Work in Canada: Work Permits and LMIA

Most foreign nationals need a work permit to work in Canada. Which permit you need, and whether your employer must first obtain a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA), depends on the job and on your own situation. Law Wise, based in Mississauga, advises workers and their employers on work permits, extensions and the move from temporary work to permanent residence.

Two types of work permit in Canada

Employer-specific work permit

This is the most common type. It requires a job offer, and the permit itself lists the employer, the location and the occupation. You must follow every condition written on it. Before you apply, your employer has to work out whether the job needs an LMIA or is exempt, and the employer must not be on the federal list of non-compliant employers.

Open work permit

An open work permit is not tied to one job. It lets you work for almost any employer in Canada, other than non-compliant employers and businesses that offer striptease, erotic dance, escort services or erotic massage. It is available only in particular situations, and most people applying from outside Canada cannot get one. People who may qualify include:

• graduates applying for a post-graduation work permit
• spouses and common-law partners of some foreign workers and international students
• family members being sponsored for permanent residence, and some permanent residence applicants
• participants in International Experience Canada’s Working Holiday category
• refugee claimants, protected persons and workers who have experienced abuse at work

LMIA: the Temporary Foreign Worker Program

A Labour Market Impact Assessment determines whether hiring a temporary foreign worker will have a positive or negative effect on the Canadian labour market. A positive LMIA means the government accepts that the employer could not fill the job from within Canada and may hire from abroad. The employer applies for it, not the worker, and then gives the worker the LMIA documents to include in the work permit application.

Employment and Social Development Canada lists several LMIA streams, including high-wage and low-wage positions, primary agriculture, caregivers, the Global Talent Stream and applications that support permanent residence. It also refuses to process some kinds of application, and the list changes, so the current rules must be checked before an employer applies.

Work without an LMIA: the International Mobility Program

An employer can hire without an LMIA under the International Mobility Program where an LMIA exemption applies. The exemption code must be included in the offer of employment. Exemptions are commonly used for workers covered by trade agreements such as the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA), for intra-company transferees moving to a Canadian branch of their employer, and for holders of open work permits.

Global Talent Stream

The Global Talent Stream is part of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program. It is aimed at innovative firms that need specialised talent and at employers filling certain in-demand, highly skilled positions. Service Canada’s service standard for these LMIA applications is 10 business days, met 80 per cent of the time, and the employer must prepare a Labour Market Benefits Plan.

Open work permits for spouses of workers

The rules for family members of foreign workers changed on 21 January 2025. On IRCC’s page, last modified on 12 June 2026:

• a spouse or common-law partner may apply if the worker is employed in a TEER 0 or 1 occupation, or in one of the listed TEER 2 or 3 occupations
• the worker’s permit must be valid for at least 16 months after IRCC receives the spouse’s application
• dependent children of these workers are no longer eligible for an open work permit
• different rules apply to workers on certain permanent residence pathways and to workers covered by free trade agreements

Applying, extending and changing jobs

• Where to apply. Most people apply online before travelling to Canada. Most people cannot apply at a port of entry.
• Extending. IRCC advises applying at least 30 calendar days before your current permit expires.
• Changing employers. An employer-specific permit covers only the employer named on it. Speak with a lawyer before you change jobs, employers or duties.

From a work permit to permanent residence

Skilled work experience gained in Canada can count toward the Canadian Experience Class under Express Entry, and many provincial nominee streams are built around a job in the province. Planning the permanent residence route early helps you choose the right permit and keep the right records.

How Law Wise helps with work permits

• identifying the right permit and whether an LMIA or an exemption applies
• advising the employer on its part of the process
• preparing the work permit application and supporting documents
• open work permit applications for spouses and partners
• extensions, changes of employer and restoration of status
• planning the route from temporary work to permanent residence

You are not required to use a representative, IRCC’s forms and guides are free, and no representative can promise an invitation or an approval. Your file is handled by a Law Wise lawyer licensed by the Law Society of Ontario. Service is available in English, Urdu, Punjabi and Hindi, and, if you retain the firm, fees are explained and confirmed in writing before work starts.

Common questions about work permits

This page is general legal information, current as of 10 October 2026. Immigration programs and instructions change often, so confirm the current rules on the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) website. This page is not legal advice and does not create a lawyer-client relationship. For advice about your situation, please speak with a lawyer.