A positive LMIA supports an employer-specific work-permit application under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program. The employer and worker have different fees, documents and next steps.
Varies by stream; check current ESDC times
CAD 1,000 employer fee + CAD 155 worker fee; CAD 85 biometrics when required
Set by IRCC and the permit conditions
Canada's Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) is an assessment used when a Canadian employer wants to hire a temporary foreign worker. When an LMIA is required, the employer applies through the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) and ESDC issues the decision. A positive LMIA supports the employer's job offer; it is not a work permit. The worker must submit a separate application to IRCC and meet the requirements for the relevant employer-specific work permit.
The standard LMIA processing fee is CAD 1,000 per position and cannot be paid by or recovered from the temporary foreign worker, subject to official fee exemptions. The worker may need to pay CAD 155 for work-permit processing and CAD 85 for biometrics. Recruitment, wage, cap and refusal-to-process rules depend on the stream and work location, so use the current ESDC and IRCC pages before accepting an offer or submitting documents.
Start here
Start with your role in the process. The official decision depends on the job, worker and work-permit route, so use the linked government guidance before you recruit, pay a fee or submit an application.
For employers
You want to hire a temporary foreign worker. First check whether the job needs an LMIA and whether the worker needs a work permit.
Next action: Review the official LMIA decision flow, then follow the ESDC stream requirements.
Find out if you need an LMIAFor workers
You have a written job offer and your employer's positive LMIA. The employer should give you the decision letter and employment details for your application.
Next action: Collect the LMIA evidence and use IRCC's employer-specific work-permit document list.
Review IRCC work-permit documentsFor other work-permit routes
Some jobs and workers may qualify for an LMIA exemption or a work-permit exemption. An exemption is conditional and depends on the official category requirements.
Next action: Check the official exemption codes instead of assuming every Canadian job needs an LMIA.
Check the official exemption routeAn LMIA does not grant a work permit. A worker must still apply to IRCC and meet the requirements for the relevant work-permit route.
When an LMIA is required
This text-first path explains the LMIA-required hand-off without presenting an approval or work permit as guaranteed. If the job may be LMIA-exempt, follow the relevant official exemption route instead of these stages.
Before hiring, the employer checks whether an LMIA and a work permit are required. If an exemption applies, the employer and worker follow the corresponding official route instead of the LMIA process. For an LMIA-required job, the employer completes the recruitment and advertising activities for the selected stream, gathers the required evidence and submits the application to ESDC. The standard processing fee is CAD 1,000 per position when applicable.
Read ESDC employer guidanceESDC processes the complete application and issues a decision letter. If the decision is positive, the employer gives the worker a copy of the letter and its employment details so the worker can apply for a work permit.
See how a positive decision is usedThe worker collects the positive LMIA, LMIA file number, employment contract or job offer, identity documents and proof of job eligibility. IRCC provides a personalized checklist based on the application. Submit the work-permit application, pay CAD 155 and the CAD 85 biometrics fee when applicable, then provide biometrics or a medical exam if IRCC requires them. Missing documents can delay or jeopardize the application. IRCC assesses eligibility, admissibility and the temporary stay. If approved, follow the instructions in the decision documents and check the employer, occupation, location and duration conditions on the issued permit.
Open the IRCC document listFees
The official ESDC and IRCC pages list the standard employer LMIA fee, worker work-permit and biometrics fees, and stream-specific recruitment and cap rules. Check the linked sources for exemptions and current changes.
This is a government-fee and rule snapshot verified on August 25, 2026. Employers may also have stream, provincial or territorial obligations.
For workers
Ask the employer for the evidence below before you begin the separate IRCC work-permit application. A positive LMIA supports the job offer but does not guarantee approval.
Quick answers
Sometimes. Canada has LMIA-exempt work-permit categories, including routes under the International Mobility Program, and a smaller set of work-permit exemptions. You still need to meet the category's conditions, and an LMIA exemption does not automatically mean that no work permit is needed.
There is no single Canada LMIA work permit processing time because two decisions may be involved. ESDC publishes monthly averages by LMIA stream; after a positive LMIA, IRCC's work-permit processing time varies by application type and where you apply. Check both official tools before planning a start date.
For LMIAs tied to applications received on or after May 1, 2024, ESDC says the positive LMIA is valid for up to 6 months, with an exception noted for the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program. The worker must apply for the work permit by the LMIA expiry date. That deadline is separate from the duration or expiry date of the work permit IRCC may issue; once the LMIA expires, a new LMIA must be obtained.
The employer completes the LMIA step through ESDC when the job requires one. After a positive decision, the worker applies separately to IRCC for an employer-specific work permit. The LMIA supports the job offer but does not itself authorize the worker to work in Canada.
Eligibility
LMIA work-permit eligibility is offer-based and stream-specific. Use the official decision flow when the job, worker or work location may fit an exemption or a refusal-to-process rule.
Requirements
Documents
Application Process
Before hiring, the employer checks whether an LMIA and a work permit are required. If an exemption applies, the employer and worker follow the corresponding official route instead of the LMIA process.
For an LMIA-required job, the employer completes the recruitment and advertising activities for the selected stream, gathers the required evidence and submits the application to ESDC. The standard processing fee is CAD 1,000 per position when applicable.
ESDC processes the complete application and issues a decision letter. If the decision is positive, the employer gives the worker a copy of the letter and its employment details so the worker can apply for a work permit.
The worker collects the positive LMIA, LMIA file number, employment contract or job offer, identity documents and proof of job eligibility. IRCC provides a personalized checklist based on the application.
Submit the work-permit application, pay CAD 155 and the CAD 85 biometrics fee when applicable, then provide biometrics or a medical exam if IRCC requires them. Missing documents can delay or jeopardize the application.
IRCC assesses eligibility, admissibility and the temporary stay. If approved, follow the instructions in the decision documents and check the employer, occupation, location and duration conditions on the issued permit.
An LMIA and a work permit are separate parts of the process. The employer's positive LMIA supports the job offer, while IRCC separately decides whether the worker qualifies for a work permit and what conditions apply.
Employer-specific work permits can include conditions about the employer, occupation, work location and length of work. Review the decision documents and the issued permit carefully before starting work or changing jobs.
Fees, wage thresholds, recruitment rules, caps and refusal-to-process measures can change. Recheck the official ESDC and IRCC pages listed below before accepting a job offer, paying fees or submitting an application.
For detailed insights on eligibility, document checklist, visa validity, and common refusal reasons, explore the Canada Work Visa hub for detailed FAQs and open work permit options.
Last updated August 25, 2026
LMIA rules, wage thresholds, caps, moratoria, and fees change often. Use these Canada.ca pages as the final authority before accepting a job offer, paying fees, or submitting documents.
Editorial reviewer
Prabu Rajasekaran
Study-Abroad Expert
Prabu Rajasekaran is a study-abroad writer and mentor with 12+ years of experience creating student guidance, test-prep resources, and Canada education/admissions content.
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