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We Make Labour Market Impact Assessment Applications Painless & Easy!​

What is Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA)

Employers in Canada who wish to hire a foreign worker generally require a positive Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) issued by Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC). An LMIA is an official opinion that evaluates how a permanent job offer to a foreign worker may impact Canada’s economy—positively, negatively, or neutrally.

When reviewing an LMIA application, ESDC considers several factors, including wages, working conditions, the availability of qualified Canadian citizens or permanent residents, and the potential benefits of hiring a foreign worker, such as skills transfer, knowledge sharing, and job creation.

Hiring a temporary foreign worker (TFW)

In Canada, employers experiencing labour shortages may use the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP). The purpose of the TFWP is to support employers who have demonstrated that no qualified Canadian citizens or permanent residents are available to fill certain positions. The program requires employers to make genuine efforts to hire and train Canadian workers before turning to temporary foreign workers, and it also ensures that foreign workers are hired on a truly temporary basis.

The TFWP operates through the cooperation of three key federal departments:

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  • Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC): Conducts employer compliance reviews and issues Labour Market Impact Assessments (LMIAs).Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC): Processes work permit applications. Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA): Performs port-of-entry examinations and admits foreign nationals into Canada.

  • The TFWP is administered based on wage levels, rather than the National Occupational Classification (NOC). Employers must determine whether the wage being offered is categorized as high or low compared to the provincial or territorial median wage.

 

Main Types of LMIA Applications

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High-Wage LMIA

Positions where the wage offered is at or above the provincial or territorial median wage.
These roles typically include management, professional, scientific, technical, or skilled trade occupations.

 

Low-Wage LMIA

Positions where the wage offered is below the provincial or territorial median wage.
The low-wage stream aims to address labour shortages while protecting the domestic labour market. Generally, employers are subject to a 10% cap on the proportion of temporary foreign workers they can hire under this stream.
Common examples include general labourers, food counter attendants, cleaners, cashiers, drivers, and sales and service positions.

LMIA Processing time

Due to labour shortage across Canada, ESDC has received a large volume of LMIA applications resulting in longer processing times:

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                 Global Talent Stream

10 business days

Hi-wage stream

41 business days

Agricultural stream

16 business days

Low wage stream

44 business days

Seasonal agricultural worker program

11 business days

Permanent residence stream

267 business days

We Make LMIA Applications Painless And Easy!

f you are ready to hire a foreign national—or a resident in Canada who does not yet have a valid work permit—you will need to obtain a positive Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). We offer a transparent fee structure and a straightforward application process:

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  • LMIA Processing Fee (fewer than 15 employees per occupation): $3,750

  • LMIA Processing Fee (more than 15 employees per occupation): $4,550​

 

Mycana Immigration has successfully filed over 500 LMIA applications across a wide range of sectors, including hospitality, fast food, retail, professional services, oil and gas, and agriculture. Our clients trust us to deliver fast, accurate, and timely results.

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