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How essential is LMIA to secure a Canadian Work Permit?

Labor Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) is an application form required to be filed by an employer of Canada who wishes to sponsor a foreign skilled/semi-skilled worker to fill in the labor shortages in the market. They are given this opportunity in case they are unable to fill in a job position with the current residents of Canada. This form is essential for a temporary skilled worker too, who have a job offer and want to apply for a Canadian work permit. LMIA application is not difficult to apply but the employer and employee both must be able to fulfill certain requirements for an approval. This is to say that not everyone requires a Labor Market Impact Assessment. 

Who needs an LMIA for PR?

A skilled or semi-skilled worker who has applied for a job that falls under LMIA requirements will need one. While applying for a work permit you should look carefully whether or not your occupation requires LMIA approval. If it does, you will have to submit your job contract, offer letter, lmia application and lmia number while applying for your work visa. If your job is lmia exempt, you will only need to submit your job contract and offer letter while applying for a work visa. 

Note: If your job requires Labor Market Impact Assessment then your application and approval process for work permit might be a little as opposed to having a job that is lmia exempt.

LMIA Job Classification

Under the Labor Market Impact Assessment the jobs are classified as:

High Wage Workers

The application of LMIA for this category is slightly different as these are the workers who receive salary a little higher as compared the average market remuneration trends.

Low Wage Workers

The application of LMIA for this category is slightly different as these are the workers who receive salary a little lower as compared the average market remuneration trends.

Who is LMIA exempt?

Workers who fall under any of the given categories will not require an LMIA in order to apply for a Canadian Work Visa.

  1. If the worker has already been working in Canada (full time/part time) for the same employer on a work permit.
  2. If the skilled worker has a valid employment offer in addition to having a written application that mentions the duration of continuous full time work in any occupation listed under Skill Type 0 or Skill Level A/B under NOC Canada.
  3. If the candidate has a valid work visa exempted from LMIA in accordance to federal provincial agreement, international agreement or Canadian Interests Category.
If you do not fall under the LMIA exempt category and want to apply for a Canadian work permit, contact Visa Walk today to know the details of the process.