Canadian immigration program
Work Permit — LMIA Required
An LMIA-based work permit is an employer-driven route: it requires a positive or neutral Labour Market Impact Assessment before the worker applies. Eligibility depends on the employer, the assessed position and the applicant. The requirements below are drawn directly from the governing regulation and IRCC guidance.
Sources on this page last verified Jul 17, 2026.
Eligibility criteria
The requirements below are drawn directly from the governing regulation and IRCC program guidance for Work Permit — LMIA Required. Each is anchored to the verbatim source text, not a paraphrase, so you can read the rule as it is written and follow it to the official page.
“provide any additional documents requested by the officer to establish your admissibility”
“provide any other documents the officer needs to establish your admissibility”
“a Quebec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ) (if you plan to work a **paid** job in Quebec for **more than 30 days**)”
“a letter from your current employer”
“employers must notify the temporary foreign worker that the LMIA was approved”
“employers must send the positive LMIA letter to the temporary foreign worker”
“You need a job offer.”
“Your employer may need a labour market impact assessment (LMIA).”
“an employment contract”
“to meet the general requirements for all work permit applicants”
“be in good health and complete a medical examination, if required”
“be in good health and complete a medical exam, if needed”
“to have a job offer from an employer who’s not on the list of non-compliant employers”
“proof that you meet the requirements of the job (for example, the license or certification if your job is regulated)”
“satisfy an officer that you will leave Canada at the end of your employment”
“If an exemption doesn’t apply, then - you need an LMIA to hire the worker **and** - the worker needs a work permit”
“Most employers need an LMIA before they can hire a temporary foreign worker.”
“Positive decisions issued for Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) applications received as of May 1, 2024, are valid for up to 6 months.”
“not intend to engage in employment with an employer who, on a regular basis, offers striptease, erotic dance, escort services or erotic massages”
“not plan to work with an employer who, on a regular basis, offers striptease, erotic dance, escort services or erotic massages”
“not intend to engage in employment with an employer on the List of Ineligible Employers”
“not be a danger to the security of Canada”
“You do **not** need an LMIA if the worker has an [open work permit](/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/work-canada/open-work-permit.html).”
“a reference letter from past employers”
“1 photo meeting the visa photo specifications”
“2. Tell them to [apply for a work permit](/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/work-canada.html#location).”
“a copy of the positive LMIA and LMIA file number”
“If you receive a **positive** LMIA decision letter, you need to take **both** of these steps: 1. Provide each worker with - a copy of the decision letter - the letter’s Annex A – Employment details”
“If you’re hiring **with** an LMIA You need to - get a Quebec Acceptance Certificate **(CAQ)** from the Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration (MIFI) - give a **copy** of the CAQ to your worker”
“When the worker applies for a work permit, they must submit - a copy of the CAQ - a copy of the positive LMIA decision letter”
“show that you have enough money during your stay in Canada to take care of yourself and your family members and to return home”
“employers who don't provide the names of the temporary foreign workers when applying for an LMIA must continue to try and recruit Canadians and permanent residents until they choose a temporary foreign worker”
“proof of past work experience (for example, pay stubs)”
“temporary foreign workers must apply for a work permit at Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)”
Documents and eligibility gates
Every requirement below is quoted verbatim from the official source and linked back to it. Navisa reads and cites the governing text rather than restating a document name from memory. This is a reference summary, not immigration advice, and it does not replace review by a licensed RCIC.
Eligibility gate
“employers must notify the temporary foreign worker that the LMIA was approved”
Eligibility gate
“employers must send the positive LMIA letter to the temporary foreign worker”
Eligibility gatelmia_required_work_permit
“an employment contract”
Eligibility gate
“be in good health and complete a medical exam, if needed”
Eligibility gate
“employers who don't provide the names of the temporary foreign workers when applying for an LMIA must continue to try and recruit Canadians and permanent residents until they choose a temporary foreign worker”
Eligibility gate
“If an exemption doesn’t apply, then - you need an LMIA to hire the worker **and** - the worker needs a work permit”
Eligibility gate
“You do **not** need an LMIA if the worker has an [open work permit](/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/work-canada/open-work-permit.html).”
Eligibility gate
“not plan to work with an employer who, on a regular basis, offers striptease, erotic dance, escort services or erotic massages”
Eligibility gate
“not intend to engage in employment with an employer on the List of Ineligible Employers”
Eligibility gatelmia_required_work_permit
“a Quebec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ) (if you plan to work a **paid** job in Quebec for **more than 30 days**)”
Eligibility gate
“2. Tell them to [apply for a work permit](/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/work-canada.html#location).”
