LMIA Exempt Work Permit 2024 – Apply Now
A Labor Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) for Express Entry is not required for all job offers.Alternative options may be available to specific individuals, particularly those who are exempt from the LMIA. The majority of employers necessitate an LMIA to back up your job offer for Express Entry. However, if specific criteria are satisfied, you may be able to forgo this step and still receive an Express Entry-eligible work visa. We will review the primary LMIA exempt category work permits that are eligible for Express Entry, allowing you to claim either 50 or 200 points. If you wish to gain a more comprehensive understanding of LMIAs, we recommend that you view one of our other videos on the subject.
To begin with, Express Entry does not necessitate a job offer. Nevertheless, the Federal Skilled Worker Program’s selection criteria include an additional 15 points to your eligibility score if you have a genuine employment offer that qualifies for Express Entry. Later, it may enable you to accumulate an additional 50 or 200 CRS points for your Express Entry profile, contingent upon the nature of the employment opportunity.
LMIA Exempt Qualifiers
Your employer does not require an LMIA to substantiate your Express Entry job offer if the three conditions enumerated below are satisfied.
- You have been employed full-time for the same employer listed on your work visa for a minimum of one year, or you have completed an equivalent period of part-time employment.
- You possess a legitimate occupation that qualifies for at least one Express Entry category.
Your work permit is exempt from the LMIA under specific circumstances. These exemptions are categorized into three groups: “Canadian interests,” federal-provincial agreements, and international accords.
LMIA Exempt Work Permit: International Agreements
You may be exempt from the requirement for an LMIA if your job is covered by an international bilateral agreement, such as the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA – formerly known as NAFTA), or any specific bilateral agreements, such as the CPTPP, bilateral agreements with Chile, Peru, South Korea, Colombia, CETA for European countries, and the equivalent of CETA for the United Kingdom, or even bilateral agreements for New Zealand and Australia. Professionals, merchants, and investors typically comprise this category, as they are instrumental in the economic exchange between Canada and other nations.
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Benefits of LMIA Exempt Work Permit:
- Worker: Applicants can anticipate a more expedited processing time for their work permit without the necessity of waiting for the LMIA approval process, which can take several months. This is especially advantageous for positions that are time-sensitive or imperative.
- Employers: This is particularly important during periods of labor shortages or urgent business requirements, as it enables them to employ foreign workers more rapidly.
- Workers: Employers may be required to pay substantial fees for the LMIA procedure, which may be forwarded to employees in certain instances. Workers circumvent potential expenses associated with the LMIA procedure by being exempt from it.
- Employers: Employers are not required to pay the LMIA application fees or the recruitment costs (such as advertising the position) that are typically required under LMIA procedures. This leads to cost savings for businesses.
- Workers: Certain LMIA-exempt permits are granted under circumstances that facilitate the transition of employees to alternative occupations. For example, employees who are granted open work permits, which are exempt from the Labour Market Information Act (LMIA), are permitted to work for any employer in Canada, which offers them the potential for career advancement and flexibility.
- Employers: By having access to workers who are not bound to a single job or employer, employers may be able to reduce turnover and more easily meet their staffing requirements.
- Workers: Highly skilled workers, including intra-company transferees and international students with Canadian credentials, are eligible for specific LMIA-exempt permits that allow them to immediately contribute their valuable expertise to Canada.
- Employers: LMIA-exempt work permits are frequently granted to individuals with highly sought-after skills (e.g., researchers, professionals, entrepreneurs), enabling employers to access top-tier talent without the administrative burden of the LMIA procedure.
- Workers: LMIA-exempt permits, which are issued through programs such as the International Mobility Program (IMP), enable workers to enter Canada without the necessity of a job offer that is supported by an LMIA. This encourages the global mobility of talent, including those who are covered by reciprocal agreements or are involved in trade agreements (e.g., CUSMA).
- Employers: These programs can be advantageous for businesses that engage in international operations or trade agreements, as they facilitate the recruitment of workers to Canada for specific positions that are associated with international treaties or agreements.
Federal-provincial agreements:
Employment opportunities that are generated as a consequence of agreements between Canada and one of its provinces or territories, particularly those that entail significant investment projects, are also exempt from the Local Market Investment Act (LMIA). These positions are frequently of the utmost significance when it comes to fostering economic growth and employment opportunities within specific regions.
Canadian Interests – This broad category includes four subcategories:
1: Significant benefits under IRPR R205(a):
These are employment proposals that are believed to have a significant impact on the social, cultural, or economic landscape of Canada. This may encompass general professionals, including self-employed engineers, technical workers, creative and performing artists whose work significantly benefits Canada, employees with specialized knowledge who have been transferred within a company to contribute to the Canadian branch with their expertise, and Mobilité Francophone workers. These categories may also encompass Intra-Company Transfer (C61, C62, C63), Startup Visa work permits, C10/C11 entrepreneur/self-employed work permits (all of which are exceedingly prevalent in Canada), and a multitude of additional LMIA-exempt categories.
2: Reciprocal Employment:
This enables individuals from other countries to access employment opportunities in Canada as a result of agreements that provide comparable opportunities for Canadians residing abroad. This can be further categorized into three groups: general professions, which include professional coaches and athletes who work for Canadian teams; those who are employed in Canada as part of International Experience Canada, a program that enables young professionals and youth to work in Canada to promote professional development and cultural exchange; and exchange program participants, such as professors and visiting lecturers.
3: Designated by the Minister:
This category includes academicians, including researchers, guest lecturers, and visiting professors, who are supported by a recognized federal program. Additionally, permits for additional concessions have been approved by the Minister of Immigration through Public Policies.
4: Charity and Religious activities:
Individuals who make substantial contributions to Canadian communities through charitable or religious activities, with the exception of volunteers.
LMIA Exempt Work Permit: Additional Factors
Please be advised that your employment offer will not be considered for FSWP eligibility or to enhance your CRS score if your work visa is LMIA-exempt for any reason other than those previously mentioned. It is imperative that you are cognizant of this.
When renewing these considerable benefit category work permits in Canada, it is crucial to remember that failure to provide evidence of investments or contributions to the social, cultural, or economic system in Canada may result in the denial of renewal. The practice of denying work permits for Startup Visas to applicants who are already in Canada is a frequent occurrence that has become more apparent. The officer has the authority to decline your application and request that you submit an application for a genuine LMIA with Service Canada if they believe you do not meet the specific requirements of the IRPR and do not fall into these LMIA exempt categories.
Conclusion
In summary, it is not mandatory to possess a job offer that is substantiated by an LMIA. Significant exemptions are available to individuals whose talents, experiences, or accomplishments are highly regarded in the country, with the intention of expediting their immigration application. These exemptions significantly simplify the process of securing employment in Canada for skilled individuals like yourself.
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Fraquality Asked Question:
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What is an LMIA exempt work permit?
Many foreign nationals do not need a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) to work in Canada. LMIA-exempt foreign workers fall under what is called the International Mobility Program (IMP). Being exempt from an LMIA does not mean the individual is exempt from obtaining a work permit.
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Which provinces do not need LMIA?
Employers whose business or company is registered in Canada’s Atlantic provinces (Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, and the Prince Edward Island) can now hire foreign workers without having to obtain an LMIA through the Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program (AIPP).
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How to get Canada work permit without LMIA?
There are some exceptions to this requirement, where foreign workers can apply for a work permit without an LMIA, or a job offer. Examples of this include a recent graduate of a Canadian Designated Learning Institute (DLI), or the spouse of someone already on a Canadian work- or study permit.