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Work Permit — LMIA Exempt

Documents and eligibility gates

Every requirement below is quoted verbatim from the official IRCC 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.

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
Work-permit routing requires a confirmed job-offer / open-permit basis fact.
Eligibility gateinnovation_stream
If the position is not under a CBA, the wage you're offering must be at or above the prevailing wage
Eligibility gate
make sure the LMIA exemption you choose matches the job description and duties
Eligibility gate
Anyone acting on your behalf can't charge recruitment fees to the temporary foreign worker
Eligibility gateinnovation_stream
The wage you're offering must be at or above the median hourly wage by province or territory
Eligibility gate
the temporary foreign worker hasn't been charged any recruitment fees
Eligibility gatefrench_speaking_bilingual_worker_outside_quebec
will live and work outside the province of Quebec
Eligibility gate
be law-abiding and have no record of criminal activity (you may be asked to give us a Police Clearance Certificate)
Eligibility gateopen_work_permit
You can work for most compliant employers in Canada.
Eligibility gate
the temporary foreign worker hasn't been charged any recruitment fees by anyone acting on your behalf
Eligibility gate
Make sure it's accurate and matches the information in the temporary foreign worker's passport (or other travel document) exactly
Eligibility gate
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
Eligibility gate
not intend to engage in employment with an employer who, on a regular basis, offers striptease, erotic dance, escort services or erotic massages
Eligibility gateinnovation_stream
If the position is under a collective bargaining agreement (CBA), the wage you're offering must meet the requirements of the CBA
Eligibility gate
You don't need an LMIA to hire these workers: Workers with a work permit exemption
Eligibility gate
An offer of employment's expected start date of employment can't be retroactive
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 gate
you need to attest that you've already provided the temporary foreign worker with a signed copy of the employment agreement
Eligibility gateemployer_specific_work_permit
Your employer may need a labour market impact assessment (LMIA).
Eligibility gateopen_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
Eligibility gatelmia_exempt
an employment contract (also known as the employment agreement)
Eligibility gate
a photocopy of your valid (not expired) passport or travel document
Eligibility gateinnovation_stream
You meet the wage assessment for the job you’re offering.
Eligibility gate
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
Eligibility gateinnovation_stream
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
Eligibility gatelmia_exempt
an offer of employment number
Eligibility gate
1 photo meeting the visa photo specifications
Eligibility gate
a photocopy of your passport or travel document
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 gateopen_work_permit
You don’t need a job offer.
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
Workers eligible for an employer-specific work permit (LMIA-exempt)
Eligibility gate
Under the International Mobility Program (IMP), you can hire a temporary foreign worker **without** a labour market impact assessment (LMIA).
Eligibility gate
Workers who have an open work permit
Eligibility gateinnovation_stream
The job is in National Occupational Classification (NOC) Training, Education, Experience and Responsibilities (TEER) categories 0, 1, 2 or 3 (high-skilled).
Required document
Application to Change Conditions, Extend my Stay or Remain in Canada as a Worker (IMM 5710)
Required document
1 photo meeting the visa photo specifications
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
You need a job offer.
Required document
From $230, unless exempted
Required documentemployer_specific_work_permit
a letter from your current employer
Required documentemployer_specific_work_permit
Your employer may need a labour market impact assessment (LMIA).
Required documentlmia_exempt
an employment contract (also known as the employment agreement)
Required documentlmia_exempt
employment contract, also known as the employment agreement
Required document
Authority to release personal information to a designated individual [IMM 5475]
Required document
Application to Change Conditions or Extend Your Stay in Canada [IMM 5710]
Required document
to meet the general requirements for all work permit applicants
Required document
Application For Work Permit Made Outside of Canada (IMM 1295)
Required document
to have a job offer from an employer who’s not on the list of non-compliant employers
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 document
proof of a medical exam
Required documentlmia_exempt
offer of employment number
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
When applying to change conditions or extend your stay in Canada, you are required to submit photocopies of passport pages clearly showing the stamp made by Canadian authorities on your most recent entry to Canada.
Required document
a photocopy of your passport or travel document
Required documentemployer_specific_work_permit
a reference letter from your past employers
Required document
1 photo meeting the visa photo specifications
Required document
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 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 document
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
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 documentemployer_specific_work_permit
proof that you meet the requirements of the job being offered
Required documentemployer_specific_work_permit
a resume

Navisa is an AI file-prep engine for Canadian immigration firms. The requirements here are drawn from the same grounded, citation-first knowledge base the product runs on active cases.

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