Some foreign nationals can work in Canada without a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) under the International Mobility Program (IMP). These LMIA-exempt categories allow Canadian employers to bring in talent faster and more flexibly.

Key LMIA-exempt work permit categories include:

1. Intra-Company Transfers (ICT): Employees transferring within a multinational corporation

2. International Agreements: Workers under trade agreements like CUSMA/USMCA, CETA, or CPTPP

3. Significant Benefit Workers: Foreign workers who provide cultural, economic, or social benefits to Canada

4. Reciprocal Employment: Participants in exchange programs that benefit Canadians

5. Open Work Permits: Spouses or partners of skilled workers or international students, including:

   1. Bridging Open Work Permits

   2. Vulnerable worker permits

6. Post-Graduation Work Permits (PGWP)

7. Other exemptions: Charitable workers, religious workers, performing artists, and some short-term work cases

Employer Portal & Compliance for LMIA-Exempt Jobs

Employers hiring under LMIA-exempt categories must use the Employer Portal — an IRCC platform designed for registration and compliance. Through the portal, employers must:

1. Submit a job offer with details: wage, job duties, NOC code, and employment length

2. Pay the employer compliance fee (currently $230 CAD)

3. Receive an Offer of Employment Number, required by the foreign worker to apply for the work permit

The portal ensures transparency, simplifies government oversight, and helps businesses remain compliant.

LMIA-Required Work Permits & the TFWP

If your position requires an LMIA, it will fall under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) or a specialized stream like the Global Talent Stream (GTS). These are administered by ESDC, not through the Employer Portal.

Employers must:

1. Apply for an LMIA

2. Prove that hiring a foreign national will not harm the Canadian job market

3. Show evidence of recruitment efforts and labor shortage

❗ Missteps here can result in refusals or delays, affecting your workforce planning.

How Eiffel Immigration Can Help

At Eiffel Immigration, we support Canadian employers with:

1. LMIA-exempt job offer submissions via the Employer Portal

2. LMIA-required applications under the TFWP

3. Compliance checks, documentation review, and submission strategies

4. Step-by-step guidance to bring in international talent efficiently and legally

🚀 Book a consultation today to learn how to hire global talent in Canada — with confidence, compliance, and clarity.