Work Permits

Work permits serve as the initial gateway to life in Canada for many individuals, offering access to promising job prospects and, in some instances, a pathway to permanent residency. However, there is another side to this coin, where individuals may encounter fraudulent opportunities or fail to qualify due to a lack of understanding of the requirements. At Montrela, we are committed to guiding our clients through this process, helping them identify genuine employment opportunities and ensuring they meet the necessary criteria. We are dedicated to serving you.

Foreign workers seeking temporary employment in Canada to address skill shortages typically need to obtain work permits or temporary visas. There are various types of work permits available for those intending to work in Canada, most of which require sponsorship from an employer.

Temporary Foreign Worker Program

In this program, employers must initially secure a positive Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) to temporarily fill positions that require skills in short supply in Canada. Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) / Service Canada must approve employers to hire foreign workers, demonstrating a need for such skills with no available Canadian permanent residents or citizens. Once the company obtains a positive LMIA, foreign workers can apply for a work permit (WP) under the International Mobility Program (IMP).

However, certain WP categories under this program do not necessitate employers to obtain a positive LMIA beforehand.

LMIA-exempt applications follow two phases:

  1. The employer submits an offer of employment to IRCC along with an employer compliance fee and provides the foreign national with the offer of employment number (AA number) and fee receipt.
  2. The WP application is then submitted, along with a visitor visa for each family member, spouse work permit, and/or dependent children study permit/visitor record, as applicable. Note: Expedited processing of two weeks may be available for jobs classified under NOC 0 (managerial, executive) or NOC A (professional) levels.

LMIA-Based Work Permit

An LMIA, issued by ESDC/Service Canada, is necessary for most Canadian Work Permits (WPs). Before applying for an LMIA, the employer must advertise the position, with placement on the Job Bank being one such source. The application for an LMIA for a temporary position incurs a $1,000 fee for each temporary foreign worker application. Once granted, the positive LMIA is provided by ESDC/SC to the employer, who then submits it with the foreign worker’s WP application.

Recently, the validity of an LMIA was extended to three years for certain position categories, allowing WPs to range from one to three years. Shorter processing times of ten days are available for eligible positions with high demand, high pay, and short duration, such as skilled trades within the top 10% of pay and positions lasting less than 120 days. The LMIA application undergoes the same scrutiny as an LMIA for Express Entry and Permanent Residence, with foreign workers needing to demonstrate they meet all position requirements (i.e., education, experience, skills) listed in the LMIA application. For more information on the LMIA process, please visit the provided link.

Global Talent Stream (GTS) LMIA

Introduced in 2017 as part of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, the Global Talent Stream is a recent addition aimed at recruiting highly skilled international professionals. It was officially established as a permanent program in 2019. The Global Talent Stream forms an integral component of the Innovation and Skills Plan, which aims to position Canada as a global hub for innovation.

LMIA-Based Work Permit under Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP)

Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) offer pathways for various professionals to immigrate to Canada, especially those who may not meet the criteria of the Express Entry System. It’s important to plan ahead if a Canadian employer hasn’t been able to find or train a citizen or permanent resident to fill a labor shortage. Additionally, temporary workers can apply for a work permit extension before their initial permit expires, allowing them to continue working while their application is being processed.

New LMIA applications for high-wage positions must have a credible transition plan that includes feasible and verifiable steps such as:

  • Enhanced efforts to hire and train Canadians for the long term
  • Supporting skilled temporary foreign workers in transitioning to permanent residency in Canada.

Provincial nominee programs allow provinces and territories to nominate candidates based on their specific labor market and economic needs. You can find more information on our PROVINCIAL NOMINEE PROGRAMS page.

To determine whether you are eligible or not please do contact Montrela.

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