LMIA Canada: Process, Fees, Streams & CRS Points

What Is an LMIA?

A Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) is a document that a Canadian employer needs before hiring a foreign worker. A positive LMIA shows that there is a need for a foreign worker and no Canadian worker is available to do the job.

The LMIA is often called a "confirmation letter" — it confirms the employer's need for a temporary foreign worker.

How the LMIA Process Works

Step	Who	Details
1. Job offer	Employer	Employer offers a position to a foreign worker
2. Recruitment effort	Employer	Must prove they tried to hire Canadians first
3. LMIA application	Employer	Applies to Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC)
4. ESDC review	Government	Assesses labor market impact
5. LMIA issued	Government	Positive or negative decision
6. Work permit application	Worker	Uses positive LMIA to apply for work permit

LMIA Types

Stream	Wage Level	Key Features
High-wage	At or above provincial median	Transition plan required
Low-wage	Below provincial median	Cap on percentage of TFWs
Global Talent Stream	Specialized tech/R&D	2-week processing
Agriculture	Farm workers	Seasonal or year-round
Caregiver	Home childcare/elderly	Special requirements
Permanent residence	For Express Entry	+50 or +200 CRS points

Employer Requirements

Requirement	Details
Business legitimacy	Genuine, operational Canadian business
Recruitment	Advertised position for minimum 4 weeks on Job Bank + 2 other sources
Wages	Must offer prevailing wage for the occupation and region
Working conditions	Must meet Canadian labor standards
Transition plan	(High-wage) Plan to reduce reliance on TFWs
Application fee	$1,000 per position

LMIA for Permanent Residence

A positive LMIA can boost your Express Entry CRS score:

LMIA Type	CRS Points
LMIA for NOC TEER 0 or 1	+200 CRS points
LMIA for NOC TEER 2 or 3	+50 CRS points
LMIA for NOC TEER 4 or 5	+50 CRS points

Processing Times

Stream	Typical Processing
High-wage	2–4 months
Low-wage	2–4 months
Global Talent Stream	2 weeks
Agriculture	1–3 months
PR-supporting LMIA	2–4 months

Fees

Fee	Amount
LMIA application (employer)	$1,000 per worker
Compliance fee	Included
Work permit (worker)	$155

Tips

The employer pays for LMIA — it is illegal for the worker to pay the $1,000 fee
Recruitment proof is key — ESDC scrutinizes this heavily
Get prevailing wage — underpaying leads to rejection
Global Talent Stream — if eligible, much faster processing
LMIA for PR — a positive LMIA gives +50 to +200 CRS points
Beware of scams — some employers charge workers for LMIA (illegal)

Source: ESDC — LMIA