Eligibility gate
“be in good health and complete a medical examination, if required”
Eligibility gatelmia_required_work_permit
“a copy of the positive LMIA and LMIA file number”
Eligibility gate
“1 photo meeting the visa photo specifications”
Eligibility gatequebec_lmia
“When the worker applies for a work permit, they must submit - a copy of the CAQ - a copy of the positive LMIA decision letter”
Eligibility gateemployer_specific_work_permit
“proof that you meet the requirements of the job (for example, the license or certification if your job is regulated)”
Eligibility gateemployer_specific_work_permit
“proof of past work experience (for example, pay stubs)”
Eligibility gate
“show that you have enough money during your stay in Canada to take care of yourself and your family members and to return home”
Eligibility gate
“Most employers need an LMIA before they can hire a temporary foreign worker.”
Eligibility gateopen_work_permit
“Job offer not required”
Eligibility gateemployer_specific_work_permit
“You need a job offer.”
Eligibility gate
“to have a job offer from an employer who’s not on the list of non-compliant employers”
Eligibility gate
“Positive decisions issued for Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) applications received as of May 1, 2024, are valid for up to 6 months.”
Eligibility gate
“temporary foreign workers must apply for a work permit at Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)”
Required document
“Application For Work Permit Made Outside of Canada (IMM 1295)”
Required document
“1 photo meeting the visa photo specifications”
Required documentlmia_required_work_permit
“a Quebec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ) (if you plan to work a paid job in Quebec for more than 30 days)”
Required documentemployer_specific_work_permit
“a letter from your current employer”
Required documentlmia_required
“employment contract”
Required document
“To apply for an employer-specific work permit, you need - to meet the general requirements for all work permit applicants”
Required document
“Application to Change Conditions, Extend my Stay or Remain in Canada as a Worker (IMM 5710)”
Required documentemployer_specific_work_permit
“You need a job offer.”
Required documentlmia_required
“job offer letter”
Required document
“To apply for an employer-specific work permit, you need - to have a job offer from an employer who’s **not** on the list of [non-compliant employers](/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/work-canada/employers-non-compliant.html)”
Required document
“evidence that you meet the requirements of the job, possibly including specific educational requirements and a valid Canadian provincial or territorial trade certificate”
Required documentemployer_specific_work_permit
“Your employer may need a labour market impact assessment (LMIA).”
Required document
“a copy of the LMIA provided by ESDC, if applicable, and a copy of your job offer letter from your prospective employer”
Required documentquebec_lmia
“a copy of the positive LMIA decision letter”
Required document
“give you documents, like an LMIA letter and Annex A from their positive LMIA, which you’ll need to include in your application”
Required document
“proof of a medical exam”
Required document
“the offer of employment number (The offer of employment number starts with an “A” and is followed by 7 numbers). Your employer should provide it to you”
Required document
“If you are not a citizen of the country or territory where you are applying, you must send proof of your present immigration status in that country or territory.”
Required document
“If the government that issued your passport or travel document requires a re-entry permit, you must receive it before you apply for a work permit.”
Required document
“a photocopy of your passport or travel document”
Required documentemployer_specific_work_permit
“a reference letter from your past employers”
Required documentemployer_specific_work_permit
“proof of past work experience (for example, pay stubs)”
Required documentlmia_required
“copy of the positive Labour Market Impact Assessment”
Required documentquebec_work
“A copy of the attestation of issuance of your Quebec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ) from the ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration (MIFI), if you plan to work in Quebec or will be working in Quebec.”
Required documentlmia_required
“If you need an LMIA to work: A copy of the labour market impact assessment (LMIA) from ESDC (your employer should give this to you), AND a copy of your employment contract from your future employer.”
Required document
“Proof that you are eligible for the job (for example: a valid Canadian provincial or territorial trade certificate, educational requirements or past work experience outlined in a resume).”
Required documentlmia_exempt
“For LMIA-exempt work permits: The offer of employment number (begins with the letter “A” and is followed by seven numbers) that your employer should give to you,”
Required document
“A valid passport or travel document that gives you the right to return to the country or territory that issued it; and”
Required document
“Two (2) photos of yourself and each family member accompanying you, that meet the Visa application photograph specifications.”
Required document
“If you are in a common-law relationship and your common-law partner will accompany you to Canada, you must fill out and click on the “Validate” button located at the end of the form Statutory Declaration of Common-Law Union (IMM 5409) and send proof listed on the form to support your relationship.”
Required document
“You may need to provide a marriage certificate and birth certificates for any accompanying family members.”
Required documentemployer_specific_work_permit
“proof of past work experience, for example pay stubs”
Required documentlmia_required_work_permit
“a Quebec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ)”
Required document
“a copy of the attestation of issuance of your Quebec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ) issued by the ministère de l'Immigration, de la Francisation et de l'Intégration (MIFI) if you work in Quebec or will be working in Quebec”
Required documentemployer_specific_work_permit
“proof that you meet the requirements of the job being offered”
Required documentemployer_specific_work_permit
“a resume”
Required documentemployer_specific_work_permit
“proof of past work experience (for example, pay stubs)”
Recent policy changes affecting this program
Tracked changes Navisa has tagged to this program, dated and cited to their official source.
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