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LMIA based & LMIA Exempt work permits
Temporary work permits allow over 300,000 foreign workers to travel to Canada each year. Whilst working in Canada temporarily, a work permit will be required by most foreign workers.
An offer of employment to a foreign worker is usually required from a Canadian employer before the worker may be granted a Temporary work Permit by Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC). This is a several step process. A temporary Resident Visa (TRV) may also be needed in order to enter Canada, depending upon the foreign workers country of citizenship.
In most cases, a positive Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) must be received by a Canadian employer to allow a temporary foreign worker to enter Canada. However in certain scenarios, the need for this LMIA could be waived.
Working in Canada without a LMIA is a possibility, shown below are some common scenarios where an LMIA is not required.
Possible LMIA Exempt Situations
