LMIA-Exempt Hiring & Employer Portal Support

Not every Canadian employer needs an LMIA to hire a foreign worker. Under the International Mobility Program (IMP), certain workers may obtain an employer-specific work permit through an LMIA exemption.

However, LMIA-exempt does not necessarily mean that the employer has no immigration responsibilities. In most employer-specific IMP cases, the employer must complete the required steps through IRCC’s Employer Portal before the worker submits the work permit application.

Anka Canada Immigration Consulting assists Canadian employers outside Quebec with assessing LMIA exemptions, completing the Employer Portal process and coordinating the employer-side requirements with the worker’s work permit application.

Services are provided by Volkan Sacilik, RCIC-IRB, CICC Licence No. R1042981.

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When Can an Employer Hire Without an LMIA?

LMIA exemptions exist for a variety of situations under the International Mobility Program. Depending on the worker and position, these may include programs or categories based on international agreements, significant economic or social benefits, reciprocal employment arrangements and specific public policies.

One important example is Francophone Mobility, which can allow eligible French-speaking workers to obtain an employer-specific work permit outside Quebec without an LMIA.

Learn more: Francophone Mobility Employer Support →

The correct exemption must be confirmed before the employer submits an offer through the Employer Portal. The worker must also independently qualify for the applicable work permit.

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Employer Portal and Offer of Employment

For most LMIA-exempt employer-specific work permits, the employer must:

• create or use an IRCC Employer Portal account;

• submit the required offer of employment information;

• select the correct LMIA exemption code;

• pay the $230 employer compliance fee, unless an exemption applies; and

• provide the worker with the generated offer of employment number.

The offer number begins with “A” followed by 7 digits and is used by the worker when submitting the work permit application.

The job offer, employment contract and information entered in the Employer Portal should remain consistent. Employers also have continuing compliance responsibilities after the worker begins employment.

Some employers and categories are exempt from the Employer Portal process or employer compliance fee, so the applicable requirements should be confirmed before filing.

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How Anka Canada Immigration Consulting Can Assist

Anka can assist employers with:

• determining whether an LMIA exemption may apply;

• identifying the appropriate exemption category and code;

• reviewing the position, NOC, wage and employment terms;

• preparing the Employer Portal submission;

• reviewing employment contracts and offer information for consistency;

• coordinating the employer process with the worker’s work permit application.

The objective is to ensure that the correct LMIA-exempt pathway is identified before the work permit application is submitted and that the employer-side documentation supports the same employment arrangement presented to IRCC.

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Important Information

LMIA requirements can change and may vary by occupation, wage, location and program stream. Certain applications may also be subject to specific processing restrictions or additional employer requirements.

This page provides general information only. An LMIA application is assessed by Service Canada and approval cannot be guaranteed.