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Program eligibility

Work Permit — LMIA Exempt

The eligibility criteria below are drawn from the governing regulation and IRCC program guidance, each anchored to the verbatim source text so you can read the rule as it is written and follow it to the official page.

Eligibility criteria

The requirements below are drawn directly from the governing regulation and IRCC program guidance for Work Permit — LMIA Exempt. 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
Application For Work Permit Made Outside of Canada (IMM 1295)
you need to attest that you've already provided the temporary foreign worker with a signed copy of the employment agreement
You need to attest that you haven't charged your temporary foreign worker any fees except for those that cover electronic travel authorizations, temporary resident visas, temporary resident permits, work permits
You’re only eligible in certain situations.
Workers eligible for an **employer-specific work permit (LMIA-exempt)**
Workers eligible for an employer-specific work permit (LMIA-exempt)
you give the temporary foreign worker a copy of an employment agreement in their preferred official language (English or French) that is signed by both you and the temporary foreign worker and includes information on their occupation, wages and working conditions
an employment contract (also known as the employment agreement)
Make sure the information you provide is truthful and complete
Application to Change Conditions, Extend my Stay or Remain in Canada as a Worker (IMM 5710)
can communicate with a moderate proficiency for speaking and listening in French
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
If the position is under a collective bargaining agreement (CBA), the wage you're offering must meet the requirements of the CBA
The wage you're offering must be at or above the median hourly wage by province or territory
If the position is not under a CBA, the wage you're offering must be at or above the prevailing wage
you'll need to make sure that the worker is paid the prevailing wage throughout the employment period. To show this, you'll need to review wages on the first day of work and annually by January 1
to have a job offer from an employer who’s not on the list of non-compliant employers
You need a job offer.
be law-abiding and have no record of criminal activity (you may be asked to give us a Police Clearance Certificate)
satisfy an officer that you will leave Canada at the end of your employment
Under the International Mobility Program (IMP), you can hire a temporary foreign worker **without** a labour market impact assessment (LMIA).
lets you hire temporary foreign workers **without** a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA)
make sure the LMIA exemption you choose matches the job description and duties
Your employer may need a labour market impact assessment (LMIA).
be law-abiding and have no record of criminal activity (you may be asked to provide a Police Clearance Certificate)
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
You don’t need a job offer.
the temporary foreign worker hasn't been charged any recruitment fees by anyone acting on your behalf
Anyone acting on your behalf can't charge recruitment fees to the temporary foreign worker
the temporary foreign worker hasn't been charged any recruitment fees
not be a danger to the security of Canada
The job is in National Occupational Classification (NOC) Training, Education, Experience and Responsibilities (TEER) categories 0, 1, 2 or 3 (high-skilled).
an offer of employment number
Workers who have an **open work permit**
Workers who have an open work permit
This means the worker can work for anyone in Canada, **except** for employers that either are on the [list of employers who don’t meet their responsibilities](/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/work-canada/employers-non-compliant.html), or regularly offer striptease, erotic dance, escort services or erotic massages
a photocopy of your passport or travel document
Make sure it's accurate and matches the information in the temporary foreign worker's passport (or other travel document) exactly
1 photo meeting the visa photo specifications
1 photo meeting the visa photo specifications
provide any other documents the officer needs to establish your admissibility
will live and work outside the province of Quebec
An offer of employment's expected start date of employment can't be retroactive
show that you have enough money during your stay in Canada to take care of yourself and your family members and to return home
a photocopy of your valid (not expired) passport or travel document
You meet the wage assessment for the job you’re offering.
You can work for most compliant employers in Canada.
Workers with a **work permit exemption**
You don't need an LMIA to hire these workers: Workers with a work permit exemption
the temporary foreign worker is aware of their rights as a worker in Canada

Run a real file against these rules

Navisa is an AI file-prep engine for Canadian immigration firms. It reads the documents on a file, cross-checks them against each other, runs the eligibility analysis against retrieved official sources, and flags what an officer would — citations attached.

Run a file through it