transfers
Key personnel transferred between qualifying multinational parent, subsidiary, or affiliate entities are often LMIA-exempt.
CUSMA professionals
Citizens of the United States and Mexico in designated professional categories can obtain LMIA-exempt permits under CUSMA.
International Experience Canada
Youth from bilateral agreement partner nations can access Working Holiday or Young Professional permits without an LMIA.
Always assess LMIA exemptions before advertising or paying government fees.
Find the Right Hiring Option
LMIA streams: high-wage, low-wage and others
Your stream depends on the wage you offer compared with the median hourly wage in your province or territory.
High-wage stream
Wage at or above the provincial median. Requires at least 4 weeks of recruitment across multiple platforms and a formalized transition plan to reduce reliance on foreign workers.
Low-wage stream
Wage below the provincial median. Since April 1, 2026, the job must be advertised for at least 8 consecutive weeks, including outreach to youth. Most employers can fill no more than 10% of a worksite with low-wage foreign workers.
Global Talent Stream
Expedited 10-business-day standard processing for eligible specialized tech, engineering, and highly skilled designated roles.
Agricultural streams
Primary agriculture and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program (SAWP) with unique commodity wages, housing rules, and transportation requirements.
Permanent residence (PR) stream
Supports a foreign national you wish to hire permanently, combining work permit authorization with permanent residence nomination.
How to apply for an LMIA: step by step
Follow this tested 7-step employer sequence to secure your LMIA approval without delays or procedural rejections.
Confirm an LMIA is needed
We review the candidate’s current legal status in Canada, open work permit validity, and all applicable LMIA-exempt pathways under international treaties or economic programs.
Choose the right stream
We compare your offered hourly wage with the current provincial median wage and verify whether your work location is open or frozen for low-wage applications.
Advertise the job
Post on the national Job Bank plus at least two additional recruitment methods targeting underrepresented groups, running for 4 weeks (high-wage) or 8 weeks (low-wage), within the 3 months prior to submission.
Assess Canadian applicants
Carefully review all resumes, conduct interviews, and maintain detailed, defensible records of every applicant and the legitimate business reasons for not hiring domestic candidates.
Prepare the LMIA application
Compile business legitimacy documents (CRA schedules, municipal licenses, payroll records), the signed job offer, comprehensive recruitment evidence, and high-wage transition plans.
Submit and pay the fee
Submit the complete application file through the official LMIA Online portal accompanied by the non-refundable $1,000 government processing fee per position.
Support the work permit
Once ESDC issues a positive LMIA confirmation letter, coordinate the worker’s employer-specific work permit application with IRCC while the LMIA decision remains valid.
Video Overview: LMIA Process for Canadian Employers
Video Summary: A practical walkthrough of the Canadian employer LMIA process, detailing recruitment timelines, Job Bank advertising rules, and transition plan requirements for employer-specific foreign worker sponsorship.
How much does an LMIA cost and how long does it take?
The government fee is $1,000 per position. The employer must pay it; it cannot be recovered from the worker, and it is not refunded if the LMIA is negative. Advertising costs vary by platform.
Processing times depend on the stream and change monthly; Global Talent Stream applications target 10 business days, while other streams usually take several months. We give you a current estimate at your consultation.
Check the latest official processing times table directly on Canada.ca LMIA processing times.
LMIA Quick Cost & Timeline Summary
- Government Fee: CAD $1,000 per position
- Payment Responsibility: 100% employer-paid (non-recoverable)
- Advertising Window: 4 weeks (high-wage) or 8 weeks (low-wage)
- Global Talent Processing: ~10 business days
- Standard Streams: Several months depending on ESDC queue
LMIA and permanent residence
From November 3, 2026, Express Entry awards 50, 70 or 100 CRS points for a job offer in an eligible high-wage occupation, and the offer no longer needs an LMIA to qualify for those points. An LMIA is still the main route to a work permit for most foreign workers, and the PR stream LMIA can still support a worker’s provincial nomination or permanent residence plan. We help you choose the route that keeps your worker in Canada longest.
Employers interested in retaining key staff through economic immigration can explore our Express Entry guidance and Provincial Nominee Program (OINP, BC PNP, SINP) planning.
Keep the foreign workers you already have
Many employers lose good workers because a permit expires or an LMIA is filed too late. We review your current foreign workforce, flag expiry dates and plan renewals, LMIA applications or PR support in time. As a licensed recruiter, we can also help you recruit locally when an LMIA is not the best option.
Work permit expiry planning
Proactive tracking of work permit end dates and renewal lead times to avoid costly status lapses and operational disruptions.
LMIA renewals
Advance preparation for LMIA renewal filings or transition to permanent economic residency routes before work authorizations terminate.
Compliant local recruitment
As licensed recruiters, we help source qualified domestic talent in Ontario, BC, and Saskatchewan when an LMIA is unviable.
Long-term workforce retention
Strategic alignment of temporary foreign staffing with provincial nominee programs (PNP) for sustained organizational stability.
Why employers choose Domi Immigration Services
Serving Canadian businesses with licensed immigration and recruitment expertise across Ontario, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, and nationwide. We have many years experience working with companies of all sizes. We are also fully licensed and bonded .
Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant
Full representation by a licensed RCIC in good standing with the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (CICC).
Licensed Recruiter in ON, BC & SK
Officially licensed recruiter in Ontario, British Columbia, and Saskatchewan—providing both immigration and domestic talent solutions.
LMIA vs Exemption Cost Analysis
Comprehensive cost comparison between LMIA streams, LMIA-exempt pathways, and local hiring before you commit $1,000 per position.
Workforce Retention Reviews
Specialized audits for employers with existing foreign workers to guarantee zero status lapses or compliance audit penalties.
References from Employer Clients
Trusted track record supporting manufacturing, tech, agriculture, hospitality, logistics, and retail businesses across Canada.
Local & Canada-Wide Representation
Headquartered in Mississauga, serving business owners in Toronto, the GTA, Vancouver, Calgary, Regina, and nationwide. Whether you need an LMIA consultant Mississauga, an LMIA consultant Toronto, LMIA help BC, or an LMIA Saskatchewan specialist, Domi provides hands-on representation.
LMIA FAQ for employers
Answers to the most common questions Canadian employers ask about LMIA requirements, timelines, fees, and rules.
Who can apply for an LMIA?
Only the Canadian employer can apply. A foreign worker cannot apply for their own LMIA, but a licensed representative can prepare and submit it on the employer's behalf.
How long does it take to apply for an LMIA?
Plan for at least 4 weeks of advertising for a high-wage job or 8 weeks for a low-wage job, then ESDC processing time for your stream. Most employers should start 4 to 6 months before they need the worker.
What is the LMIA fee in Canada?
The government fee is $1,000 per position. The employer pays it, and it cannot be charged to the worker.
Can I apply for a low-wage LMIA in Toronto or Mississauga?
Only if the job is exempt or the area's unemployment rate is below 6% when you apply. The list is updated every quarter, so we check your exact work location first.
Do I need an LMIA to hire someone with a PGWP?
No. A worker with a valid open work permit, such as a PGWP, can work for you without an LMIA. You may still want one later to extend their status or support permanent residence.
Does an LMIA help a worker get permanent residence?
It can support a provincial nomination or a PR-stream application. From November 3, 2026, Express Entry job offer points go only to eligible high-wage occupations, and those offers no longer need an LMIA.
What happens if my LMIA is refused?
The $1,000 fee is not refunded. We review the reasons, fix the gaps in recruitment or documents, and advise whether to reapply or use another route.