Employer-specific
Tied to one employer, role and location. Usually needs a positive LMIA or an LMIA-exempt offer of employment.
Best for: workers with a Canadian job offer.
Home / Work Permits & LMIA
Work Permits & LMIA
Work in Canada — with the right permit, done right.
The right permit depends on your job offer, your employer, your occupation and where you want to be in five years. We assess all of it, then manage the full process — LMIA included.
Employer-specificOpen permitsLMIA-exempt (IMP)Extensions & changes
4main work-permit routes
End to endLMIA + permit, one team
2013filing work permits since
4.7★from 790+ client reviews
Your options
Which work permit fits you?
Most people qualify for more than one route. The best one is the route that gets you working soonest and keeps the door to permanent residence open.
Open work permit
Work for almost any employer. Available in defined situations — eligible spouses, post-graduation permits and vulnerable workers.
Best for: spouses, graduates, workers leaving abuse.
LMIA-exempt (IMP)
International Mobility Program routes — intra-company transfers, trade-agreement professionals, Francophone Mobility and, in exceptional cases, significant benefit.
Best for: transfers, professionals, French speakers.
Permit-exempt work
Some short, specific activities need no work permit at all — certain business visitors, speakers and performers among them.
Best for: short visits with a defined purpose.
The LMIA, handled properly
Small mistakes sink LMIAs. We don't make them.
A Labour Market Impact Assessment is how an employer shows Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) that hiring a foreign worker won't hurt Canadian workers. The wage, the advertising, the recruitment record and the job offer all have to line up — and they're checked.
- ✓ Wage checked against the median for the occupation and region.
- ✓ Advertising plan built to the current ESDC requirements.
- ✓ Recruitment results documented, ready for the file.
- ✓ Job offer and contract consistent with the LMIA.
- ✓ Ready for officer calls, questions and follow-ups.
How it works
The LMIA + work-permit process.
Step
Eligibility & strategy
We confirm the right route before anyone spends money on advertising or fees.
Step
Advertising & recruitment
The employer advertises to current ESDC rules; we track every applicant and result.
Step
LMIA submitted
A complete file — wage evidence, recruitment results and a consistent job offer.
Step
Positive LMIA
We handle officer calls and requests along the way, so nothing stalls.
Step
Work-permit application
The worker applies from inside or outside Canada, with a file built to match the LMIA.
Step
Approved — start work
Then we plan your next step: an extension, or the road to permanent residence.
Processing times vary by stream and by country of application (as of 2026, subject to change). We give you a realistic timeline for your case before you start.
Be prepared
What officers look for.
Documents you'll typically need
- Valid passport
- Job offer, plus the LMIA number or LMIA-exempt offer number
- Proof of qualifications and experience — reference letters and credentials
- Language test results, where required
- Police certificates and a medical exam, where required
- Proof of funds and ties, for applications from outside Canada
Your exact checklist depends on your country, your permit type and your history.
Common reasons work permits are refused
- The officer isn't satisfied you'll leave at the end of your authorized stay
- Your experience or qualifications don't match the job
- The job offer looks inconsistent with the LMIA or the employer's business
- Missing, unclear or inconsistent documents
- Earlier immigration history that wasn't explained
We address each of these before you file — not after a refusal.
Already working in Canada?
Your permit, built with PR in mind.
Canadian work experience can count toward Express Entry's Canadian Experience Class or the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program. We plan your permit so it supports that next step.
- ✓ Extensions and maintained status while you wait for a decision.
- ✓ Changing employers — usually a new permit before you start.
- ✓ Spousal open work permits — eligibility narrowed in January 2025.
- ✓ A clear bridge from your permit to permanent residence.
★★★★★
Rated 4.7 from 790+ client reviews.
Consumer Choice Award 2021–2026 · Three Best Rated 2016–2023 · Read our reviewsQuestions
Work permit FAQs.
Don't see your situation? Ask us — we'll tell you honestly what's possible.
Ask a consultantCan a work permit lead to permanent residence?
Often, yes. Skilled Canadian work experience can support Express Entry (Canadian Experience Class) or the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program. We plan your permit so it supports that next step.
Can my spouse work too?
Spousal open work permit eligibility was narrowed in January 2025 and now depends mainly on the principal worker's occupation, or the student's program. We'll check whether your family qualifies.
Do I need a job offer?
Most employer-specific permits require one. Open permits generally don't. We'll identify which routes are open to you.
How long does an LMIA take?
It varies by stream and region — from a few weeks to several months. We'll give you a realistic timeline once we've looked at the role and location.
Can I change employers on a closed work permit?
Generally you need a new work permit — and often a new LMIA — before you start with a new employer. Don't start the new job until you're authorized to.
Can you find me a job?
Our recruitment team works with established employers — see the current roles. Recruitment is paid by the employer; candidates are never charged a placement fee.
Related
Where to next.
Employers
Hire a foreign worker
Recruitment, LMIA and work permits, managed end to end.
Learn more ›In Canada
Extend or restore status
Stay compliant, change permits, and plan your move to PR.
Learn more ›Alberta PNP
Employer-supported PR
The Alberta streams built for people already working here.
Learn more ›